There’s nothing quite like coming home to the beautiful smell of dinner wafting out from the kitchen, or bread baking in the bread maker. But what about those smells you don’t want? There’s nothing quite like them either, but for an altogether different reason. When it comes to bad smells lingering in your home, getting to the source, and cleaning them is of the utmost importance. Read on to learn what it takes to say goodbye to them for good.
Identify What the Smell Is
There’s no point rushing to the supermarket to pick up deodorisers, sprays, and candles if you don’t know what is causing the bad smell. By doing so, you’re masking it, rather than removing the source. Even though it’s not going to be pleasing to your senses to sniff around for the odour, it’s the only option you have to find it.
What does it smell like? Could it be dangerous? Is it stronger when you’re in a particular area of your home? Has it come on suddenly, or has it been getting worse? Identification is key to then moving on to getting rid of it.
Mould
If your home has a unique, musty odour, then there’s every reason to believe that mould could be to blame. Mold and mildew can smell like old mothballs or even wet cardboard and is quite distinctive.
It’s also more common around parts of your home prone to moisture, such as bathrooms. The first step to removing mould in your home is correcting the problem. If it’s caused by a leak in your bathroom, for example, then fixing that leak can stop the production of mould in its tracks.
Pets
While not all homes with pets smell like pets live there, some can. The sooner you can get on top of cleaning, the faster you can remove that smell for good. Clean and vacuum your carpets thoroughly, and bathe the family pooch, as well. All bedding – theirs and yours – should also be washed, and mattresses should be aired out.
Electrical
Do you smell something burning? What about fish, even though you’re not cooking any fish? Believe it or not, both the smell of burning and fish can indicate something wrong with your home’s electricity supply.
Check all outlets in your home and look for signs of overheating. Pay attention to all plugged-in appliances, as well. If you can’t identify the cause, call your local fire department to see if they can.
Rotten Eggs
If you haven’t cooked up a pot of boiled eggs for lunch, then it’s quite a concern if your home smells of eggs. Sometimes, that can indicate a gas leak. Propane gas is naturally odourless, but an element called mercaptan is added to offer that odour, so you know if gas is leaking or not. Leave your home and call the gas company. Once the gas is off, the problem fixed, and your home aired out; that smell may go away on its own.
There are going to be times when your home has a lingering odour even after you’ve gotten to the source of the problem. Fortunately, there are a myriad of different things you can do, dependant on the cause.
Warm vinegar with water can be an excellent cleaning agent, and vinegar with baking soda can neutralise odours, as well. Regular ventilation of your home, carpet cleaning, and checking your HVAC system can all help to alleviate unwanted smells. If you suspect you could be in danger, dial 000.
