How to Deodorize a Room
Your house is a place where you should find utmost comfort and relaxation, not something that repels you with musty, stinky, or other unwelcoming odors the moment you enter your door. If, however, this is not the case, we prepared helpful tips on how to deodorize a room and keep it fresh for many days.
Reduce Musty Odors
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the culprits behind your room’s musty odor can be these microbial volatile organic compounds or (mVOCS), which are basically a myriad of compounds formed in the metabolism of bacteria and fungi found in mold. The moment you notice a moldy odor, it should become as clear as day that there is a place within or near your room where mold is growing.
Since, according to numerous studies done by the World Health Organisation, this is more than just an aesthetical problem targeting allergy or asthma sufferers, we decided to reveal the main hiding spots of mold growth.
Carpets
Representing a hell for numerous living organisms, dark and damp places are a piece of heaven for mold growth. Your carpet can get wet easily due to multiple reasons such as pet accidents, high humidity, plumbing problems, or a ceiling leak. It can then trap the moisture, which creates perfect conditions for mold to thrive if not dried properly.
The California Department of Public Health warns homeowners that once they notice a moldy surface or a smell coming from their carpets, it is quite challenging for them to remove it thoroughly. However, if you are willing to undertake this demanding task, we have some tips and tricks ready for you.
Tips & Tricks to Remove Mold from Your Carpet
Ventilate the Room
Open either a window or door that possibly leads outside to get the moisture and smell out. Although not all molds cause health problems, it is highly important to protect yourself using rubber gloves, facemask, and eye protection. Make sure to also cover your furniture and other objects with plastic sheeting before you begin the process.
Clean the Area Below Your Carpet
If there is a small area where mold grows, chances are you might be able to clean it. As baking soda can do wonders when it comes to soaking odor and moisture, sprinkle it on the affected area and let it rest overnight. Using a 1:1 ratio of diluted vinegar and water solution, scrub the surface with a scrub brush the next morning. Do note, though, that if there is mold growth on the backing of your carpet, it might be too late to save it.
Use an Anti-Fungal Spray
In case you are not satisfied with the results that the vinegar solution and baking soda yielded, try spraying with an anti-fungal spray. You can purchase this kind of spray in your closest hardware store but make sure to select one appropriate for your carpet’s fabric.
Vacuum the Remains Using a HEPA Filter
Once you vacuum the remains, make sure to immediately change the filter as it will contain mold spores that can easily transmit to other parts of your home.
Call a Remediation Service
Another thing that might actually help is taking the carpet to a mold remediation service as they possess the right equipment and chemicals.
Other Musty Smells Caused by Plumbing Leaks
Another reason a musty smell comes from your room might be a leak caused by plumbing that goes in either a wall or under the floor. Check whether your walls feel soft to the touch or discover areas around your walls that have discoloration. If this is the case, you might want to call a professional plumber to fix the leaks.
Roof Leaks
Another reason your attic or loft has a moldy smell might be due to leaking in your roof. This issue needs immediate repairing as your celling might collapse from absorbing too much water.
Completely Getting Rid of the Musty Odor
Once you fixed the main issue with either cleaning the mold spots or calling a service to deal with them, make sure to purify the air. Consider getting a mold removing air purifier that uses HEPA filter as these can remove up to 99 percent of diverse particles in the air, including dust and mold spores.
If your air is quite humid, using a dehumidifier is an excellent solution for eliminating excessive moisture that can promote mold growth.
Reduce Kitchen Odors
Clean the Trash Can
Even though your kitchen odor is, in most cases, due to the trash itself, this doesn’t always have to be the case as the trash can itself might be the root cause of your troubles. Use a deodorizing pack or clean it by sprinkling some baking soda. Once several hours have passed, you can either vacuum the baking soda or clean it with a damp cloth.
Clean Your Dishwasher
Does a stinky odor come out whenever you open your dishwasher? If this is the case, chances are the odor can spread across your entire house. This is why you should focus on finding the culprit behind the smell, which might be a clogged drain filter, spray arm clogs, or even the inside of the dishwasher. The easiest way to get rid of these smells is by running empty cycles with vinegar and baking soda. Fill a bowl with distilled white vinegar and place it on the top rack of your dishwasher to run your first cycle. Repeat the cycle, but this time, pour a cup of baking soda into your dishwasher instead of using vinegar.
Refrigerator
The main reason your refrigerator smells is due to improperly stored food, which is why you should store leftovers in containers with secure lids. In case you forgot to do this, take off the smelly food and leave an open box of baking soda overnight to absorb the odors.
Reduce Bedroom Odors
Mattress
Naturally, our bedding accumulates bodily oils and sweats during the night, which may eventually be transmitted to the mattress. As we are not taking the same care for our mattresses as we do for our bedding, chances are it might start to smell musty after years of usage. Naturally, our bedding accumulates bodily oils and sweats during the night, which may eventually be transmitted to the mattress. Make it a habit to sprinkle your mattress with baking soda and let it rest for several hours before you vacuum it.
Closet
Open your closet doors to allow it to breathe, or use a special closet dehumidifier that absorbs moisture and prevents your clothes from becoming damp.
Reduce Living Room
Reduce Pet Odors: Tips & Tricks
Open Your Windows
The best way towards reducing pet odors and making your house less smelly is to open your window daily to let fresh air into your home.
Use Odor Absorbents or Air Fresheners
As using air fresheners might indeed help you get rid of the irksome scents, these can sometimes be toxic for your pets. This is why you should look for first-class brands that will do their deodorizing tricks without harming your adored one.
Use a Pet Odor Exterminator Candle
Most of the pet odor exterminator candles are pretty fragrant and boast a wast array of fragrances to pick from. These include citrusy, woodsy, flowery, or even Christmassy aromas. Note that this is not helpful for the complete elimination of the smell but gives you a little coverage.
Air Purifier
Air purifiers are yet again handy when it comes to reducing pet odors in your home. However, to significantly reduce airborne chemicals and gases, your air purifier should include an activated carbon filter. Place the air filter in the smelliest area of your house to stop the odor from spreading.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
Sprinkle baking soda over any smelly furniture, including your carpets, sofa, mattress, or even your chairs. Let it rest overnight and vacuum the next morning to get rid of smells. As the baking soda alone will only act as an odor absorber, you can add essential oils to make it work as an air freshener. Make sure to put a few drops of essential oil by choice as putting too much might damage your furniture.
In Summary
If you notice unpleasant smells hovering around your house, we recommend you quickly discover the root cause before you begin to treat it. Once you know the main culprit, make sure to eliminate it entirely instead of masking it with fragrances to ensure your house will smell nice for a longer period of time.
