Keith M
Cle Elum
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Joined: 07/28/2002
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You really didnt say what the smell smelled like. I would think a "doggy" smell which is really the smell that some dogs smell like or cat urine would be pretty distinguishable. With cleaning and over time both would go away. The mold smell which can get into trailers and houses with leaky roofs is very hard to get rid of. Refrigerators can get a very rotten smell like rotting meat if food was left in it and it sat around for a long time. Someone gave me a freezer free once that smelled. I quickly understood why it was free. Dripping from food that had thawed had seeped into the insulation. A stick made trailer with water that has seeped into the roof or into the sides is probably going to be difficult to clean up. Trailers that have this problem are sold used by dealers very cheap and are marketed as "hunting trailers." The leaks have typically been fixed but the smell is still there. One way I think to get rid of a mold-mildew smell would be to tow the trailer to Arizona and put it in storage from April thru October leaving a couple of windows open. I have never smelled anything with mildew out in the desert.
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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Like others suggest, it could be anything.
Did you:
- Wash the window treatments?
- Scrub down the walls and ceiling with a good cleaner?
- Clean the mattress?
- Clean the fridge?
- Clean under the stovetop -- just snap it up and clean any junk sitting there.
Which area of the RV is the smell coming from? Can you sniff about with your own nose? Is it the bathroom? Bedroom? General living area? Kitchen? Top? Bottom? Front or back?
We often look at used trailers on RV lots to pass an afternoon. Far too many are stinky and smelly. And not with pet smells. With human, food and damp smells. Some have been so bad I can't step inside, or if I do step in I turn around and step right back out.
We have always camped with dogs and I know my dog odors, even wet dog smell, and also skunk/dog smell. Although our dogs don't pee inside so am not too familiar with old urine doggy smell.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
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lambchop
WI
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Joined: 04/23/2005
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If your going to replace carpet & padding...Do this First before installing new pad & carpet:
Paint the sub floor with a outside enamel gloss paint......Why?
To seal any urine from coming through the new carpet when it's hot & humid outside.
25 years owning a carpet & furniture cleaning business.
Lambchop
2008 33 ft. Montana 5th wheel
2000 3/4T Chevrolet Truck 6.0L 4:10
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victorydave1
Hamburg MI
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Joined: 11/09/2005
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Yes look to the drains, but first check and make sure your VENTS for the drains are open! Some have a vent up under the sink, the newer ones take the vent right to the roof (like your house) Also check for dead animals in every part inside and out of the RV and if your sewer vents are on the roof make sure nothing crawed in and died.
victorydave
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outdoorsman2007
In the Woods - Somewhere!
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Joined: 04/12/2007
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It could be your holding tanks - clean and sanitize them. Then make sure the vents are not obstructed. The tanks may not be venting through the roof vents and the smell is backing up through the sink drains or toilet. Also block all sink drains while in storage.
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granite
ohio
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Joined: 02/10/2008
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Our friend's camper has a strong moth ball odor because they left them inside all winter, to keep mice out, they said. When they visit us after being in their camper, even their clothes smell like mothballs, and they don't seem to be bothered by it. Drives us to headaches. I suppose you would have recognized the mothball scent, though? Good luck.
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FOREVER FREE
Manchester, TN
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Joined: 09/17/2004
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If what you are smelling has an ammonia scent to it check the back of your fridge very carefully. If you see any yellow staining it means your cooling unit is leaking. We found out the hard way. Thought a cat was using the space under the 5vr for a bathroom. WRONG!!
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