Unwanted odors are a problem for households everywhere. Sometimes even after a thorough cleaning the smell will come back or still linger. The most common mistake that people make when trying to clean an odor is not cleaning the source of the odor. For example an air freshener will only mask the smell not get rid of it entirely. Unwanted odors can come from a variety of sources such as pets, old food, mold, mildew and the garbage. Here are several odor removal tips to help you identify and remove unwanted odors.

Pet Odors: Everyone loves their pets, but sometimes pets can create an unwanted odor in your home. Washing your dog or cat might make them smell better temporarily, but is not always a permanent solution. In some cases if your animal sheds the fur itself can create an unwanted pet odor in your home. So you will want to consider more frequent carpet cleaning and pet grooming. To remove odor from pet urine Start by blotting until the moister is gone. Then use vinegar and water in a solution to remove the stain. Sprinkle some baking soda over the area to remove odor and vacuum later once it has dried.

The Refrigerator: The fridge is a common place for unwanted odors to manifest. Old food can grow mold and fungi and create a hard to remove odor. Solutions such as backing soda will only absorb odors and not remove the source.  To remove odors from your fridge you should start by sorting through expired food and throw it out. Keep non expired foods in a cooler in the meantime. Now that your fridge is empty you should start removing and cleaning all the shelves, storage drawers and drip tray. Clean with dish soap or a water and vinegar solution. Next wash the entire inside of your fridge with the same solution. An entire washing should eliminate the unwanted odor.

Garbage Cans: Trash smells and if you do not wash your garbage cans the trash receptacle itself can start to smell. The best way to prevent your garbage cans from smelling is by lining them with garbage bags. If your garbage can still smells we recommend washing and disinfecting it on occasion. If an item in your trash is creating the odor you can use a more temporary solution by sprinkling baking soda in the garbage can.

Bathrooms: Bad smells and bathrooms have become synonymous mainly because of the activities that take place in the bathroom, but this doesn’t have to be. Bathrooms generally have bad smells because of human waste and mildew. If you thoroughly scrub and clean your bathroom on a regular basis and are a clean person than human waste should not be an issue. Mildew on the other hand accumulates in moisture from the shower and sink. Turning the bathroom fan on when using the sink and shower at a high temperature setting will reduce the amount of moisture thus reducing mildew growth. You should also consider washing floor mats, shower curtains and any decorative towels on occasion as well to prevent mildew growth.