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smells in the home

3-ways-to-keep-your-home-smelling-awesome

Do you ever think about how you can keep your home smelling fresh? All the hard work that you put into making your home as comfortable and tidy as possible can quickly be made irrelevant if there are stinky odors hanging about. What’s worse is that sometimes you can become “nose blind” to the bad smells in your house. People who come to visit won’t be, however. 

There are some surprising things that could be the source of undesirable smells in your home. Here are three of the more common ones along with some advice on how to banish them for good.

1. Bed Bugs

Did you know that when bed bugs invade your home they bring with them a pretty foul smell? Some people describe the smell of bed bugs as being very similar to that of cilantro. The smell of these pesky pests is probably most akin to the moldy and musty smells as if water has been pooling somewhere in your home without your notice. 

If you start to detect a hint of moldy shoe in the air of your home, it is a good idea to inspect for bed bugs. This isn’t an issue that you want to take your time solving, either. Bites from these bugs can be very painful, and an infestation can be hard to get rid of. You should start by washing everything made of fabric in your home, like bedding, clothes, and curtains. You might even need to invest in a new mattress if that is where the bugs have decided to make their home.

You should also consider calling in some professional bed bug experts like Stafford pest control before the problem really gets out of hand.

2. Your Washing Machine

Your washing machine is one of those appliances in your home that gets the most use on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, many people are in the habit of closing the door of their washer once they have removed the wet clothes from it. This stops any remaining water inside from drying up creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria. The result is an unpleasant smell that can linger in the air. This leaves the laundry room smelling musty and dank.

The first habit that you should get into is that of leaving your washing machine door open after each wash to give it a chance to dry out. If your washer already has a moldy smell, then you should clean it out using either a product specifically designed to do so or a simple self-cleaning method.

3. Other Appliances That Use Water

Your washing machine might not be the only water-using appliance in your home that is a source of foul smells. Things like your dishwasher, garbage disposal, and even your refrigerator’s ice maker could all be culprits when it comes to moldy smells. Just like with your washing machine, you should do what you can to let these appliances dry out after each use. Remember to give them all a good, thorough cleaning every month or two to keep smells at bay.

These are some hidden culprits that can interfere when it comes to keep your home smelling it’s best!


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selling-staging-smells

Bad smells in a home do not help when selling a home. I stage home so agents can sell them but one obstacle that we come across often is ‘smells’.

I just completed a home staging consultation for a client who is selling her home.

This seller has worked very hard to remove the clutter and make the needed (and necessary) updates to her house like flooring and her property is looking great!  The house has a lot of potential and the seller is really doing her best but one thing we could not get past – was what I decided to blog about today…

SMELLS

The seller has 2 cats and 3 children and like any other busy household there’s a lot happening.  When it comes to selling your home – you can update as much as you like and follow the home staging steps but if that house comes with smells? Buyers will be turned off immediately.  It’s so important to figure out what is making your home smell and how to deal with that (or those) smells.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO TACKLE THE SMELLS IN YOUR HOUSE?

Hopefully you have identified what the smell is (and don’t be embarrassed – all homes have smells).  There are different strategies to deal with each type of smell.

  • Stale air:

  • this can happen in a house that has been ‘closed up’ for the winter season or a vacant home.  It happens to most homes and it’s easy to deal with.  Open up the windows and let in that beautiful fresh air.  It is an instant refresh to the entire home and it doesn’t take long.  I suggest opening up all the windows and pulling the blinds up and the drapes back and let the air (and the light) in!
  • Regular garbage removal:

  • Don’t let the garbage pile up! Be sure to take out the trash daily – kitchen garbage, bathroom garbage and baby nursery garbage (that Diaper genie can fill up fast) all add to the smells in a busy family home, daily removal will keep the smells down.  As an added step, spray the empty garbage cans with a disinfectant (that can help too).  If you waste bins has any food residue (or other residue) give them a good clean with soap and hot water (not daily but every so often – this helps keeps the odours at bay).
  • Cat litter clean up:

  • This is a smell that really turns off buyers, so clean that litter daily! The ‘cat’ smell is a strong one and can really take over a house.  If the cat litter is located in a very visible space and a room that buyers will frequent like the kitchen, bathroom or laundry …try relocating it to a more discreet location like the basement (if possible).  For dog smells, a good carpet cleaning really helps.  Pick up after your dog from the front and backyards.  Before you hit the market – getting your pets groomed can make a huge different in their odour but also excess pet hair that can get on everything!
  • Mold and Mildew:

  • This happens is wet areas like bathrooms and in the early stages – it is pretty easy to deal with.  A good scrubbing with a bleach cleaner will do wonders.  A professional cleaning can do a great job if you are pressed for time.  A mildew smell and musty smell in a bathroom just isn’t a great impression on buyers.  If the problem is really out of hand and can’t be handled with a good cleaning with the right products – consult a contractor as there could be bigger problems like a leak behind a wall – you will want to deal with that before you get on the market.
  • Add some natural scents to the home:

  • Ones that are pleasing and not over whelming.  I recommend natural scents like baking (cinnamon in a pot of boiling water with a dash of vanilla is so easy and smells great), odour-eater sponges (have them out discreetly) can capture unpleasant smells. A lot of plug-ins and potpourris can be overkill and the smells can be a bit chemically.  But this is an easy and natural alternative – Lemon, Vanilla and Rosemary Stove-top Potpourri

We all have smells in our homes but when it comes to selling we need to be extra careful not to have our house smelling ‘funny’ or ‘off’ – it is a huge turn off for buyers.  Your home may look great but if it smells – that won’t matter. 

If you are selling – get the opinion from friends, family and your agent and tackle those smells before hitting the market! Honesty can be tough but selling a smelly house is tougher!

I hope these tips are helpful and you get that home SOLD fast!

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