6 Smell Prone Areas In Your Home That You Should Check

July 24, 2020

After a good cleaning session, it’s satisfying to see all the shiny surfaces and neatly organized cupboards but nothing really beats inhaling that fresh and clean scent after all the effort you’ve put in. It’s such a relieving smell and makes your home seem like one of those polished hotel rooms for a moment, maybe even better. Ultimately, it’s the sign that you can now truly kick back and relax. Unfortunately, no matter how much you fantasize about keeping your home smelling that way, the reality is life can throw a wedge in those plans.

It may be a smelly dishwasher, stale cigar smoke, last weekend’s fried fish, pets, kids, or even mysterious shower drain smells and unwanted moisture. Whatever it is, everyday life has plenty it can throw in your way to have you reaching for that air freshener. If you’re dead set on getting these dreadful smells from your home, check these six smell prone areas in your home.

Trash Can

This one is pretty obvious. Garbage stinks, after all. The smell becomes worse the longer you don’t take out the trash. But even after it’s taken out, there might be some spills and crumbs that can get left behind and continue to build up over time that can cause quite the stink.

To deal with this, remember to wash your can a few times a month or every time you empty it up. Spray it with diluted bleach and let it sit for a few hours to really kill the smell. Then, wash it out and finish it up with one last soap scrub and a good rinse. Alternatively, you can also designate a can for the “dirty trash” which you can take out every day. You can also place it somewhere outside where it can’t be disturbed to keep the smells away from the inside of your home.

Dishwasher

The kitchen is the last place anyone would ever want a smell to be in. However, there are some things in here that can just ruin that. Take a rotting fruit or vegetable somewhere forgotten for instance. Aside from that, there are less obvious things like your dishwasher. Being a warm and damp environment, it’s a hotspot for mold and smells especially if there are all that food bits left from your last cycle. To avoid the growth of molds, regularly clean out your dishwasher by running the empty heat dry cycle.

Washing Machine

Much like your dishwasher, your washing machine can become the perfect ground for mold and smells. Any household appliance that frequently comes in contact with water is actually in the same danger. With your washing machines, however, there’s the added contact with smelly and soiled clothes. It adds up to the smell that can pop up from the moisture trapped on the washer’s door seal and the detergent drawer.

One of the simplest ways to prevent those laundry smells is to leave the door and detergent drawer open for a few hours after washing your clothes. Air it out and let it dry. Another way is to add a cup of white vinegar to an empty machine and let it run on its hottest cycle. You can also use a one-to-one ratio of white vinegar and baking soda to wipe down the insides of your washer.

Garbage Disposal

In addition to your dishwasher, your garbage disposal is another kitchen odor culprit. Disgusting grime can sometimes become trapped under the drain. To avoid this, first, make sure that there is no leftover food lurking in your drain. Then, make sure that the inside of your garbage disposal is wiped clean. After that, you can pour in a small amount of liquid soap and run it with cold water. You can also feed your garbage disposal a few thin strips of lemon, lime, or orange. Consider it your very own citrus garbage disposal deodorizer.

Dog Beds or Litter Boxes

We know that our furry friends inevitably lead to smells one way or another. As their owners, however, it’s very easy to get desensitized to these. So it’s better to create a habit of cleaning out their usual resting places and litter boxes regularly. Throw your doggy’s bed in the wash once a week perhaps or get your kitty a clumping, clay-based cat litter to reduce odors. Make sure to keep up the routine whether you notice the smells or not for the sake of your home and maybe your guests.

Shoe Closet

You might not be particularly prone to foot stink. But wearing those shoes day in day out can still have its toll and may result in that musty, funky smell emanating from your shoe cabinet or closet. Besides, you step on all kinds of things every day. That’s why it’s important to wipe those shoes before coming into the house. It also pays to air out your shoes for a few hours, preferably overnight, before placing them back in your shoe closet.