Whether you’re moving to a new place and what your security deposit back or have an odor that just won’t go away, you need to know how to get rid of smells in the house.
Unwanted odors can make a clean environment feel unsanitary. Since it is easy to become nose-blind to your home, it helps to have a deodorizing routine that reduces unwanted smells. You might not know they are there, but your visitors can certainly detect something foul!
You can even have mysterious odors appear without any noticeable trigger.
What are the options you have to eliminate the unwanted odors that seem to linger? If you know what the smell could be, it’ll be easier to stop it.
Some Smells in Your House Could Be a Danger Sign
After encountering an unexplained odor in your home, the first step is to identify it as a potential danger. Some smells should be treated as an emergency, while others could indicate a severe health hazard.
Why Does My House Smell Like Fish?
If you haven’t baked seafood for dinner recently, a fishy smell could be evidence of an electrical fire. Even if you don’t see one, it could be present behind a receptacle or switch.
When the wiring starts overheating, you’ll detect the unwanted odor. If you cannot pinpoint the source and the smell is strong, the best option is to leave and call for emergency services.
What Is the Rotten Eggs Smell?
The smell of rotten eggs in your home often indicates a gas leak is present. This issue tends to have a source near an appliance that uses this fuel, such as the furnace, dryer, or oven range.
It often means one of your burner valves is open or the pilot light went out, but it could be dangerous if you hear the sounds of escaping gas. Don’t turn on anything electric while leaving your property. Call 911 and tell them about the situation.
Why Does My Home Smell Musty?
Does your home smell like mothballs or wet cardboard? That’s a sign that mildew or mold is present, emanating microbial VOCs that could adversely impact your health. The only way to eliminate the odor is to remove its source.
The most common causes of musty odors are plumbing leaks. Check underneath your bathroom and kitchen sink for problems. There could also be buildup in your HVAC systems or along your window sills.
How Come My Home Smells Like a Sewer?
If you have a sewage smell coming from your bathroom, it is usually because of materials stuck in the toilet or sink trap. This issue occurs a lot when a property isn’t used for some time. You can run some water through the plumbing to solve this issue.
When the odor continues, the pipes might need to get cleaned. You can run some baking soda and vinegar through your plumbing to eliminate the smell.
If this issue doesn’t solve the sewer smells, you might have a blockage in your main pipe. You’ll need to contact a plumber to inspect the situation.
What About Pet Smells in My Home?
When you have dogs or cats at home, your indoor environment eventually starts to smell like them. If you don’t have a pet, this odor issue is often caused by rodents making their way into your house. Mice, squirrels, and even raccoons leave droppings that can cause this problem. Your best option here is to contact a pest control specialist.
If you have pets at home, you’ll want to deodorize your carpets, furniture, and soft surfaces about three times per week. Powders and sprays are the most common options. Your first treatment might need to sit overnight before you finish the cleaning process.
How to Address Miscellaneous Smells in Your Home
Most of the unwanted smells in a home come from the carpet, kitchen, or bathroom. You can often fix the issue by pouring one cup of baking soda down a drain or sprinkling it on your carpet.
If you have a sink issue, pour two cups of vinegar after the baking soda. Allow the mixture to bubble for approximately five minutes before washing it away with lots of hot water.
It also helps to improve your home’s ventilation. If you add an air purifier to your primary room, you’ll decrease the VOCs you encounter daily.
Although some unwanted odors can indicate an emergency, most of them can be eliminated by tracking them down to their source. Once you’ve taken that step, you won’t need to be worried about being nose-blind anymore.
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