Nobody likes a stinky place, but unfortunately, our homes sometimes turn into one for a variety of reasons. No panic! We’ll teach you how to quickly cope with 13 different bad smells commonly occurring in households. Best part is, these solutions are completely natural!
1. Smelly Bins
That kind of smell can easily turn your stomach. The quickest solution to this is a couple of lemon slices you can just toss inside the bin. If there is a spill inside that’s causing the smell, though, it’s worth giving the bin a rinse first with soapy water and then clean cold water.
2. Mould
Dampness and the smell that comes with it are quite common in households. If you see mould spots on the walls, that’s your first point of action. You will need a sponge or washcloth, white vinegar, baking soda and water. Create a vinegar solution (half a cup of vinegar, half a cup of water) and put it in a spray bottle. Then in a plastic bowl or container put some warm water and baking soda. Spray the mould spots and the scrub them using the sponge/washcloth, dipped in the water and baking soda solution.
3. Toilet Smells
That can be really nasty! There are, however, simple and not gross at all measures you can take and eliminate these bad smells. First, identify where the smell is coming from. If you don’t want to play detective, play it safe and just treat all areas that might be causing the problem. Put essential oil (your favourite scent) into the toilet brush container. Pour some vinegar into the water tank and flush a couple of times. Pop a few drops of that same essential oil on the inner side of the toilet paper. Regularly wipe the part of the toilet bowl that’s under the seat.
4. The Fridge
Bad smells from the fridge can occur not only due to spoilt food. Regardless of the reason, there are several solutions. If you like the smell of coffee, we suggest you place some fresh ground coffee in a bowl and put it somewhere at the bottom of the fridge. It will suck up the unpleasant odours. If you don’t think coffee smells nice, you could try baking soda using the same technique. It will neutralise the smells completely.
5. The Kitchen Sink
Your kitchen sink can smell pretty bad, even if you don’t see anything that may be causing it. No worries. Dealing with this unpleasant odour is easy! Pour one cup of baking soda in the drain and then add two cups of vinegar. Leave the solution to fizz for about 5 minutes and then let the hot water run down for a minute or two.
6. Cooking Smells
Some meals smell absolutely delicious. Your mouth starts watering as soon as the scent reaches your nostrils. But not all cooking smells were created equal. Frying fish can leave your home in quite a stinky condition, for example. What should you do? Place a bowl of baking soda on the kitchen counter and leave it overnight. There wouldn’t be a trace of the odour in the morning.
7. Laundry
Using detergent and fabric softener is not always enough to remove bad smells from your laundry. Not to mention, these products aren’t even safe your health. A natural solution to neutralise unpleasant odours on clothes would be adding some vinegar in the detergent section of the washing machine. Worried that this would cause your laundry to smell even funnier? Try baking soda instead.
8. Smelly Shoes
Are you a fan of sports shoes? These can smell really awful sometimes and you don’t want that smell to be the first thing that greets your visitors. Use teabags! Make a couple of cups of tea, enjoy the drink, then wait for the bags to dry completely and place them into the stinky shoes.
9. Stained Mattresses
If you have little children, teaching them to stay dry overnight may be a challenge. Even if you put mattress protectors, the mattress itself can also suffer. The good news is you don’t have to buy a new one. There is an easy way to eliminate the bad smell. Sprinkle some baking soda and leave it there for half an hour. Then use the vacuum cleaner to clean up. Painless and spotless!
10. Upholstery Smells
The solution for smelly sofas and armchairs is the same for mattresses. However, you can also make your own fabric spray. The ingredients are some baking soda, some essential oil and water. Put it in a spray bottle and you are ready to go.
11. Pet Smells
Pets are lovely but don’t always smell so nice. You may be comfortable with and used to the odour, but not everyone who comes to visit you will feel the same way. Create a simple solution of half a cup white vinegar, lemon drops or other essential oil and a little bit of water. Use it to spray the room and the upholstery. If needed, this can be applied to your laundry too.
12. General Unpleasant Smell in the Living Room
Make your own coffee candle to ensure your home always smells nice. You need a handful of coffee beans in a glass or ceramic holder and a tea light placed in the middle. If coffee isn’t your thing, add a pinch of cinnamon or orange peels.
13. Home Office
Oops, bad smells in the home office can be embarrassing if you receive clients in there. The easiest way to eliminate odours is getting some air purifying plants. They produce more oxygen which also stimulates your brain activity. What is more, the plants can also have a positive impact on your mood and reduce stress levels.
We hope you found value in this article. Our blog is full of great tricks and ideas just like these. Better yet, subscribe to receive useful tips for your home organization and cleaning regularly.