My Mom has dementia and her bedroom has consistent sour milk smell. What am I smelling?

Here's a weird thing I discovered...I am officially a senior citizen and I notice that even the lightest of sweat (walking up the stairs) results in the area behind my ears smelling like sour milk or parmesan cheese! Forgive the grossness but nipples, navals...same deal.
I am super healthy, shower daily, seldom drink or eat meat, hydrate daily, exersize daily, have very few health concerns, sleep well and still work. IT"S GROSS!! I make triple sure I was behind my ears and keep some wet wipes in the car and do a 'smell check' before events. I change my bed sheets weekly. Nonenal odor,old people smell, just happens and lingers. I combat it by knowing (I hope) where it starts and nip it in th bud. Read about this article on Huff Post about Old People Smell and research on how to combat it

Bought Thera Pure air cleaner from Costco--Works GREAT! Hope this helps. Know this attacks only the odor and not the source. God Bless.

I just found whole house scent thingie at Home Depot. It is designed to be put in the furnace filter, but I tore it apart & put it in the floor vents in my mother's apartment. The cat urine odor is now almost gone. (We clean carpets almost daily with a product called Resolve, but the male cats are marking and it's almost impossible to get rid of that odor) The scent thingie in the vents is a godsend. It's in the furnace filter department.

Could be that the carper or flooring needs a good spring clean. Sickness has a smell, and it needs to be eradicated for the good of your Mum and for the general health of the house.

You can make home made preparations that are not costly. Look up what to use on stale cat urine and use that a square yard at a time over the whole room.

Good luck.

Hi there, I had a similar problem...One of the things my Mom was doing was putting worn clothes back in the dresser & closet. She was pretty good about wearing Depends, but she never wanted to bathe ~ "She didn't do anything to sweat", so she would wear her clothes repeatedly, even socks. She seems not to understand hygiene anymore and tells me I am "crazy about showering and laundry". Her clothes did have an odor (not always dirty smelling) that seemed to be a mix of personal scent and food. It was mostly the improper storage of clothes which made her room smell different then the rest of the house. Regular bathing with lovely scented soaps and doing all the cleanup and laundry finally worked for my problems here at home but it required hiring a bath aide after I tired of fighting with her. She will still squirrel away clothing if she is not managed, but she resides in a group home now and is less resentful of the CNA's help than mine.

This is a bit expensive but it has worked wonders in my home...a large can of coffee placed in a pretty vase or other.It eliminates the smell of the elderly,dog, urine, musty smell and one can last a couple months at least.

The smell of sour milk is often caused by dryer sheets and/or type of laundry detergent used.They seem to sour after a few days. I've found this to be true of many of the newer scents being offered by manufacturers.

Try following your nose after you have both been out of the room for a while. There is no telling what could have gotten stuffed where.

I'm with Pam Stegman on this one...search for the hidden milk or milk product! Some nook or cranny may have the answer, and hopefully you will have gloves on and a plastic bag handy when you find it.

There is a product called Odoban a disinfectant (in the US available at the local home depot, I like the Eucalyptus one) that can be diluted and put in a spray bottle (sprayed into the air) and put a capful in with the laundry, of course, our 87 year old still takes a shower every day and puts lotion on.

Oh, I got this net bag of odor absorbing little rocks...keep that under the bed, and another in the closet it helps some.

Also..since you had new floors, sometimes...unusual items...end up in the floor base boards or registrars...Not sure if your company cleaned up the flooring materials...but I take care of home..and I know...how some contractors will sweep things into the registars and I have to vacuum them out and clean them...it could be that the registers in her room need washing and cleaning..and you can also THREAD a FABRIC SOFTENER SHEET through the VENT to make the room smell sweet...when that fabric sheet is done...redo another one...SO SWEET...is everywhere !!!!

We live near the woods and fields and in the fall mice get in. One died in the walls and we nearly never got rid of the smell. HEPA filter helped.

Baking soda and kitty litter can be put in the room to absorb the odor until you find the cause.

I always put waterproof liners on the bed and use waterproof padding on top of the sheets (sometimes 2 next to each other). I live in Kansas and near the cows so windows are open depending on which way the wind blows). We moved here a few months ago and the smell is awful! She is 91 and very hard headed. She showers every other day, but I always wear surgical gloves and sometimes a mask when I have to clean messes. I tell her it is to protect her. I use baking soda with detergent for washes. I do not let laundry build up, sometimes I have a large soaking bucket until I do her laundry. I do use the lavender body wash and powder. She likes the smell. I put a little powder when changing her sheets. I use lotion on her legs and arms and still apply deodorant daily. She will not wear her dentures but I make her brush her gums with toothpaste and diluted mouthwash. Keeping her hair short keeps it easy for her and me. I like blowing her hair dry to add to the beauty day. She does not like to go out, so I do her nails and toes and apply clear polish. Once in awhile when visitors are coming I apply a little lipstick. I do ask her if she smells anything unpleasant and sometimes she says maybe she needs another shower. Try to get them involved. As stated above, do make sure there isn't anything medical. She does go to the doctors about every other month. I make sure she drinks plenty of fluids and keep track of her elimination to intake ratio. I take her to the restroom trying to restore some dignity when I can. Their is non alcohol wipes and good cleansing sprays to help keep that area clean. Do make sure they are dry before using another depends. Letting the area air out (sorry for the bluntness), not only feels good, but helps avoid bacteria from forming..but do use a liner underneath them. It is very difficult, time consuming but remember you are their angel! Keeping dignity with love is so important. Try to instill this with whoever takes care of them during your time off! You definitely need time for yourself, friends and your significant other!

Depends, with removable pads in them (easier to change than diapers), Baking Soda in water to wipe down wall, floors, inside drawers in her dresser. I like OxiClean added to laundry detergent (Wisk, Costco) to remove BO from clothing. Sprinkle Oxi or Amemens(Has a nice fragrance that is not too strong) body powder under the mattress pad.

I get sweaty in foldy places, and it smells. I read, then tried, antiperspirant in those areas, and it works!!!! I have sensitive skin and use Menen unscented roll on and do not have skin trouble from it (infact, it has decreased due to less moisture). (Weird but true)

Empty her room garbage daily. In my living room I found dad's garbage with lots of fruit peels etc, added a lot of smell.

Also, take her to the doctor and make sure she does not have diabetes out of control, or other illness.

So very glad that I came across this problem.......I absolutely will NOT let anyone in my house other than us. I think it stinks so bad. My husband works away during the week and when he comes home, he doesn't smell anything out of the way, but I sure do. I have bought every kind of air freshner ever made. I use vinegar, lysol, febreeze, natural odor eliminator and anything else I can get my hands on. The above named 2 products will definitely be purchased, for sure.......All I get done is change depends poop and pee both, she is totally incontinent both ways, then I scrub her and then the bed. I totally have this smell embedded in my nose and it won't go away. Usually, I have to go somewhere else to eat and when I go to clean up messes, I get very nauseated. Has anyone else experienced this? It keeps getting worse by the week, or daily. Thanks!

Could she be spitting up a bit on her bedding? Teeth (perhaps mouthwash would help); body odor (regular baths and/or sponge bathing); dehydration? (important to get hydrated which can be done with jello, fruits, and water or other drinks by her; Medicines; her 'stuff', i.e. mementos she brought with her, etc.; closed quarters, i.e., open a window just a bit (she need not know) I had the window opened in the northeast this past winter the entire winter, she didn't know and it was still warm in there);

The only way you can get rid of it is to address all the issues, give the room a good cleaning (bit by bit if you're exhausted). Ways to address it would be scented cottonballs (I use lavender); I've used clothes dryer sheets under the sheets and in the pillow case; there are also sprays now available, but I'd try the 'cleaning' route before the sprays. You don't want to cover up the odor, you want to find the cause, then take care of that.

Also, make sure her dirty clothes don't hang around in a closed hamper. Any little drop of bodily fluids can smell bad especially when left hanging around.

The sour smell could be caused by a yeast infection. Check the underwear for light yellow, pasty stains. It is also itchy, so your mom may be scratching down there and get some residue caught under her fingernails. The cause may be that her immune system is not working well, so make sure her nutrition is adequate. See the doctor for the appropriate treatment. I would add Borax to the laundry detergent to boost the deodorant and stain removal effect. Eucalyptus body wash is a wonderful, refreshing and deodorizing agent, as well. Good luck.

Do you take care of her or someone else? Baby powder is a good smell, and mom always smells that way.

Try depends, check for UTI, yeast infection, dryer sheets are a good idea for drawers, closets, shoes, etc. Could the bamboo flooring give off an odor? I hate to tell you this, but smell your mom inconspicuously, my mom has ALZ, but I lean down and smell her hair, ears, mouth.....you get the drift. Medications can give an odor. Check her diet.

Try a HEPA air filter. It will scour the air and remove microbes. I use one because I have a mold allergy, but the side effect is a great smelling room.

If I smelled sour milk, I would look around for a hidden bowl of ice cream that is about a month old.

scentsy is another idea...ok, I am done rambling lol

the product Zero Odor is a fabulous product, when I used to smoke, I used it on my self, not skin but clothes I was wearing and hair, and it is great for fabric of any kind. Whoopie Goldburg used to smoke, and she said this is the only prouduct she has ever tried eliminamte all odors from her house, clothes, linens , car etc...you can get it online. I dont have to use it more because I dont smoke..but that an idea. I do agree with the above post, I myself believe it will probably continue to smell that a way..just cause..you know what I mean? but Zero Odor does not have ANY smell itself it does not put off a smell. Also, I would do this, Put Dryer sheets in the drawers and also lay them out so one can get to them, Like Bounty or Bounce. that is what I would do

I recently read a very interesting article dealing with "old people odor" and the very scientific explanation of it. Can't remember exactly where I found that information, but will look around and try to find the article for you. You are not imagining it. In addition to all the above suggestions, this is a real thing. FIL has an awful odor that wafts through the house. Got to keep after him to bathe and I found that he took off dirty clothes and rehung them in the closet to "air out" . I try to keep on top of that, but it is very hard.

Consider all the above....and add GAS..there are lots of products that can completely eliminate organic odors.... Bard Medi Aire Biological Odor Eliminator Lemon Scent..works great..this does Not take the place of cleaning sheets and nightgowns and washing trash cans, and finding the source of the odor..but I cannot imagine life without it.....there are lots of products out there...ask your hospital what it uses...sometimes they will give you a tiny bottle...to try..Our Hospital did....it kept me alive in a elevator once.....BUT that is another story...YIKES......there was no where to go! LOL

We get good results from regularly laundering moms bedding and clothes with a vinegar rinse added, and an occasional bleaching on items that can be bleached. We purchased a large bed pad from amazon (of course) and was a great investment at about $20. Even with depends and bathroom trips we were having occasional overflow. I was using a pad, just like the ones you see at hospitals, but the larger one is excellent for us. Could the bedding itself be smelling? Sometimes scents don't come completely out after laundering (why we added vinegar etc.) We also added disinfectant spray to our regular cleaning and that means her bed, chair and room gets the treatment. Is it possible their clothes have a lingering scent? Hope you find the solution and the culprit if there is one to be found. You are doing great!

I mean, I get Urinary Tract infections about once every two to three months not twice a month, that was my mistake in typing.

As many of us know, older folks do have a smell, this could be because cells from their skin do not turn over as fast and they do not produce as much oil on their skin. The sour Milk smell may be the clothing, sheets, fabrics due to possibly them souring after a load of clothing if it sits out before you put them in the dryer they will sour. It could be a combination of the medications they are taking and it having an affect on the oder of thier skin, thus rubbing off on the bed sheets, sofas, chairs, clothing, hair. This is a great question and I was throwing out some possibilities. I am not sure the condition of your loved one, but it could be their illness. It could be a yeast infection, it could be a Urniary tract infection. I am 54 years old, I get Urinary Tract Infections about twice a month and I will have an odor until the medicine begins to kill the bacteria. It could be the smell of bacteria too..any kind of bacteria. Our bodies emit all kinds of smells when we get older.