Do You Have a Household Odor Problem?

Nothing is worse than odors in the home. Whether they come from yours pets, cooking, cigarette smoke, or mold, offensive odors are both annoying and at times, even embarrassing. In a lot of cases, opening windows and using air fresheners may temporarily mask some odors, but they don’t really completely remove them. By following these simple steps, you can easily take control of household odors and make your home fresh and clean again.

Materials Needed:
-Gloves
-Furnace or air conditioner filters
-Lemons
-Baking Soda
-Vinegar
-Tri-sodium phosphate
-One gallon of household bleach

1. Begin by opening the windows in your home and place a large fan where it can blow fresh air into your home and a second fan to exhaust offensive odors out.
2. Address air circulation problems and change all of the furnace filters in your home every few days until no odors can be detected. If odors still persist, you may have odor-causing particles in your ducting which will require a professional cleaning.
3. Thoroughly wash or dry clean drapes, clothing, bedding (make sure you follow manufacturer’s cleaning instructions). To remove set in odors from clothing, you may have to perform several washings. For odors such as cigarette smoke, use gloves and mix a solution consisting of 4-6 tablespoons of Tri-Sodium Phosphate; 1 gallon of warm water; and 1 cup of bleach. Soak color fast clothing in this formula for ten minutes and then wash them in a complete cycle. The above homemade cleaning solution also works well for ceilings, walls, and floors - just be sure to rinse or wipe afterwards.
4. Make another solution with 1 cup of vinegar, lemon juice (approximately three lemons’ worth), and one gallon of warm water. Unplug appliances such as your stove and refrigerator and clean surfaces with this solution.
5. To clean carpets, rent a commercial steam extractor and use it on carpets, rugs, and furniture. If odors are stemming from mattresses and foam pillows, these may need to be replaced, as odors are usually permanently absorbed into these types of surfaces.
6. After everything has been washed, rinsed, and dried, try placing small dishes filled with a few drops of vanilla or baking soda throughout the house to capture odors, and use an air purifier with Activated Carbon in heavily polluted areas such as the kitchen or near pets.