Does Your House Stink During The Winter Months?
By CatsandDogs
@CatsandDogs (13963)
United States
February 7, 2009 10:24am CST
Gosh, with all the windows closed and the heat is on, my house gets a stale stench to it. With all the cooking, pets going in and out, smoking, cleaners and what ever else, it all gets into the air and becomes stale if it's not aired out. Besides that, being so cooped up inside all the time because of the cold, it gets old old old after a while. I sooooo can't wait for spring time!! I can finally open my windows and let the breeze in and sweep the stench out!! I LOVE having my windows opened! I feel so free! Like a bird ready to take flight! Ok, I know it's only February but I can dream, can't I? lol Do you wish for spring to hurry and get here?
I'm going to my parents house today to help clean their house and shampoo their carpets. Yesterday mom said her house stinks and she can't take it anymore and is going to do what she can. I begged her to leave it alone and let me do it for her today but she wouldn't hear of it so hopefully she didn't do a whole lot but I'll find out when I get there. She too is wishing for spring to hurry up and get her so she too, can air her house out but when I finish shampooing her carpet, she'll be happy because the shampoo that I use has such a wonderful smell! So off I go to my parents house! See you in a bit!! Hugs to all my dear friends!
6 people like this
14 responses
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I aired out our apartment today and opened up all the windows and the balcony door - boy the house smelled so much better. I hope its nice tommorrow so i can do it again :) I know the feeling - it's not good when our stomachs are gassy too LOL
4 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
8 Feb 09
Hi maddysmommy! 
You know, I got a right nice surprise yesterday on the way out the door. The weather was so beautiful! I didn't know it was going to be like that and it was oh so awesome! I went back inside and turned off the heat and opened all the windows and left to my parents and opened their windows too! Mom really loved that too! I did some things for her and dad and eventually came home and found my house soooo nice and fresh with all the fresh air that flowed through! And now today, it's the same way and of course I opened all the windows once again and I'm soooooo loving it!! I'm feeling free as a bird!! lol
You know, I got a right nice surprise yesterday on the way out the door. The weather was so beautiful! I didn't know it was going to be like that and it was oh so awesome! I went back inside and turned off the heat and opened all the windows and left to my parents and opened their windows too! Mom really loved that too! I did some things for her and dad and eventually came home and found my house soooo nice and fresh with all the fresh air that flowed through! And now today, it's the same way and of course I opened all the windows once again and I'm soooooo loving it!! I'm feeling free as a bird!! lol2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I totally disagree!! lol It may be warm but there's no way I'll let the stink live! I'd have to find a way to get rid of the smell some how, some way. Lighting candles and sprays can help but it's only temporary but opening windows on a nice day does a lot of good!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157692)
• United States
8 Feb 09
Yes, the pets especially make it stink. I am glad when it warms up, as then they spend lots of time outdoors. We have had a couple of springlike days this week.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
8 Feb 09
We're having spring days right now! I didn't know it was suppose to happen until I walked out the door on my way to my parents place and lo and behold! what a surprise!! lol I went back inside and turned off the heat and opened all the windows and left. When I got back it smelled soooo much better! Today is the same way and of course I opened the windows again and I'm feeling so free like a bird about to take flight! lol Am I weird? So what, I feel good! lol
2 people like this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I can't wait for Spring so I can open my windows and air my house out. It does not stink but it does seem to get stale. I like the fresh air. The temps will be warmer soon. Then I can let the fresh air in.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
8 Feb 09
Well Hello Royal!! 
It's so GOOD to see you!! Hugs!! 
lol like you, I can't wait for Spring with all the beautiful flowers and grass growing, although I don't like grass cutting but it's part of Spring, and the wildlife babies being born.... it's like being reborn again! lol Yesterday I got a right nice surprise, I was on my way out and noticed the weather was awesome here! It got up to near 70 so I ran back inside and turned off the heat and opened all the windows and left to my parents and did the same at their house which mom so loved and when I got back home, the air was so new and refreshed that I really felt like a bird ready to take flight! lol Am I weird? lol Naaaa, just enjoying life..... for a change!! lol
It's so GOOD to see you!! Hugs!! lol like you, I can't wait for Spring with all the beautiful flowers and grass growing, although I don't like grass cutting but it's part of Spring, and the wildlife babies being born.... it's like being reborn again! lol Yesterday I got a right nice surprise, I was on my way out and noticed the weather was awesome here! It got up to near 70 so I ran back inside and turned off the heat and opened all the windows and left to my parents and did the same at their house which mom so loved and when I got back home, the air was so new and refreshed that I really felt like a bird ready to take flight! lol Am I weird? lol Naaaa, just enjoying life..... for a change!! lol1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
7 Feb 09
Mine gets like that too. So I pick the warmest part of a nice sunny day, put on a couple of sweaters, turn down the thermostat and open all the windows and front door. I leave them open for about 20 minutes, and let the fresh air whoosh through the house and then I close everything and turn up the heat again. Works like a charm.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
I wish I could do that sparks but I can't. I have a sick kitty at home and the cold air would aggravate her lungs even more. She, Gracie, was doing so good for 5 days but now she's back to laboring in her breathing again. I hope she can get it up before it takes her life or makes me make the decision that I don't want to make. But anyway.... that's a good way of airing your house out and I'd do it too if I could. When I went out the door, I got a right nice surprise!! It was nice and warm outside!! I came back inside and turned off the heat and opened all my windows!! Now that I'm back, it smells sooo nice in here!! I'm so loving it!! Tomorrow is suppose to be the same way and you can betcha that my windows will be opened!
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
8 Feb 09
OH Cats, I am sorry to hear Gracie is no better....poor baby. But I am glad that the weather was warm enough today to get your house aired out. That's such a treat, isn't it? Take care of yourself and Gracie too and I hope you are both feeling better soon.
2 people like this
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I wouldn't say it stinks, but it definately gets a bit stuffy and sometimes stale. We use fabric spray to help, but still nothing beats what I was able to do yesterday. Yesterday, for the first time in months, it actually got up to almost 60 degrees F. I got home from work and opened all the windows. It made such a big difference to let a little fresh air in. I am counting the days until I can do this on a daily basis, but as you pointed out, it is only February. 
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I didn't know that we were going to have such nice weather this weekend until I was on my way out the door and that's when I knew! It was a right nice surprise to say the least! I went back inside and turned off the heat and opened all the windows and when I got back, it was so nice and fresh inside!! Having this kind of weather in the winter time is called Indian Summer, I wish I knew why it's called that for it's interesting however, it's right nice that we have these days in the midst of the winter months to give us a chance to air our homes out and get rid of the staleness and stuffyness. Yeah, it's only February but, I can't wait for Spring! lol
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I do my best to keep my house from stinking, but I do know what you mean. I have 4 cats and a dog, I do my best to keep up with the litter boxes. I am so looking forward to opening up the house and airing it out too. I hate keeping everything closed up. I am in need of cleaning my carpet too, its such a job though. Once I do it I am happy that I did. Its a wonderfully feeling and smelling too, to have the carpet clean. Your such a good daughter Cats, I hope your mom and dad appreciate you and hubby.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
10 Feb 09
Awwww Polly thank you!! That's very kind of you to say! I try to be a good daughter to my parents but they can be so hard to get to listen sometimes!! grrr! We've been very lucky the past 3 days, the weather has been right nice and it's suppose to last all week! So every day we've been opening the windows and airing the house out which is so deparately needs and we'll continue to do so until it either gets cold again or Spring decides to come early..... I WISH! lol
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
7 Feb 09
It does get that stale smell to it. I love airing out my house. I hope your mom does not do things she shouldn't but it is good to know she wants to do things. Let her help do what she can.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Actually mom and dad do everything now. Mom does it all except vacuum, scrub or cook. Dad does those three things. I went up to shampoo the carpet so dad didn't have that to do too. Kind of giving him a break in which gave him time to sell one of his fixed up lawn mowers! That helps them quite a bit because they need all the money they can get!
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
I have candles too but there's nothing like fresh air, at least to me anyways. Once I get some fresh air in my house and then lite some candles, oh the smell is incredible!! I got a nice surprise on the way out the door, it's absolutely beautiful out! I came back in and opened all my windows and now it's so nice and refreshing!!
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
I didn't know today would be so beautiful! I realized it on the way out the door and came back in and turned off the heat and opened all the windows! Now that I'm back, my house is so fresh with all this fresh air!! I'm soooo loving it!! lol We're suppose to have another day like this tomorrow and you can bet on it that I'll open the windows once again!!
1 person likes this
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
7 Feb 09
if winter we spray some fresh lemon and open the window for a while.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Doesn't it get cold there in the winter time? It sure does here and for that reason we don't open the windows unless the stench is unbearable. I so love the fresh air and would prefer my windows opened all the time but it's too cold out so I have to wait till spring BUT, I got lucky, today was beautiful and I got to open my windows and let it air out for a few hours! Now it's all nice and fresh!!
1 person likes this
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
7 Feb 09
I feel ya. I am the same way I love to keep my house open , windows doors, the fresh air blowing the curtains back from the windows, yes I can dream with you. When we do have a nice day here in the south, I turn my furnace off and let the windows up for a short especially on a bright sunny day. Today was one of those day too the temperature got up in the upper sixties and it was a beautiful day. I took a walk and people were washing and cleaning their cars.
When my house get that closed in stench stale smell to it I hang me a Bounce fabric softener sheet in several of my room it gets the smell out. Plus my cousin makes these scented candles and I purchase some of those from her and burn them.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Hi Chevee! I got a right nice surprise today! I went to leave and found the day was beautiful! It got up to almost 70 here! I went back inside and turned off the heat and opened all the windows!! I came home to a nice smelling house, so refreshing!! Oh I so love it!! Spring is just around the corner! But, as they say, March is so unpredictable. We could still get more snow and cold air.... BLA!!
To get the smell out, I usually shampoo my carpets or light some candles too which does a lot of good.
2 people like this
@vijayanandp (682)
• India
7 Feb 09
i dont have any pets at home so well in any season my house will not stink, i always keep my house clean
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
Pets aren't the only reason or cause of a house to stink! Cooking can make a house stink. I have several pets and I clean house every week but if the windows are closed then the air builds up a musty smell. It's the same air circulating over and over again but with the windows opened, you get nice and fresh air coming in and the old goes out.
1 person likes this
@jshekhar (1562)
• India
7 Feb 09
Hello and thanks for bringing up such an interesting topic.
My answer would be NO, my house never stinks. The simple answer being that I have a very caring and active mother who would never let even the tiniest bit of dirt accumulate on anything in my house. She makes sure that she does the clothes regularly.
Secondly, I do not have any pets so I am lucky that ways.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Feb 09
LOL I'm not talking about dirt, I'm talking about windows being closed all the time because of the winter months where it's so cold. Open windows brings in fresh clean air, well depending on where you live. If a house is closed up for long periods of time, it can build a musty smell to it. I keep my house clean too, I clean house every week so my house isn't all that dirty.
Now I have to ask you, what's wrong with having pets? I don't consider anybody lucky who don't have pets. I call that nieve and lonesome because pets are a wonderful addition to the family or even for just one person. They give so much and ask for so little in return.
Since your mom does all the cleaning, I hope you tell her thank you all the time!!
1 person likes this
