Let’s admit it. We usually base our judgment about the quality of air on its smell. However, this may be incorrect in most cases. Nowadays, you can find numerous air fresheners, scented candles, and other products promising to make your house smell fresh all day!
Though these products can eliminate undesirable odor inside your home, they may not eliminate the cause. Instead of covering up these smells with fragrant sprays that may contain harmful chemicals, it’s more important to understand the factor why your house smells in the first place. Once you know where it’s originating from, you can take some steps to eradicate the source.
Common Reasons of Bad Smell at Home
- Leftover food
- Dirty and wet laundry
- Dirty carpet
- Stagnant air
- Dust
- Pet urine/waste
- Garbage disposal
- Stale sheets
- Mold
Tips on Making Your Home Smell Fresh
Identify the Source of the Smell
It might be appealing to conceal the foul odor with an air freshener, but bear in mind that this is only a short-term solution. It may not be effective in the long run and can also affect your family’s health. Did you know that some air fresheners may release damaging volatile organic compounds (VOC) into your home’s air? According to experts, VCOs lead to shortness of breath, headaches, eye, nose, and throat inflammation, lightheadedness, and skin problems.
That’s why it’s advisable to check every room in your house for molds, water leakages, mildew, wetness, or condensation. Clean visible sources of mold or mildew right away. If it’s possible, fix any water leakages immediately since this is where moisture is gathering.
2. Clean All Rooms and Floors
Remove dust in every room in your house from top to bottom, including shelves, tables, ceiling fans, blinds, lighting fixtures, doors, windows, upholstery, carpets, and electronics. Dust usually originates from the outdoors but can occur naturally inside. Aside from resulting in a foul odor in your house, it also causes allergic reactions.
When it comes to your floorings, you can use a wet cloth instead of sweeping or using a dry mop as these may stir dust back up into the air. For tile and grout cleaning, warm water and dish soap can do the trick. However, for tough dirt and stains, you might need the help of experts.
3. Clean All Upholstery
Your upholstery, particularly the couch, can easily trap spills, fur, dust, oil, and cooking odors. Refer to the label of your sofa for proper care. Usually, they include what cleaning liquids are safe, along with the methods. Dry brush and vacuum are the safest and excellent tools to remove dust, dry particles, and crumbs. DIY cleaning solutions, such as baking soda and some vinegar solutions, can also help in foul-smelling couch problems.
If you frequently use your sofa or have small kids and pets, it’s most likely to get dirty more quickly. In this case, a deep cleaning may be needed.
If you’re looking for professional odor removal in Billings, check out EcoClean. They are one of the most recommended cleaning companies in the area for their top-quality services and outstanding customer service.
4. Wash Your Laundry and Sheets
Normally, people clean their sheets once a week. If you sleep on your mattress often or have animals and let them sleep in your bed, you might need to wash your sheets more than once a week. Sheets can accumulate dead skin cells, dirt, sweat, dust, mites and their fecal matters and carcasses, and body oils that cause a bad odor.
On the other hand, avoid mixing sweaty clothing or damp towels with your dry laundry because this can muster a foul smell. Or better yet, wash them right away. If you can’t, air dry before tossing them into the hamper. Hang them in a well-lit room or dry outdoors to ensure the freshest smell, especially that fungi quickly grows on moist and damp clothing.
5. Open Your Windows
A closed home can trap pollutants and odors that remain in the air for a long time. Open your windows to enable outdoor air into your home. You can check with your local air quality news before opening your windows if you are allergic to pollen.
Key Takeaways
The pointers discussed above are among the many things you can do to get rid of bad odors inside your house. Cleaning your home yourself and making use of DIY solutions cuts extra expenses for cleaning services. However, if the issue is severe, like damage caused by a harsh chemical or bleach spill, you might need professional help.
Visit EcoClean, a reliable cleaning company in Billings, MT, to know more about what they do for you.