Have you ever come home from a long day at work only to open the door and realize that something stinks? Even if it’s not a knock-you-off-your-feet odour, it makes your house feel unclean. To get that welcoming smell back into your home, you first need to identify the source of the odour. This is not always as easy as you might think. Here are five common culprits. If you address these sources of odour in your home, it may be all that you need to do:
Pets. You love your kitty, but the truth is that she may be making your home stink. You can have a pet without the odour, but it takes work. The first step is to keep pets brushed and clean so that they are not shedding dirty hair all over your home. If your pet is prone to ‘accidents’, cover them with baking soda. Carefully clean your furniture and carpet and consider using an odour treatment. Also make sure that you regularly clean your pet’s toys, bedding and dishes as these can all be a source of odour.
Carpet. Even in a home without pets, carpets often smell bad. It is important that you take care of your carpet through regular vacuuming and odour treatments. It’s also a good idea to air out your carpets at least once a week by opening a window and turning on a fan to get the air circulating.
Smoke. If someone is smoking in your home, it is going to be difficult to eliminate that odour. However, there are a few steps that you can take to get your home smelling fresh. Regularly rinse and wash floors and other hard surfaces using a bleach and water solution. Clean your carpets, clothes and furniture and try an odour treatment. If that’s not enough to get rid of the odour, you can put little bowls of vinegar throughout your house, use an air purifier, or even boil orange peels to get that nice citrus scent.
Mildew: Not only is a mildew smell unpleasant, but it can actually make you sick. If you have a basement or a room that smells like mildew, take action immediately. Clean out any old papers, cardboard or fabrics and wash down any hard surfaces in the room with bleach and water.
Garbage.The truth is that your household odour problem could be as simple as a stinky garbage can. Be aware of the items that you put in your garbage and eliminate any particularly smelly garbage like diapers, cat litter, or rotten food. Sprinkle baking soda in your garbage to absorb some of the odour and use it to scrub out the can on a weekly basis.