The only thing more embarrassing than having guests see a mess in our home is having them smell something worse. Scent is the sense most tied to memory, and has a huge psychological and emotional impact upon our thoughts and moods, even when we don’t realize it. Subconsciously, (or maybe consciously), we judge a person’s home by the smell. When we walk into a kitchen that smells like baking bread or pumpkin pie, we instantly feel comforted and welcome. The opposite is true when we walk into a house that smells strongly of an unpleasant odor. We may even judge the homeowner herself, thinking that she is lazy or practices bad hygiene.
Like it or not, we all have trouble spots in our home that are prone to bad smells, such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, or even kids’ rooms. To rid your home of strong odors, first step outside for a few minutes, then re-enter the house and check every room. If you have smelled the scent for too long, your nose will become used to it, and you won’t notice it any more. If you think you have a problem with odors, you may want to ask a close (and brutally honest) friend to help you locate the source of the smell.
Once you find where the odor is coming from, it is important to eliminate the source rather than mask it when scented candles and air fresheners. Let’s start with some of the most common sources of odors:
Garbage Disposal: If you notice a smell coming from your sink, it could be food trapped in your garbage disposal. An easy way to fix this is to grind up lemon slices in the disposer, and rinse with hot water.
Refrigerator, Freezer, and Cabinets: Spilled food or liquid can hide in corners and collect bacteria. Wipe these areas down with an anti-bacterial cleaner, or use natural cleaners that you can make yourself. Don’t forget to check the inside of the trash can when you toss out the garbage, for any food that might have fallen to the bottom.
Bathroom Area: When choosing an air freshener for the bathroom, be sure to pick on that is made to eliminate odors in the air, rather than on surfaces. Keep the tub, toilet, and vanity area clean as well. If you notice a smell from the toilet bowl or pipes even after you have thoroughly cleaned, you may have a problem with your plumbing or septic tank.
Living Areas: Smoke is one of the strongest odors found in many homes, and if you smoke inside, there isn’t much you can do about it. Smoking indoors may work fine for you, but if you have children, pets, or guests in your home, they might not appreciate it. Try to make a habit of smoking outside whenever possible, or at least smoke by an open window and turn on a fan. There are some products on the market that claim to eliminate the odor, such as smoker’s candles, but they don’t eliminate the danger of secondhand smoke.
Children’s Rooms: Finding and eliminating odors in children’s rooms can be difficult, as kids will keep anything from dirty socks to food to small reptiles in just about any place in the room. Have your children regularly do their own cleaning, then check nooks and crannies and other possible hiding places at least once a week.
After cleaning potential sources of odors, you can introduce new scents into your home. My favorite method of doing this is using an essential oil burner. Essential oils not only smell great and have therapeutic benefits, but many actually cleanse the air. Tea Tree oil and Lavender have antifungal and antibacterial properties, and can be added to cleaning products as well. If you don’t have an oil burner, boil a pot of water on the stove and add a few drops of a pleasant-smelling oil, such as lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender, vanilla, or orange. When you have a clean, fresh smelling home, you and your guests will be more comfortable.
