There is nothing that is more embarrassing than a stinky home and it may even be worse when you receive unannounced guests. Such bad odors may be stressful when you are not aware of what is causing the horrible smell and also not knowing how to fix it. These include musty, animal and food smells. Many people would want their homes to smell fresh with nice scents that are inviting and do not embarrass. While it might not be the case for some, most of these people will cover the horrible smell with air fresheners. These are only a temporary solution to the problem since they only mask the unwanted scents and not remove them. It is thus important to deal with these horrible scents even when you may not want to talk about it. So here are some reasons why your house has a bad odor and ways to fix that.
Odor From The Garbage Can
Since the waste goes into the garbage can, it is easy for the decaying matter to start producing odor within some time. This will often affect your kitchen and outdoor garbage cans. So, while you wait until the next round of garbage collection, you can freshen your waste can in order to have a home with no unwanted odors. First, you need to wash the cans thoroughly. Use warm water and soap then rinse and take them out to dry in the sun. This will help them get some aeration while drying. You can then add some lemon or orange peels to prevent future odors. Also, using some baking soda helps to neutralize unwanted smells. But, baking soda is unsuitable for metallic garbage cans. Remember to change this often to keep the bad odor at bay.
Musty Smells From Drawers And Closets
Musty smells from drawers or closets may spread onto your clothes. This is common in old furniture and cabinets. To solve this, align your closets or drawers with newspapers and then sprinkle some white vinegar for a few days before filling up the space with clothes. This helps in removing the bad musty smell. Once it is gone, you can arrange your clothes – or shoes - and enjoy fresh-smelling clothes or shoes.
Stinking Fridge
When was the last time you cleaned your fridge? You may find it stinking from spilled milk to rotting food. To clean up, start by removing foods that are waste and filling up space for nothing. Then clean the drawers and shelves. Use warm water mixed with baking soda and rinse with warm water mixed with vinegar. To maintain the fresh smell, place an open box of baking powder in the fridge and replace it on a monthly basis.
A Rotten-Smelling Dishwasher?
Isn’t it ironic how your dishwasher is meant to clean your dishes yet could be the reason why your house has a questionable odor? To solve this, eradicate food remains and scum in the machine. Clean and rinse the filter. Use vinegar in the drum and run a hot water cycle in the machine. Pause for a few minutes to allow the breakdown of detergent residue then restart the cycle and finish the process.
- Justin
