6 Cleaning Steps To Help Remove Odors From Your Home

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It doesn’t matter if you have pets, trash smells or even mildew because odors can easily wreak havoc on your nose and you may even find that at times, they just become overwhelming. Commercial deodorisers can help but the problem is that you need to focus on some of the more troublesome areas first. If you do then you will be removing the odor, as opposed to just masking it.

Carpets

You need to make sure that you use your nose, as this will help you to find out where the pungent smell is coming from. When you are aware of the item or area that is causing the odor, you then need to make sure that you use hot soapy water so that you can clean it up properly. When you have done this, try and use half a cup of white vinegar and the same quantity of water. Go over the surface that you have cleaned, and you will soon find that the entire area is disinfected and that it also smells great. Some surfaces shouldn’t be touched by vinegar at all, and they include marble and natural stone. After all, vinegar is acidic, and therefore it’s possible that it will dull the surface.

Smoke

Smoke can be very tough to get rid of. A lot of it comes down to the amount of build-up you have and the total exposure. There is a lot to be said about simply opening the window so that you can let some fresh air in. If you want to take things to that next level however then you may want to sprinkle some baking soda over the carpet so that you can let it sit overnight. When you have done this, you can then vacuum it up in the morning. Filling a nylon stocking with some cat litter will also help you to absorb any odor as well. Just make sure that you place it behind the TV or even behind furniture.  If you have noticed that the build-up is heavy then you may want to wash the carpet, furniture and even walls. Nicotine can easily get stuck on walls and this is the last thing that you need. If you are really stuck then professional carpet cleaners may be your best option.

Pet Urine

If you can smell urine but you just don’t know where it is coming from then you need to make sure that you follow your nose or that you go over your target area with a blacklight. After all, bodily fluids and even certain vitamins do contain phosphorus. Blacklight emits a UV spectrum, and this makes the phosphorous glow. If you want to get the best result out of this then just make sure that you turn out the lights and that you also close the curtains as well. This will block out the overhead light and it will also give you the chance to find out where your pet has urinated. If you have a urine stain, then blot it with paper towels until you have been able to get out as much liquid as possible. Make sure that you don’t rub it because the last thing that you want to do is spread the stain. Apply a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. When you have done this, it is then time for you to blot the patch until you can really lift the rest of it up. If there is some odor left over then sprinkle some baking soda over the spot so that you can really work out the stain.

Refrigerators

If you have an odor in your fridge then you may want to go through all of the contents of your fridge so that you can remove any smelly food. If you have old or even expired food items that have not been cleaned out, then now would be the time for you to do that. If you want a cleaning solution, then use ¼ cup of baking soda and mix it with 4 cups of warm water.  After you have done this, you then need to wipe everything down. If you want to fill up your fridge again then leave a box of open baking soda in the fridge. If you do this then you will keep your entire home smelling great without any issues.

Sinks

The sink in your home will probably be used at various times of the day. It’s no wonder that you might catch a smell now and again. After all, you have body oil, hair and even toothpaste going down there on a regular basis. If you want to remove hair from your drain, then it’s a good idea for you to use a hair removal tool. If you don’t have one, then take a metal coat hanger that has been bent out of shape to really pull that hair out. Putting baking soda down there will also help you out.

Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal will take care of a huge amount of food waste, so it’s normal for it to smell from time to time. One of the main things that you need to make sure that you avoid is putting hot water down there. Hot water will cause the grease to turn into liquid and this will clog your drains. Running cold water is always the way to go. It’s a good idea for you to avoid putting grease down there to begin with. If you want another option then think about freezing white vinegar in an ice cube tray and then put this through the garbage disposal. This will help to keep the entire disposal clean and it will also keep bacteria at bay as well. The best thing about doing this is that it will also dislodge any pieces of food that might be present as well so it’s important to keep that in mind.