If unpleasant smells stagnate in a room, they could create some embarrassment and prevent you from living your living spaces as you see fit. The secret to making a room more fragrant is to first eliminate the sources of bad odor by means of a thorough cleaning. After that it is necessary to absorb the most persistent odors and choose a deodorant to diffuse a fresh, clean scent.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Eliminate Sources of Bad Smell
Step 1. Do your laundry
Items stacked on the floor can begin to take on a stale smell and plague the entire room. Furthermore, damp cloths can be a breeding ground for mold. Therefore, collect the laundry items scattered around the house, separate it and put the washing machine to work.
- To get rid of mold and other bacteria from clothes, wash them with hot water;
- To dry your laundry, you can use the dryer or hang it out if the weather is nice;
- Always check the labels on clothes before putting them in the washer or dryer.
Step 2. Wash the sheets
You spend about a third of your life in bed, so it's no wonder that sheets, blankets, and pillows can start to give off an unpleasant smell in the bedroom. To get rid of it, remove the pillowcases, sheets and other washable covers and put them in the washing machine.
Once you've finished washing, dry your bedding in the dryer or on a drying rack before making your bed
Step 3. Clean the pipes
Molds, spores and other bacteria can accumulate inside bathroom and kitchen sinks and drains and cause bad odors in the home. To clean the pipes, first pour 220 g of baking soda and then 470 ml of white vinegar directly down the drain. Wait for the mixture to foam and let it sit for about 30 minutes.
When the baking soda and vinegar solution has had time to foam inside the drain, pour in some previously boiled water
Step 4. Clean the toilets
The toilet is another home accessory that can harbor mold, spores, bacteria and other sources of bad odor. Pour 240 ml of vinegar into the toilet and also spray it on the outside and on the seat. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Scrub the inside with the brush and clean the outside and the seat with a cloth or absorbent paper.
Pull the toilet flush to remove any incrustations that may have fallen inside
Step 5. Remove mold from hard surfaces
Mold has a peculiar smell that can spread throughout the home. Therefore, it is important for the health and quality of the air in the home to solve any mold problems, for example in the shower, on the tiles, in the sinks or in other wet areas of the apartment. To delete it:
- Mix 240 ml of bleach and 3.8 liters of water in a bucket.
- Wear a pair of rubber gloves to protect yourself;
- Open the windows to let the air circulate;
- Dip a stiff bristle brush into the solution you have obtained;
- Rub the affected areas with the brush;
- Repeatedly dip the brush into the solution as you clean;
- Rinse the treated surfaces with a wet sponge.
Step 6. Vacuum floors and upholstery
Dirty carpets and furniture can give off odors that are so unpleasant that they can infect living spaces. To remove dust and foul-smelling particles, vacuum all carpets in your home using the regular floor brush. To get rid of the smell of dust and mold from furniture, mount the upholstery attachment and sweep all the upholstery of the furniture with the electric broom.
For best results use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter, as it will prevent dust and other fine particles from floating in the air
Step 7. Take out the trash
Garbage is a major cause of bad odors in the home, especially if it contains kitchen scraps and other wet waste. If a nauseating smell stagnates in the kitchen, start closing the garbage and take it outside or to the garage.
Step 8. Clean the trash container
Before placing a clean bag in the empty garbage container, thoroughly clean the bin to remove any deposits or sediments that could cause lingering odors. Therefore, it suits you:
- Put on a pair of rubber gloves;
- Remove larger pieces of food;
- Rinse the container in the tub or in an outdoor area with a garden hose;
- Clean the inside with a rag or paper towels;
- Spray inside a generous amount of all-purpose disinfectant detergent;
- Leave the product to act for 5 minutes;
- Scrub the container with a stiff bristle brush;
- Rinse the bin;
- Dry it with a rag or absorbent paper;
- Put in a new litter bag.
Step 9. Clean the kitchen appliances
All cooking tools that come into contact with food can be a source of bad smell in the house, especially if they have been used recently. If you don't know where the bad smell is coming from, clean all kitchen appliances, including:
- The sink waste disposal unit;
- The fridge;
- The oven;
- Microwave oven.
Step 10. Bathe the dog
As much as you love your puppy, it is possible that he brings unpleasant smells into the house. To get rid of them, buy a pet shampoo and wash it in the bathtub or sink, or take it to a dog grooming shop.
Place his cot in the washing machine and wash it to get rid of any lingering odors
Part 2 of 3: Absorb Odors
Step 1. Open the windows
Fresh air is one of the best ways to get rid of bad smells in your home. In fact, by opening the windows, you can get them out and change the air. In spring, summer and autumn, open a few windows throughout the house. To create some current, open the ones on opposite sides of the house.
In winter, when you can't keep the windows open, open one for a minute to let in fresh air
Step 2. Use fans to increase air circulation
The fans are perfect for encouraging the passage of fresh air. Once the windows are open, run regular and ceiling fans to create draft and circulate air.
Step 3. Let the sunlight in
Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays which have the power to kill mold and bacteria that cause bad odors. Regardless of the time of year, open the curtains throughout the house and let the ultraviolet rays in as soon as a beautiful sunny day comes out.
Sunlight is effective against odors produced by carpets, furniture, areas used for pets, pillows and other household items that are unpleasant to smell
Step 4. Use baking soda
Baking soda is one of the most popular deodorants in the world because it is effective and affordable. To get rid of stagnant odors around the house, pour some into some small plates or trays and arrange them around. It will absorb bad smells, eliminating them from the rooms.
To further deodorize the home, sprinkle some baking soda on carpets, furniture, mattresses, and any other sources of unpleasant odors. Let it sit for 30 minutes and then vacuum it
Step 5. Try the vinegar
Vinegar is also an effective deodorant that you can use to absorb bad odors in the house. Fill a few containers with vinegar and place it in areas that need an air change, such as:
- Moldy basement;
- Bathrooms;
- Kitchen;
- Bedrooms.
Step 6. Deodorize with charcoal
Charcoal effectively absorbs odors and can be used to deodorize many rooms in the house, but also the interior of household appliances. Make sure you are using pure charcoal and not charcoal briquettes. Put a few pieces on some plates and distribute it around the house. You can use it in:
- Wardrobe;
- Refrigerator and freezer;
- Living room.
Step 7. Purchase air-purifying houseplants
Some houseplants are known for their ability to clean up the air and can also keep nasty smells at bay indoors. Among those you can choose consider:
- The mother-in-law's tongue;
- The common ivy;
- The rhapis excelsa;
- The dracena.
Part 3 of 3: Freshen the Air
Step 1. Place fabric softener sheets near sources of bad odor
This product perfumes clothes, but is just as effective for freshening up the house. If you want to use it as a deodorant, put some paper in areas where bad smells stagnate, such as:
- Shoe racks;
- Garbage cans;
- Damp basements;
- Spots infested with mold.
Step 2. Deodorize your living space by boiling water
When you boil the water, the steam rises and spreads around the house. You can use this phenomenon to freshen the air by adding your favorite herbs, spices and citrus fruits to a pot full of water and boiling it without a lid for a couple of hours. Among the ingredients you can use consider:
- Lemon peels
- Cinnamon sticks;
- Pimento;
- Basil;
- Ginger;
- Blueberries;
- Orange peels;
- Cloves;
- Bay leaves.
Step 3. Use an air freshener
It is a product specifically designed to make the air cleaner and more fragrant. In addition to essences that diffuse pleasant fragrances, it often contains chemicals that mask bad odors. You can buy it in different formats, including:
- Spray;
- Diffusers;
- Gel;
- Candles.
Step 4. Use incense
Incense is sold in various forms and in different fragrances. To burn incense sticks, place the thinner end in a suitable container. Ignite the opposite end until the tip starts to spark, then blow on the flame. As it is consumed, it will release a smoke with a sweet aroma that will perfume the air.
- To distribute the smell throughout the house, turn on a fan on the opposite side of the room where the incense is located. In this way, it will distribute the perfume throughout the home, without spreading the ash everywhere.
- Never leave incense unattended. Since it produces heat, a fire could break out.
