topic Re: Stinky rug! in Community Chat

Stinky rug!

Kalli — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 02:34:24 GMT

We put oak floors in 2rooms and I found a lovely rug ensemble. Brought the rugs home and put them down only to quickly realize the larger piece stinks! I mean it's so bad no one can spend any time in the room. Can't tell if it's dye? or what but after a day I can't take it anymore. Put it out in the garage for the night and airing out the room.

anyone ever have this happen? I'm so disappointed. Didn't really like the other colors or patterns except this one. 😒 Guess I'll wrap it up and take them back. The runner doesn't stink at all.

Re: Stinky rug!

lolakimono — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 03:26:23 GMT

@Kalli wrote:
We put oak floors in 2rooms and I found a lovely rug ensemble. Brought the rugs home and put them down only to quickly realize the larger piece stinks! I mean it's so bad no one can spend any time in the room.

@Kalli

Does it have a rubber backing or padding?

Also, have you vacuumed it?

Re: Stinky rug!

SunValley — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 03:42:09 GMT

Yes, I had a wool rug that smelled terrible, especially if the sun hit it. I vacuumed and tried rug cleaner. Nothing. Asked a knowledgeable rug dealer and she said it likely was the dye. I finally gave the rug to Goodwill but felt a bit guilty passing along the problem.

Re: Stinky rug!

Desertdi — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 05:27:51 GMT

I know this sounds kinda "gross".......but lately, I have been giving everything I buy a "good sniff" before I pay for it.

Re: Stinky rug!

jlkz — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:30:45 GMT

@Desertdi:

I do the "sniff" test on all fabric items I buy, whether or not they are wool. Some fabrics get treated for transoceanic shipping; some wools never get cleaned and will stink forever.

Even plastic tic things can reek: carcinogenic components or elements in their composition---e.g., the black plastic toilet bowl uncloggers come to mind.

If it has an unpleasant smell, do not buy it.

If sellers had to return or swallow their smelly losses on the balance sheet, maybe they would practice better quality control and the manufacturers take note.

Re: Stinky rug!

KingstonsMom — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 14:41:00 GMT

I seriously wonder if these strong chemical smells in fabrics are from pesticides used in the cargo containers on ships for insects, rodents, etc.

My Dad was a merchant marine all his life on these cargo ships and said that you wouldn't believe how much chemicals were pumped into them to last the lengthy overseas trip.

SInce a lot of these items come from China and other countries, where pesticides may not be controlled by any type of health or gov't agency, who knows what we're breathing when we open those packages.

Re: Stinky rug!

Desertdi — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 14:58:01 GMT

@KingstonsMom wrote:
I seriously wonder if these strong chemical smells in fabrics are from pesticides used in the cargo containers on ships for insects, rodents, etc.

My Dad was a merchant marine all his life on these cargo ships and said that you wouldn't believe how much chemicals were pumped into them to last the lengthy overseas trip.

SInce a lot of these items come from China and other countries, where pesticides may not be controlled by any type of health or gov't agency, who knows what we're breathing when we open those packages.

This odor does not air out or wash out......I suspect it's imbedded in the fabric during production.

Re: Stinky rug!

brii — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 15:14:49 GMT

That heavy petroleum smell is terrible. I don't know if it's pesticide or dye.

Re: Stinky rug!

Fressa — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 15:39:20 GMT

I had that problem once on an area rug that I purchased. If the airing out in the garage doesn't work then try spritzing it with a neutrilizing spray like Don Astlett's XO or Zero Odor. I had to do that twice and it finally worked. I've also sprinkled baking soda on smallerr rugs and then vacuumed them and that worked a little. Baking soda can be somewhat difficult to vacuum up depending on the type of fiber in the rug.