Fixes for 7 common smells

Identifying the source of a bad smell in your house it may feel like detective work, but it’s the only real way to get rid of bad odors for good. Air fresheners and scented candles only cover the problem with a competing scent, which solves nothing. In addition, they lead to poor air quality that can irritate asthma and allergies.

Instead, your goal is to neutralize odors completely at their true source. Below, I address the most common odor culprits so you can remove lingering odors from your entire home and get it smelling good again.

1. Open the windows to clear the air.

Stale air is full of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cooking odors, pet odors and off-gassing fabrics. You might be blind to it if you’ve been home for a while, but it will make you feel tired and can cause headaches too.

I make it a daily habit to create a cross breeze opening the windows daily on opposite sides of my house for a few minutes, even in winter. Five minutes with an open window won’t freeze your plumbing, but it will bring in fresh air to dilute the bad stuff. Combine this with an air purifier that works to trap and destroy airborne particles and you’ll quickly eliminate bad odors throughout your home.

2. Clean soft surfaces.

The fabric acts like a giant sponge for awful smells. I once caught a whiff of last week’s curry dinner when I opened my bedroom curtains! Other soft surfaces that absorb bad odors include bedding, upholstery and carpets. Here’s how to deal with them:

• Wash sheets and duvet covers weekly.
• Wash the curtains once a season.
• Wash pillows, blankets and duvets every 3 months.
• For wallpapers and carpets, try a homemade deodorant. Pour a generous layer of baking soda with your favorite essential oils on the carpet. Let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes (or overnight for strong odors) and give it a good wipe down to pull out the trapped odors.

3. Deep clean the kitchen culprits.

An overflowing trash can is the usual cause of bad kitchen smells, but appliances can also be to blame. Here’s how to deal with them all.

• Wash the litter box weekly with warm soapy water. Once dry, line the bottom with a piece of newspaper or a layer of paper towel to wrap around. Sprinkle some baking soda on top to absorb odors as well. Replace this week.
• The oven is spilling they stink up the kitchen every time they heat up. Sprinkle salt over fresh spills to absorb. Wipe up spills once the oven has cooled. Then, every other month, use a paste of baking soda and vinegar water spray to clean your oven without scrubbing.
• Dealing with refrigerator odors cleaning out old food every week. If it still smells, rub the rubber door seal where mold likes to hide.
• For a smelly sink drainsuse a dash of baking soda followed by hot vinegar once a week to remove odor-causing buildup.
• Keep your garbage disposal clean By running it down with a liquid dish soap or kitchen cleaner and warm water and then rubbing in some ice cubes. This process liquefies any grease and build-up and then cleans it off the blades.
• Deodorize your microwave heating a bowl of water with a splash of lemon juice (or lemon wedge) in it for 2 minutes. Allow the bowl to cool undisturbed so the steam has a chance to loosen the dirt, then wipe down your microwave.
• Keep your kitchen hood filter clean then turn on the fan to blow away cooking smells while you prepare dinner.

4. Eliminate laundry room odors.

Mildew in your washing machine can make your whole house stink. This happens easily with front load washers or if you leave wet towels in while you go on vacation like I did! Run a hot sanitizing cycle with a machine cleaning tablet or wipe the drum using an enzymatic cleaner to kill mildew spores and bacteria. Also, remember to leave the washing machine door open between loads for ventilation.

5. Deodorize lingering pet odors.

Our pets spread body oils and unique scent gland secretions on surfaces. Brush their fur out weekly and bathe them regularly to keep those odors under control. Make it a habit to wash your pet’s bedding every two weeks and even weekly in the summer if they are outside a lot.

To keep pet accidents from turning into permanent odors, sprinkle them with a generous amount of baking soda right away. This is a non-toxic natural odor absorber that makes wiping up liquids easier and helps keep solids from staining. Once you’re done with the mess, spray the spot with a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and cool water. The foaming action neutralizes odors and lifts stains, so wait for it to finish, then vacuum or re-soak the area with warm, soapy water.

6. Get rid of smoke and soot smells.

If you’re dealing with a previous owner’s cigarette smoke or a smoke smell from the fireplace or candles, soot is the likely source of the smell. Here’s how to get rid of the smell of smoke:

• First, clean the ceiling and walls to remove nicotine or other build-up.
• Then clear the air ducts as far as you can go so you can be sure no crap is going around.
• Finally, wash the soft surfaces (curtains, drapes, upholstery) and steam clean the carpet or rug or mop the floor.

7. Eliminate mysterious odors.

To deodorize your home when you can’t find or deal with the source, set out bowls of white vinegar or liquid coffee grounds, or even separate bowls of both. The acetic acid in the vinegar will neutralize odors in the air in your home while the coffee grounds will help mask it.

Note on hazardous odors

While getting the bad smell out of your home is usually a matter of cleaning, keep your nose alert for danger. If you ever smell a lingering rotten egg odor, this indicates a possible gas leak or sewer line failure. Do not try to clean it. Evacuate the home immediately and call emergency services.