Jan Hayner

How to Get Rid of Stinky House Odors



Posted: Friday, August 15, 2008

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Organizing and Cleaning Tips and Hints

It has happened to all of us at one time or another. We clean and clean just to find out that when the humidity sets in, there is an unusual smell that we can't find.

We empty all of the garbage cans, look in all of the hidden places, tear apart sofa cushions and wash everything we can get our hands on-but the odor is still there. So, what do we do from here? How do we find a remedy?

As a professional organizer, I go into a lot of peoples homes in a years time and this is a problem for even the cleanest of homes. It doesn't mean that your home is dirty, it may mean that it is a build up of dust, mildew and bacteria that is not seen by the human eye. So, looking may not help you find the source.

There are so many 'super' cleaners on the market today; Mr. Clean that lives in a bottle, Lysol that cleans 99% of the bacteria etc. Any of these are great cleaners to a certain degree, however, are you getting the best cleaning agent for your money?

What is the key ingredient in most cleaners? What cleans bacteria and leaves a fresh odor on a continuous basis? The same thing that people have been using for centuries and is right in your kitchen. The main cleaners are vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, water and maybe a dash of lemon juice for that fresh lemony odor.

When cleaning, it is great to use vinegar and baking soda (this will rise and foam for a few seconds) because it will bubble stains and smells away in seconds. It not only can be used on fabric and carpeting, but floors, walls, sinks, inside refrigerators and microwaves and everyplace else in the house including the kitchen drain.

The vinegar odor dispitates in a matter of minutes (until area is dry) and gets the deep dirt out along with the obnoxious odors.

Ammonia is great on glass, mirrors, knic knacks and always leaves them shining.

Always remember to clean areas such as the toilet bowl, sink drains, humidifiers and dehumidifiers and basement drains as well. Odors can seep through the entire house from these sources.

Kitty litter is great for cleaning up, deep down odors, that may be hiding in cement or concrete; whether it is in the basement or the garage. Simply spread the litter on the floor, let sit for about an hour, sweep it up and throw the litter and bad odor residue in the garbage and dispose of immediately.

Baking soda is also a great cleaning agent for laundry and vinegar in the rinse cycle works as a wonderful fabric softener and all are available for under a dollar.

Besides saving yourself a ton of money and still accomplishing a quality cleaning job; you have helped to save the environment as well.

Jan Hayner is a Professional Organizer and creator of www.organizingandcleaning.com, she offers tips, hints and shortcuts to everyday problems with organizing your home, work, family and life. She also offers shortcuts on cleaning your house, recipes for cleaners and tips to make the jobs faster and easier.

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