To get rid of odor you have to remove the source, not just cover the odor up with perfumed air fresheners.

Find the source of the odor and scrape up what you can. Then clean up and disinfect to kill the germs that cause most household odors. The quicker you get after odors, the easier they are to remove.

Home Remedies

Air Freshener:

For immediate air freshener in the bath, place a fabric softener sheet in the wastepaper basket or add a dab of fragrance on a light bulb. When the light is on, the heat releases the aroma.

Freshen Drain:

Pour 1/4 to 1/2 box of baking soda down the drain, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Cover drain tightly for a few minutes and flush with cold water.

Garbage disposal:

Don’t throw orange and lemon peels away. When you are finished with them, save them until after the dinner dishes and run them through the disposal last thing for a long lasting fresh smell.

Also, if your dishwasher drains into your sink pipe above your disposal, turn your disposal on while the dishwasher is draining for a thorough flushing and sanitizing.

Refrigerator Odors:

A little vanilla poured on a piece of cotton and placed in the refrigerator will eliminate odors. After cleaning the refrigerator add a dash of lemon extract to the rinse water for a fresh scent.

Toilet:

On a weekly basis, let a half-cup of baking soda dwell in the toilet bowl.

Other Soda Wonders:

You can use baking soda instead of scouring powder, plus it removes stains and odors from refrigerators and coffee pots. A sprinkle of dry baking soda before vacuuming will freshen the carpeting. Try it as a deodorizer for diaper pails and kitty litter.

P.S.  Every few weeks, take a little extra time and use your crevice tool for cleaning along baseboards and in other hard-to-reach places.

Something to think about …

Baked goods and potpourri are tricks used by many home sellers to make their homes more pleasant for prospective buyers.  But a survey of Realtors conducted by Realtor Magazine Online suggests that the link between odors and home buying may run deeper than just a superficial trick.  The survey focused specifically on the negative effect of unpleasant odors.  Here are some of the more interesting results of the survey:

Only 4% of respondents indicated that tobacco smells had no effect on the desirability of the home.

61% percent said a hint of urine or feces odors would kill the sale outright.

30% said mold and mildew odors have resulted in price cuts in homes they’ve sold.

83% said they detected urine or feces smell in up to 10% of homes.

94% said they detected mold and mildew odors in up to 20% of homes.

91% of the Realtors said their clients “always” or “more often than not” noticed malodors whenever the Realtor did.  Almost half the Realtors surveyed said they found it difficult to mention an odor problem to a home seller whom they represent.

This survey should be of great interest to all who are involved in selling a home, particularly since unpleasant odors are big deal-killers.

We are here to help.  Call us for a free consultation.