A stinky smell can grow from different sources: pets, mold, smoke, garbage ... Worst of all, even if you clean every day and your house is perfect, a random smell can make buyers and visitors think that your house is unclean or frayed.
When setting the house I try to think with all 5 senses, and the smell is usually the easiest for homeowners to skip. After a while, our noses become refractory to certain smells, and the stench can take over. Having a clean-smelling home goes a long way in first impressions of buyers.
However, the old adage of baking cookies or using potpourri is not enough. What about an unplanned visit? You do not always have time to throw a dozen of cookies in the oven. What about buyers who are sensitive to odors? Potpourri can make the experience of staying in your home a nightmare.
Instead of covering smells, I always suggest cleaning them or neutralizing them. If you just cover the smell, he will return. If you clear it, you will be more likely to eliminate it, or at least reduce it so you can hide it.
As the first of the three parts of the series to remove odors from your home, we will discuss floor surfaces, because this is the first place where you can attack, trying to eliminate odors. Daily calls in the dirt, pets use the floors as bathrooms, and typical cleaning is not enough to get all the smell that causes pollution.
I have used all the products below and find them very effective. I tried to include both low-cost solutions and brand products. Although brands tend to work a little better, because they have more active ingredients, cheaper solutions are remarkably effective and are great for budgets. As a disclaimer: always use the test area before using any product on any surface.
Cleaning hard floors
Homeowners often skip hard floors as a source of odors, because they accumulate hard surfaces that cannot absorb odor. However, all floor surfaces are porous, and these tiny holes will be absorbed into everything that lands on them, just like a carpet. Three basic cleaning methods for hard floors:
1. Sweep soda soda: unroll all the floors. Spread baking soda all over the floor. Let him sit overnight, and then swept away again in the morning.
2. Mop with vinegar and water (good for hardwood, tile, linoleum, etc.): Whip a solution of 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 30 ounces of warm water. Place in a recycled spray bottle, and then spray onto a cotton rag or towel until slightly damp. Then wash your floors, wiping dirt.
3. Mop with bleach and water (Tile and linoleum only): An effective disinfectant is a weak bleach / water solution. Wear gloves to protect your hands — you don't want any bleach to come in contact with your body. Work in a well-ventilated area, because vapors should not be inhaled. Mix: a teaspoon bleach with cold water 4 cups.
Top Floor Odor Absorbers
-Baking soda
-Arm and Hammer Pet Fresh Carpet Deodorizer (US $ 5): Works great on hard floors!
-Nature & Miracle Stain & Odor Remover, 1 Gal ($ 25): you can wash it up as the final clean to neutralize any remaining odors of pets.
Vacuum carpets
Vacuuming is a work that no one likes to do, and as a result we often rush with it. When you are trying to get smells, it is important to follow these steps:
Step One: Vacuum slowly and delicately. Imagine that you start a Zamboni on a hockey rink, taking a few slow steps. Pay particular attention to the corners and where the wall meets the floor and doorways. You are trying to get as much hair, dirt, dandruff and allergens as possible. Do not forget under the vacuum under your furniture.
Step Two: Spread the odor absorbing powder on the carpet and let it sit overnight.
Step three: in the morning, slowly and gently, again. The powder will absorb any odors missed in a vacuum.
The best vacuum cleaners to absorb dust
-Baking soda
-Arm and Hammer Pet Fresh deodorizing carpet ($ 5)
Carpet Cleaning
Before steam cleaning, first under vacuum. I like to do deep cleaning step by step, moving from the simplest to the most attractive because homeowners are busy enough as it is. Although steam cleaners can cost anywhere from $ 20 to $ 50, it can be a worthwhile investment to get rid of unpleasant odors, especially if stains are present. Directions change, but usually you should expect it to work like a three-step vacuum:
Step One: Use a steam cleaner to apply the solution to the carpet, making it moist, but not soaking.
Step Two: Vacuum the wet solution with a steam cleaner.
Step three: let it dry overnight, not allowing anyone or anything to walk on the carpet.
The best solutions for steam cleaning
Vinegar Only Option: Vinegar only smells wet, and as an added bonus it leaves no residue. Use in 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water.
-OxiClean ($ 6) + Vinegar Option: use one scoop of OxiClean Stain Remover ($ 6), one cup of Febreze Extra Strength ($ 5) OR one cup of vinegar and recommended hot water. Income is not only clean, but it also kills all odors.
-Bissell 2X Pet Stain and Odor Advanced Formula ($ 15): Great for all stains, not just for pets. If you have pet stains, it helps eliminate the odor that is causing the odor and prevents the pet from getting resolved.
In the second of three parts of the series to remove odors from houses, we will focus on soft surfaces, walls, kitchens and bathrooms - the most difficult parts of the house to clean. We were all there: in our house something smells awful awful. We walk around, using our nose, like a bloodhound, trying to track down the source of the unpleasant smell, only to find it in something that we are just not sure how to clean. Carpets and floors are lightweight, but things like sofas, curtains and walls can be tricky.
Upholstery Cleaning Solutions
Misty upholstery with any of the following products to ease the smell of upholstery. You can also use products on draperies. Products are listed from least expensive to most expensive.
Vinegar: Vinegar only smells moist, and as an added bonus it leaves no residue behind. Use in the ratio of 1 vinegar to 10 water.
-Febreze Linen and Sky ($ 6 each): I know that their marketing is a bit strong, but Febreze really works! PLEASE be careful what flavor of Febreze you have chosen. I always suggest scents with “cotton” or “underwear” in the title, as they are the easiest and least offensive for picky noses.
-Febreze Extra Strength ($ 5): Although this is contrary to my stock selection rule, I think it helps to remove cunning odors permanently better than regular Febreze. Disadvantage: the smell is not every cup of tea, so it is best to use it when you have several days for the smell to disappear.
-Natural miracle ($ 11): One of my favorite times for removing the harsh smells of pets. You can use it just like Febreze, but it is specifically designed to work with pet smells. He even has a fresh, clean scent!
Curtains, curtains and linens
Curtains, curtains, and bedding, such as bedspreads, are items that homeowners rarely clean. They tend to hang in the background, and we forget how many smells they can absorb. I like to clean my fabrics once a year to remove all the dust and dirt, but if you notice a persistent smell and you don’t know where it comes from, curtains, curtains and bedding are often the culprits. Sometimes you have to dry them, but often you can put them in the laundry with a regular detergent, following the instructions on how to care for the tags.
Wash the walls
Cleaning the walls not only works, but is also much cheaper than repainting! If you don’t have time to wash all your walls, you can use this process to find a clean, particularly dirty area. Remember: only erase walls that are glued to the wall or painted in satin, semi-gloss or glass finish (NEVER flat paint, and only sometimes eggshell). To clean textured walls, use nylon socks instead of a sponge or cloth so as not to leave pieces of material behind. And since walls are more sensitive to fluid, ALWAYS check a small area first.
Step one: move all furniture, photos, etc. From the wall.
Step Two: Find the starting angle and walk around the room, top to bottom, using a mop or damp cloth.
Step Three: Wipe with clean water.
Step four: dry peeled walls with a towel.
Formula for cleaning the wall
Formula -Ammonia: Use pure ammonia, which is usually sold in stores for gardening. Because of its strong smell, use it only in well ventilated areas. Mix 1 to 2 cups ammonia per gallon of water. Using cool water is better because it creates less vapor.
Formula: Ammonium, vinegar and baking soda. If you are worried that pets pollute the walls (ammonia is the main component of urine), this formula works best. Mix with a cup of ammonia, c a cup of white vinegar and a cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of warm water.
-Woolite for All Delicates ($ 6): This is the easiest way to make and gentlest cleaner. Use the hood Vulita in a bucket of water.
-Mister. Pure extra-magic eraser ($ 10 for 8): use the target Pure magic sponge on any solid places or on the spot clean. It will keep your walls looking great and eliminate painting so often.
Bathroom and kitchen cleaning
There are a million bathroom cleaners on the market, but I found that some of them work better than others when cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, as well as good smells. Also note: the bathroom and the kitchen are the only room in the house where I will use citrus paints for a fresh smell.
Lysol Basin, Tub and Tile Cleaner with citrus scent ($ 5): I use it on all of my surfaces because it is effective, gentle and removes germs.
-Formula 409 Natural Stone Cleaner ($ 5): If you have granite, marble or travertine surfaces in the kitchen or in the bathroom, this product is effective and efficient in cleaning.
-Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner, Lemon Scent ($ 8 each): I have a glass closed shower and nothing removes water spots and stains, such as Scrubbing Bubbles, a sponge and squeegee. This is the only thing that works for me, and there is no elbow lubrication. The smell is always fresh and clean.
-Lysol Power Bowl Cleaner (US $ 3): Store one under each sink in your home for easy access and cleaning! It removes all stains, and in my experience, it helps prevent odor formation.
-Windex Glass Cleaner ($ 5): no bathroom is clean without a sparkling mirror, and Windex is a great old standby. Generics work just as well, but they can leave more bands if you are not careful. You can also use it on polished nickel surfaces.
In the final part of our cleaning series, we will discuss how to maintain a fresh, cleaned smell when you have completely cleaned your house. Long-term odor control solutions address the absorption of unpleasant odors before they can penetrate the floor, walls, fabrics and other surfaces of your home. Air fresheners are great for quick collection. Used together, these solutions will help keep your homemade smell as fresh as it was when you first cleaned it.
Odor control solutions
-FRIDGE IT Carbon odors absorbers (US $ 3.95 each): they have no smell, but they help to eliminate the smell by absorbing it just like baking soda works in the refrigerator. You can hide them in decorative vases, baskets or bowls in smelly areas of your home, such as a bathroom, bathroom, mud room, animal area, or children. game room.
-Holmes® True HEPA Allergen Remover ($ 100): Most air purifiers do not work, and some are even bad for you. Ionizers create ozone, which actually harms your lungs. Holmes line with Arm & Hammer® carbon filters improves performance. There are 4 speeds to ensure a quiet ride, and they even control the smell from my cats. trash box!
Air fresheners
Try to keep the air in your home as fresh as possible. If you use air fresheners, I suggest fragrances with "linen" or "cotton" in the title, as they are usually lighter and less offensive for people with sensitive noses.
-Fresh Air: Keep the windows open as much as possible, giving fresh air.
-Febreze NOTICEables Stirring oil, razor and meadow song hanger (US $ 9 each): I prefer the Febreze NOTICEable line because the smells are light and they last longer than most plug-in style fresheners.
-Febreze Air Effects ($ 9.99 for 3 packs): great for quick fitting, but not for consistent use.
-Glade Sense and Spray Clean Linen Scent ($ 9.99 each): I like this product because it works like a standard sprayer, but it is automatic and does not use more than necessary. DO NOT put it where it will spray people, and always postpone it before the show.
