>A visiting friend of mine recently pointed out that we have a strong
>mildew smell when one enters the lobby from the street. I'm trying to
>determine the source, because, quite frankly, I can't smell it. The
>lobby has a plaster ceiling, beautiful fifties style wood panelling,
>and a terrazzo floor, with a large area carpet (about fifteen years
>old) and a somewhat frat-housish collection of sofas and chairs. As far
>as I can tell, the mildew smell is coming from either the carpets or
>the furniture. We last had the carpet cleaned in 2005. It also has a
>high voume traffic runner laid across it. It's a good question when
>_that_ last went out for cleaning. It may or may not be the source,
>because, according to my friend, the smell was stronger during the
>summer than it is now, when the heating is on.

>Any ideas as to what I should be checking.... and possibly, how to
>handle it?