Hi BioWorld,

I'm not sure why i bought a house with a lingering odor.... but i did. I thought I could get it out.... and now, 4 months later, i cannot.

the odor is from a long-time smoker. I'm not sure where it is coming from... but I suspect it's in the walls. I bought the place after it had been rehabbed, with new carpet; new paint; new kitchen cabinets/counter/appliances; new vanities/flooring in the bathrooms. It has older windows (which, when I cleaned them, were brown w nicotine). I've made a bit of dent in the odor, through vigorous cleaning. The place is only sparsely furnished with all new furniture. I've left doors and windows open almost constantly since April 2016 -- it's now the end of August 2016.... and while the smell has dissapated somewhat, it is still there. When i turn on the Air Conditioner, I smell a stale, old, unfresh smell. Importantly, the large windows in the place let in a lot of sun... during hot days, if I close up all windows/doors, when i return from work after 8 hours i can definitely smell a lingering stale, "off" odor --- not fresh - upon entering.

The condo is 944 sq. ft per assessor record, but has very high ceilings.... I've attached a picture to show. the ceiling height is approximately 18 feet high.

Do you have a suggestion for me? And what about guarantees? Right now, I've tried: cleaning vigorously and attentively, even removing screens from screen doors and removing windows out of frames; chlorine dioxide (which i think worked partially, in the rooms I could close up tight... but it's the main living area, with the volume ceiling, that's the problem.); febreze; 0dor; odoban (which worked on the floor tiles quite well I think - a couple of washes/scrubs with that product helped); Vamoose (ddn't work); odornix (did not work); chlorine bleach (worked on the tile too); and a few others. I would prefer not to have to go the Kilz/repaint route as I will need scaffolding to paint the ceiling.)

Thanks much.

debbie