HOME ODORS
-Not all smells are bad, but many people are sensitive to certain smells, and strong smells can turn potential buyers away or cause them to offer less money. Owners can’t smell anything odd in their home because they are used to it. The goal is to have a clean home with little or no noticeable smells before it goes on the market. Deodorizing a home means removing smells, not masking them with sprays, candles, or baked cookies.You should hire a professional cleaner that knows how to deodorize. Here are ways to deodorize:
BAKING SODA
-All carpet and fabric furniture get a light coating of baking soda. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes and then vacuum. Make sure to do this before shampooing carpets. Throw out the vacuum bags before they get full so the smells don’t escape. You can even add an open box of baking soda to a fridge. Baking soda is a remarkable deodorizer for a cheap price.
COFFEE GROUNDS & WHITE VINEGAR
-For stronger smells in bathrooms and laundry rooms, a bowl of fresh coffee grounds or white vinegar can pull smells out of the air. Make sure to empty or replace after a day or two, and don’t leave the used coffee grounds inside the house.
AVOID DRY P-TRAPS
-Every drain has a P-trap to keep the sewer smell from entering the house. This is simply a small water barrier that fills the U-shaped bend of the drain pipe. The P-trap can dry out in as little as a few weeks if water isn’t going down the drain regularly. Empty homes and floor drains need regular maintenance. For example, if your laundry room tends to smell, it may not be the dirty clothes, but the floor drain that never gets any water. You can also try the following:
BRODI sells a product called Vapour Block that’s made specifically for this problem. It’s a little pricey at around $50 per bottle, but it lasts 3-4 months. Only add this to drains no one uses or it will get washed away.
Another option is to add a 1/8 cup of olive or baby oil after you fill the P-trap with a bucket of water. The oil will sit on top of the water and keep it from evaporating as fast.
PERSISTENT ODORS
-Really strong odors such as pet smells, urine, smoke, and mildew may require professional help from a home disaster company that specializes in remediation. They may use an ozone generator, KILZ, or other options that may require a professional.