By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
For the time being, the Elliots think they’ve found the source of an odor which drove them out of their Meadowbrook home Friday afternoon.
Raymond Elliot said an exterminator discovered an old bottle of Malathion that Elliot had thrown away, but not before the bottle had split and the pesticide soaked into the basement’s wall and floor.
Elliot said he’s not completely sure that the insecticide is the source of the odor, but after living with family and friends for five days, he and his wife, Dee, will try anything.
“I personally have still got my doubts, but we’ve been told to put lime up on the wall and more on the floor,” Elliot said. “Hopefully this is the problem.”
The Elliots began smelling the odor on Friday and said they’ve brought in natural gas experts, plumbers, restoration specialists, exterminators and a heating and air contractor to help identify the stench. But everyone said they’ve never smelled anything like it before.
After suggestions from experts, Elliot tried ammonia and then lime, but neither have had an effect.
He’s hoping that increasing the amount of lime where the bottle once sat, washing the floor and painting the concrete will end the smelly nightmare on Arden Street.