How to Get Rid of Smelly Odors in Your Home
Did you know that we humans can distinguish more than 1 trillion scents? Recent research indicates that our sense of smell is far more discriminating than previously thought. Given our noses’ ability to detect so many scents, it’s not surprising that we are more comfortable in environments that don’t have unpleasant odors. We’ve all been there before, – you walk into a room in your home and think to yourself, “What stinks?”
Household odors are usually found in areas that don’t get a regular cleaning. Some of the most common sources of bad odors include dank laundry hampers, garbage disposals or trash cans that haven’t been cleaned or deodorized, musty-smelling carpet, lingering food smells, unbathed pets and their bedding, and even a moldy washing machine, just to name a few.
To make matters worse, many people try and tackle unwanted scents with air fresheners that only mask odors while doing nothing to eradicate them. Rather than plugging in room deodorizers or lighting an arsenal of flowery scented candles that don’t fix the underlying problem, here are a few tips for tracking bad household smells and eliminating them:
Trash can odors
Food spills and waste can make your kitchen trash cans stink. To freshen them, first wash them inside and out with warm soapy and dry thoroughly. To prevent future odors, try one of these solutions: Dust the bottom of the garbage can with scented cat litter or throw a few citrus peels (lemon or orange) in the bottom of the can before you insert your garbage bag. You can also try dusting the bottom of your garbage can with baking soda or unused coffee grounds. Either one will do a great job of neutralizing future odors.
Carpet and rug odors
Carpets are a catch-all for everything that happens in the room. They collect dust, spills, crumbs, and if you have pets, then you already know that carpet and rugs are a magnet for pet odors. Whether it’s a hidden accident or one that you clean up immediately, the smell can linger for weeks or even months. To get a deep clean on your carpeted floors:
- Locate any spots that smell particularly bad. Maybe your pet had an accident that soaked into the carpeting, or a water spill made the carpet damp and caused mildew.
- Sprinkle baking soda across the affected spot on the carpet. If possible, let sit overnight or, better yet, for two days. This will allow the baking soda to absorb the odor.
- Vacuum the baking soda out of the carpet. That should get rid of any mild odors. If that doesn’t work, treat the area with a mixture of white vinegar and water — the acid in the vinegar will break through bacteria in the carpet.
- Thoroughly vacuum the entire carpet. You can sprinkle baking soda on your entire carpet before you vacuum, as an extra measure.
Pet odors
If you have one or more pets in your home, they could be causing an odor. Regularly washing your pets and keeping their bedding and litter boxes clean can help you stay on top of the smell. Make sure if you are also vacuuming more often, at least twice a week. This will also give you a chance to look for accidents on your floor.
Upholstery & curtain odors
Just like your sheets and your dirty laundry, any kind of upholstery is a magnet for dust, dust mites, and other indoor pollutants. Here are some good tips for keeping the fabric in your room clean and odor-free:
- Wash your curtains (as per care instructions)
- Use a white vinegar and water treatment to remove any spot smells on couches or other upholstered furniture
- Vacuum upholstered furniture to remove any built-up dust and dirt
- Sprinkle some baking soda on upholstered furniture and let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum it off
You don’t need to clean them every week; a good deep clean once a month should be just fine.
Dead animal (literally) stench
There is nothing worse than the smell that occurs when an animal dies within your walls. The stench can last for months while the carcass decomposes. The best remedy is to pour some distilled white vinegar into a plastic container and cover it with a tight-fitting lid that you have punched with holes. Place the container in a corner of the offensive-smelling room. The vinegar will absorb the odor and over time the smell will dissipate.
Dusty surface odors
Dust is made up of all kinds of gross things like dead skin, pollen, pet hair and dander, insects, insect droppings, and dirt. And that’s just the start. Not only does dust make your room look and feel dirty, but it also affects the quality of your air and can cause a musty smell. While dust itself may not seem like a big deal, the different components of dust may also cause allergy symptoms.
Even if you’re not allergic, dusting should be a top priority. You probably know to dust the obvious places like tables and shelves but don’t forget the blinds, ceiling fans, and light fixtures; the tops of doors and windows, and upholstery; and on and around electronics, baseboards, and carpeting. Dust top to bottom. If you clean from the bottom up, the dust will settle back onto surfaces you’ve already cleaned. Use a damp cloth to dust hard surfaces, which will prevent dust from being stirred up into the air.
Sink or garbage disposal odors (rotten eggs)
When food particles and waste are left in the garbage disposal and unable to drain properly, this will inevitably lead to foul odors. To clean a smelly disposal, drop a cut-up lemon, a couple of tablespoons of salt, and a few ice cubes into your disposal. Turn it on and run it until the lemon and ice are pulverized.
The lemon deodorizes and the ice and salt clean away scummy residue. Citrus is a great odor eliminator and the fruit’s high level of acid creates an unfriendly environment for bacteria. You can also try sprinkling half a cup of baking soda into the disposal and add some vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing with hot water.
Dishwasher odors
Over time, bacteria attack the little bits of food that collect in your dishwasher’s filter, causing it to smell. To get rid of the odor, first remove all food particles or scum from the bottom of the machine, making sure to remove and rinse the filter. Next, pour two cups of distilled white vinegar into the machine directly into the drum. Run the machine through a hot water cycle. Pause the cycle for about 20 minutes midway so that the water-and-vinegar mixture has a chance to break down detergent residue. Restart and finish the cycle.
Washing machine odors
It’s easy for mold and mildew to grow in washing machines, especially if you have a front-load machine. To get rid of odors, mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with an equivalent amount of water. Add this solution to your machine’s detergent container. Next, pour two cups of white vinegar into the drum, then run a normal cycle at high heat—without any clothes, of course. The baking soda and vinegar should break up any residue stuck to your drum and kill any mold that might be present. They’ll also help remove any foul odors.
Laundry hamper odors
The laundry hamper is a breeding ground for bacteria. Make sure you are emptying your laundry hamper regularly. The gases released by bacteria break down the oil and sweat left behind on your clothes, causing them to emit unpleasant odors. To keep this problem at bay, never put excessively sweaty clothes in your laundry hamper. Instead, wash them right away.
To get rid of the smell, wipe down the inside of the hamper, making sure to get in every crack and crevice. Next, take it outside or close to a window in a sunny spot to air. When you bring it back inside, place an open container of baking soda in the empty hamper and close the lid overnight.
Refrigerator odors
Bacteria and molds cause the foul odors coming from your fridge. These menacing microbes thrive in areas that have moisture. That moisture can come from spilled food, condensation from the fridge, and humidity from the outside. To get rid of fridge odors, start by cleaning out the shelves and drawers. Scrub all shelves with a mixture of warm water and baking soda, then wipe with a mixture of white vinegar and warm water.
To prevent odors, keep a box of baking soda open on a shelf in the back of your refrigerator and freezer and replace it monthly. Sodium bicarbonate attracts and eliminates odors; Just make sure to change it a couple of times a year. Alternatively, soak a couple of cotton balls in vanilla extract and place them on a small dish in the back of your refrigerator. Replace the cotton balls once they have dried out.
Lingering food odors
Over time, cooking smells can become trapped in your kitchen, especially if you do a lot of curry dishes, spicy sauces, or fried meals. To wash your cabinets and walls, use warm water with a mild soap. To eliminate odor after a meal, just boil a cup of vinegar on the stove. You can also let a bowl of vinegar sit overnight. Discard the old vinegar; fill the bowl with fresh vinegar and let sit for another 24 hours if odors in the air remain.
The takeaway
While you can never fully prevent household odors, a regular cleaning routine and the tips listed above will help to keep them at bay. Just remember to tackle household odors before they become stinky smells. And if you need some extra help cleaning house, you can always call on the professionals.
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