If you’ve moved into a new house and it smells bad or you’re a landlord and the place you’re renting smells bad, you might be left wondering how to get rid of that bad smell in your house! Here’s what we recommend.
Perform a Standard Cleaning and Inspection
Start by cleaning your house thoroughly, while inspecting everything in a general way. Make sure there aren’t squishy spots in the walls or ceiling, wet spots on the floor, leaking pipes, etc. You may find that you eliminate the foul smell in your house or find out what needs to be fixed. Then you’ll know how to get rid of the bad smell in your house.
Identify the Smell and Clean It Right
Here’s what you need to know about different odors and how to get rid of them. Whether your house reeks of smoking or cat pee, these are the solutions you need.
Food and Decomposition Smells
If you didn’t find food lying around, start by cleaning out the drains. Put equal parts baking soda and vinegar down them, let it sit then flush it out. If the odor persists, you may need to try industrial solvents.
Pet Odors
If you’re wondering how to get rid of pet odor, start by finding the source of the problem. If the odor is coming from the carpet, get it deep cleaned. However, you may need to replace it and any other fabric that has started to smell like pets.
Cigarette or Marijuana Smoke
If your house or apartment smells like smoke, either from cigarettes or marijuana, you need to do more than just cover up the scent. Get your ducts cleaned and replace your HVAC filters. You will likely also need to replace any soft surfaces, like drapes and carpet, because they will continue to carry the smell. You may even need to repaint!
Strong Food and Spicy Smells
Most people don’t realize that these odors can be as pervasive as cigarette smoke. While they won’t cause medical issues like smoke can, you will likely need to replace all of the soft items that have absorbed the smell before you can get rid of it.
Sour Smells
A sour smell often indicates standing water somewhere. Check washing machines and bathtubs. Someone may have even left some water standing around in a bucket.
Moldy or Musty Smells
If your new house, condo, or apartment smells like mold, you need to get it inspected ASAP. Find the source of the mold and cut off or seal any leaks that are feeding it. Then have the mold cleaned and remediated by professionals so it doesn’t cause any health issues.
Stagnant Smells
If the air in your home just seems to smell old, try opening the windows and doors and letting in some fresh air. If this doesn’t help, you may actually have a mold or mildew issue.
Fishy Smells
Call an electrician because you might have some overheating electrical components. The electrician will be able to find the problem and fix it before it becomes a major issue.
Rotten Egg Smells
Leave the house immediately and call your local gas company from a safe distance. The rotten egg smell is added to natural gas so people don’t experience negative side effects when there’s a gas leak.
Wet Dog Smells
Unless you happen to have a wet dog, this can indicate a rodent problem. Bring in pest control experts to get rid of the rodents so you don’t have to deal with them anymore.
Chemical Smells
You may need to bring in professionals, because these can indicate that someone cooked methamphetamines in the home. You will need to clean and certify the home according to regulations in your area before anyone can occupy it again.
I Need Help With My Smelly Home
If you have a foul smell in your house and you’re not sure why it’s there or how to address it, call us at Core24 Services today. We’ll help you find the source of the smell and get rid of it for you. We offer mold remediation, duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, and more, and we’ll use everything we have to get rid of your bad smell.