Houses stink sometimes. It is inevitable. It is important to take care of those smells as soon as possible. No one likes having a smelly house and that does not necessarily mean that you don’t clean. There are so many things you do that might accumulate all kinds of smells. Different rooms and areas of the house smell differently and you must expect some not-so-pleasant odours to occur now and then. It is best if you know what causes certain smells since some of them might be strange and hard to identify and address. In this article we will talk about some of the most common sources of house smells and how to get rid of them. So keep reading and find out what to do the next time you smell something funny.
It is a common mistake that people make, trying to cover up the smell, instead of finding out what causes it and efficiently removing it. Burning candles, using air fresheners and using diffusers will help with the odour for a while but not really remove it. Always aim to find what the root of the smell is and treat it instead.
There are many commercial products full of chemicals that you can buy and use in your house. Treating smells with natural ingredients and solutions however, is much better for your health and for the environment so let’s look at some natural deodorising techniques that you can use in many different areas of your house. You will need the same ingredients for most of the solutions so prepare coffee grounds, vodka, white vinegar, baking soda, lemons and oranges.
Kitchen cleaning
Kitchens are one of the rooms that accumulate the most smells. Food, grease, rubbish bins and even food storage spaces that might end up collecting rotting food.
Rubbish bin: Kitchen rubbish bins do get especially stinky.
To begin with, get a bin with a cover. That will help reduce the smells. Also make sure to take out your trash often. If it is particularly smelly or it is summer, put an orange peel or some baking soda at the bottom. Do not forget to wash your bin with soap and water once in a while.
Dishes: Dirty dishes that are left in the sink may start smelling after a while. Make sure to rinse them off before leaving them in the sink.
Refrigerators: Your fridge is bound to stink from time to time. Make sure to remove any rotten or expired food weekly. You can also keep smelly products or cooked food in sealed containers to prevent them from making your whole appliance smelly. You can leave baking soda, coffee grounds or half a potato on your shelves. Those will absorb any smells.
Lunch boxes: Take a slice of bread, soak it in vinegar and leave it in the box overnight.
Oven: Bake 2 sliced lemons for 60-90 minutes at 250 degrees. Wipe the walls with a cloth, soaked in hot water.
Bathroom cleaning
Bathrooms are probably the stinkiest places in one’s home. It is ironic, since we all go there to get clean. All the moisture, toilet, drains and other grime produced by humans might turn this room into a gross place.
Toilet: For a stinky toilet, pour vinegar in it and close it for 10-15 minutes. Then scrub the inside and edges very well.
Tub and shower: Scrub the tub and shower with baking soda in a powder or paste form. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse out. That will remove the smells.
Rubbish bin: Take the rubbish out frequently, wash your bin with soap and water once every week or two. For extra odour removal, keep baking soda at the bottom.
Closet cleaning
Closets can be very stinky just because they are usually small and stay closed most of the time. That means all mustiness and smells are trapped inside.
Clothes: Clothes can easily become smelly, especially when piled up for a long time. make sure to not mix dirty and clean clothes and don’t overuse your detergent. Also, never put your clothes back in the closet before they are completely dry. You can put orange peels or baking soda in socks between your clothes.]
Shoes: Stinky shoes can be an awful thing to have at home. Especially when stored in a closet. Sometimes stinky shoes can make everything around them stink as well. Try crushing sage leaves inside your shoes between wears. You can also sprinkle vodka inside. When it evaporates, the smell will go with it.
Bedroom cleaning
Not a particularly smelly place but dirty laundry and beds can indeed start smelling when neglected for a while.
Sheets and blankets: They are in direct contact with your body at all times so they might become stinky after a while. Make sure to air out your blankets regularly and change your sheets every week.
Pillows: Pillows are also in contact with your sweat and body oils at all times. If you don’t wash them regularly they might end up smelly. Wash them in hot water with ½ cup vinegar to keep them from smelling
Living Room cleaning
Living rooms are not particularly stinky but they are a high traffic area so you might end up with a smelly carpet or spilled food smells.
Upholstery stains: Just spray the stain with vinegar and water, then dust with baking soda to deodorise. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes then vacuum. Use the same for smelly carpets.