Home is the most comforting and relaxing place in the world, and so when something goes wrong it can be quite a problem. Bad smells might not seem like a massive deal, but they can make the home unpleasant to spend time in and can be embarrassing when you have guests over too.
If you’ve noticed a strange odor but can’t work out what it is, here are some ideas for getting to the bottom of the problem.
Deep clean the kitchen
Kitchens are prone to getting smelly just because of the nature of them. There’s food being prepared, stored and people and pets eating. You might give your kitchen a wipe down each day, but you could be missing certain areas. Clean your microwave and your oven, pull it out to make sure nothing has fallen down the back.
Give your trash bin a thorough scrub with some disinfectant, and check your fridge and cupboards for spoiled food. Your floors and sides might be sparkling and your kitchen in many ways could be very hygienic, but still smelly due to these kinds of things. Get into the habit of opening windows and using an extractor fan when you’re cooking to avoid stale food smells.
Clean or replace the carpets
Carpets are cozy and warm underfoot, but they’re not the most practical floor covering. They fray, they fade in the sun and when it comes to stains and smells, they hold onto them for dear life. If your carpet is in good condition but just has a bit of a funky smell, hiring a powerful carpet cleaner like the Rug Doctor or getting a company in to clean them should do the trick. These machines flood the fibers, the detergent cleans and neutralizes smells and the powerful suction ensures minimal water is left behind.
If your carpets are old or very smelly then it could be best completely removing them. If they’ve previously been soiled by your pets then it’s very hard to truly get rid of the smell, often what will happen is the area will dry out, but any moisture in the air will reactivate the bacteria leading to the stench. If you notice the smell coming and going then it could be this.
If your home has previously been flooded then your carpets could be harboring mold. You could look into mold removal, but if the underlay has been affected too then it could be just as easy to remove the lot and put down a new floor covering.
Most of us have a shoe cupboard in our hallway or a place to put our shoes when we get in, so if you’re noticing a funny smell when you get in this is something to check! Sweaty gym shoes, for example, could be quite offensive! Make sure any wet shoes are thoroughly dried to stop them from getting smelly and consider using insoles that can be replaced for shoes that are prone to getting sweaty.
I hope this has given you some tips on avoiding smell problems in your home and keeping it smelling fresh and clean.
