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Tips & Tricks

Tips on How to Eliminate Bad Household Odors at the Source

By Meg C.

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If you’re hoping to get rid of bad household odors and air fresheners are no longer cutting it or the funk, look no further!

Here, you’ll find plenty of tips, tricks, help habits, and insight on banishing unwanted house smells using these 28 different tasks, as well as ways to help prevent them in the future.

In a hurry? You can shrink or expand sections down by clicking the blue headings for each task that you’d rather pass on. Or skip to the Conclusion for a brief recap and quickie list.

1. Try a Deep Surface Cleaning

Hard and soft household surfaces can accumulate odor-causing bacteria or other concerns resulting in bad household odors.

Because of this, it’s good to ensure that surfaces are cleaned throughout your home regularly. More so with surfaces that are frequently exposed to food, scents, debris, water, animals, and people.

Deep Clean Surfaces to Help Get Rid of Bad Household Odors

Hard Surfaces to Clean to Reduce Bad House Smells

  • Wood trim and surfaces
  • Furniture
  • Counters
  • Sinks and showers
  • Toilets
  • Walls (optional)
  • Oven and stovetops
  • Toasters and toaster ovens
  • Cabinetry
  • Flooring

2. Check for Expired Food Items

Try-to-check-for-and-empty-out-expired-food-items-each-week-to-reduce-bad-household-smells

The kitchen can play a significant role when it comes to hidden household odors, and expired food items are often one of the reasons why odors start to crop up. Try to check areas where you keep food. This regardless if it’s the fridge, pantry, bread drawer, fruit basket, or other hiding spots.

Common Foods to Check

  • Produce
  • Bread
  • Food in the fridge (a.k.a. science experiments gone wrong)
  • Food in the pantry
  • Foods kept in the garage, cellar, or basement
  • Pet food

Tips & Tricks

  • If food items commonly go to waste and start to rot away due to them being forgotten about (i.e., bread, produce, leftovers) in your home, consider setting a specific day each week to purge perishable items. You can also set a reminder on your devices.
  • You can also stack emptying expired items from the kitchen each week and on top of similar chores. That way, you can stay on top of it and be more efficient with your cleaning—plus, you’ll be less likely to forget.
  • We try to empty the refrigerator, pantry, and freezer of perishables or throw-aways before or on Grocery Shopping Day or Trash Day. We then take a few seconds to wipe out any crumbs or spills from the fridge, using a with water and cleaning cloth, before new groceries go into it. Wiping things up as you go makes deep cleaning it later that much easier and faster. It’s also a lot less tedious to keep on top of it as you go.

3. Check for Mold and Mildew

Eliminating-sources-of-mold-and-mildew-can-drastically-reduce-bad-house-smells

Mold and mildew can significantly add to the mixture of bad house odors, and it’s something that can group up in humid areas or places that come into contact with water.

Mold issues can lurk inside the fridge, coffeemaker, washing machine, dishwasher, carpeting or rugs, and even within the residence structure itself. Humid environments should be ventilated appropriately, such as with a steamy bathroom or washing machine after they’ve been used.

Mold & Mildew Hotspots

  • Potted plants
  • Dishwasher
  • Washing machine
  • Showers, tubs, curtains, rods, and liners
  • Toilet
  • Textiles or soft surfaces located within a humid area (i.e., closed in porch, bathroom, kitchen, basement)
  • Sinks and underneath the sinks (kitchen, bathroom, laundry)
  • Floor drains
  • Windows and windowsills
  • Rugs and carpeting
  • Structural (i.e., basement, foundation, exterior, around other plumbing fixtures)
  • Laundry baskets and hampers
  • Moldy food or drink items
  • Clothing, bedding, towels, stuffed animals, and other fabrics that are near water exposure or a humid environment
  • Coffeemaker and kettles
  • Curtains, shades, blinds
  • Any place where previous leaks or excessive moisture has occurred
  • Shower or tub racks, shelves, hooks, and caddies

Tips & Tricks

  • Ventilate: Make sure to allow areas like the laundry room after doing laundry or bathroom after a shower are properly aired out to help prevent mold and mildew—especially if they don’t have a window.
  • Switch and Repeat: Bath towels, cleaning cloths, hand towels, and other items that come into contact with water often should be switched out for a new daily—or, at least, every 2-3 days, max. Try to wash them as soon as possible to help prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria growth. Also, try to rinse and wring out cleaning cloths and dishcloths well after each use.
  • Let it Breathe: When things like towels, cleaning cloths, or even shower liners and curtains are done being used, make sure that they are allowed to air dry properly. That means pulling shower liners/curtains closed when you’re done showering or laying towels out flat vs. folding over the towel rack until they’re thoroughly dried.
  • Prevent: Wiping down shower glass, trim, and fixtures with a towel, dry microfiber cloth and/or polishing cloth, and areas prone to mold after you’re done showering won’t just help reduce mold and mildew. It can also minimize hard water spots and mineral buildup.

4. Shoes and Other Clothing

Things like shoes and clothing can often be a hotspot for bacteria and foul odors simply due to everyday-type activities. This is why it can be essential to make sure things are washed and/or deodorized as soon as possible.

Shoes-can-sometimes-contribute-to-bad-house-odors
  • Shoes
  • Seasonal clothing
  • Anything that comes in contact with water, such as snow gear, rain gear, sports gear, swimwear.

Tips and Tricks

  • Ensure that stored items (i.e., seasonal clothing, bedding) are kept in a sealed bin or bag to help reduce mold issues and foul odors.
  • Consider using deodorizing products on non-washable items, such as bacteria-eliminating enzyme sprays and aerosols, down to something like activated charcoal bags for small rooms or even a pair of sneakers.
  • Mold can also wreak havoc on clothing, bath towels, and other textiles when left wet or in humid areas for prolonged periods.
  • Old stored items, such as a wedding dress or other types of sentimental items, see if might also be a source of bad odor, especially as the material degrades.
    • Consider storing them in an air-tight bag or bin or even taking a picture of them and discarding the actual item.

5. Deep Clean Soft Surfaces and Textiles

Make-sure-to-wash-washable-textiles-to-get-rid-of-bad-household-odors

While it may temporarily help to spritz, spray, vacuum, or foam up your favorite couch, blanket or throw pillow to get rid of bad household odors, the best way to go about deodorizing a home is to actually clean soft surfaces when it’s safe to do so.

Just as with clothes and bedding, other soft surfaces around the home can accumulate dirt and a slew of odors. And, just as with most types of laundry, it may require washing ever so often or need to be replaced.

Cleaning may involve tossing things such as blankets, throw pillow covers, pillow inserts, or washer-safe curtains in the dryer. It may even involve using your trusty carpet cleaner or hiring a professional service to banish odors for you.

Common Washable Soft Surfaces

  • Throw pillows
  • Throw blankets
  • Stuffed animals
  • Pet toys
  • Bed pillows
  • Carpeting
  • Rugs
  • Curtains
  • Lampshades
  • Upholstered chairs and dining chairs

Tips and Tricks

  • Odors on soft surfaces, such as couches, pillows and carpeting, can be the result of bacteria, mold, body oils, dead skill/dander, pet dander, feces, dust mite poop, dirt, and even odors from super-fragrant meals being cooked.
  • Items like lampshades, fabric window coverings, or linen-cover dining chairs that you can’t have cleaned might be tidied up using a barely damp cloth, such as a microfiber cloth. Dusting and/or vacuuming the item regularly can help prevent them from becoming truly dirty and nearly impossible to clean.
  • Sometimes a strong tape, like packing tape, can also help to remove dust and even pet fur.
  • Try to invest in washable pillow covers and inserts, whether you’re considering bed pillows or throw pillows.
  • Sometimes, you can freshen soft surfaces and textiles using steam, such as from a clothing steamer, or using the steam function on the clothes dryer, when available.

6. Check Areas Where You Don’t Often Clean

Declutter-your-spices-this-Fall

Odor-causing problems can turn up pretty much anywhere in the home. However, there are a few spots in particular that tend to be more neglected, leading to potential issues of funky house smells.

Commonly Neglected Odor-Prone Areas

  • Hard, heavy, or otherwise hard-to-move furniture
  • Refrigerator
  • Oven
  • Windows
  • Shower curtains
  • Freezer
  • Washer and dryer
  • Near, around, or underneath plumbing fixtures
  • Floor drains
  • Around the exterior of your home
  • The roof
  • Any wood trim, particularly near exits or outside and near any water source or that might have been exposed to critters, bugs, or the elements
  • Trash and recycling bins
  • Hamper and laundry baskets
  • Old piles of paper or paper products

Tips and Tricks

  • Try to make sure water is run through unused toilets, sinks, floor drains, showers or laundry sinks ever so often to help prevent sewer gas from entering your home.
  • Make it a habit to clean out items such as those above-mentioned areas or items routinely. This is regardless if you stack them on top of other daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly chores or by setting reminders.
  • You can eliminate odors by preventing them at the start, such as by making sure to wipe off spices, oils, and other ingredients that you might dirty up while cooking and before putting them away.
  • Staying consistent with cleaning some of these items can help keep odors at bay and will generally take a lot less time if you get in the habit of cleaning them before they get truly dirty—or smelly, for that matter.

7. Got Pets? Blame Them

Pets-Can-Contribute-to-Bad-Household-Smells

While they may be cute and often cuddly, pets can definitely add to the onslaught of bad house smells. Fortunately, you can alleviate a lot of the odor by finding the root cause of it.

For instance, it may simply be that they need a bath or their bedding needs to be washed more consistently. In some cases, it may be an underlying health condition, such as dental or bowel concerns, and even blocked glands.

Pet Areas and Items to Tidy

  • Thoroughly wash food and water bowls, feeders, and fountains at least once a week, preferably more often.
  • Pick up after outdoor pet messes daily since the smell can come in when windows and doors are open. Hose off areas where frequent urination occurs when odors are detected. This may require an enzyme-based odor eliminator product.
  • Clean or replace dirty or well-used toys. Also, make sure to check for damage and discard any items that might be unsafe for your pet.
  • Wash or replace dirty or well-used, blankets, pillows, furniture.
  • Clean cages, kennels, crates, pens.
  • Ensure animals are well-groomed on a consistent basis
  • Make sure their dental health is in order by routine dental cleanings at home and as needed through a veterinarian
  • While cats don’t need to be bathed hardly at all, some might need a little help now, such as by wiping down with a lightly damp cloth. Outdoor, senior, and/or long-haired cats, however, may need more help.
  • Try to bathe dogs every quarter or so, or as needed.
  • Make sure their ears are cleaned and other bits are clean.
Eliminate bad house smells by grooming your pet regularly.

Psst! Up for more pet-related cleaning tips and reviews? Check out some of these posts next (new tab):

10. You May Need to Dust More

dusting top of the fridge

Dust is usually made up of a variety of nasty things that most people don’t even think twice about. And while it can add up over time and cause us more work (and scrubbing) later on if left for too long, dust can harbor odor-causing elements that result in a musty smell that’s otherwise hard to pinpoint.

Some of the “fun stuff” in Dust:

  • Dirt
  • Dander (human and pet)
  • Hair
  • Pet hair
  • Insect bits
  • Feces (insect, animal, parasite, and even human)
  • Pollen
  • Spores

Tips and Tricks

  • Invest in a good duster that speeds up the dusting process, such as one that traps dust and has a 360-degree shape to it, such as microfiber dusters and the Swiffer 360 duster. Pliable, 360-degree dusters make it so you don’t always have to move items, such as knickknacks and other decor pieces, whenever you dust—making it all the more likely that you won’t hesitate as much to get to it since it’s faster and requires less effort.
  • Dust more regularly to keep things under control and to prevent dust from sticking to surfaces as a result of time and humidity in the air.
  • Consider getting good-quality air purifiers to match the environment and size of the area they’re in.

13. Prevent and Check for Sewer Smells and Other Plumbing Issues.

Issues such as plumbing concerns or even sewer gas leaking can be pretty common in homes. This is why it helps to check your plumbing sources to ensure that plumbing concerns aren’t a source of bad household odors at your residence.

Plumbing-and-other-sources-that-come-into-contact-with-water-could-potentially-cause-problems-with-bad-household-odors
  • Check for possible leaks, mold, or mildew near plumbing fixtures and outdoor areas, like near hose bibs, gutters, etc.
  • Make sure toilet wax rings are in good shape and not leaking.
  • Check that water hasn’t evaporated in the sink traps, toilet traps, unused tubs or showers, and other plumbing fixtures (i.e., floor drains, laundry sinks, etc.), particularly in areas that aren’t often used. This can result in sewer gas rising into the room.
  • Check floor drains to see if they’re in good order and their cleanout plugs are installed.
  • Inspect structure areas and rooms prone to leaks or near water sources for any leaks or damage (i.e., tree roots near the house, cracks, etc.).
  • If all else fails and you’re detecting bad odors near plumbing fixtures, make sure your plumbing lines a damage-free via a professional plumbing consultation.
  • Clogged-up drains or lines can lead to bad odors.
  • Check the septic system and ensure that it’s being properly taken care of and serviced when necessary.

14. Sometimes…It Can Be Us 😲

Many bad house smell issues can actually come from us, our loved ones, and our pets.

For instance, if you’re or someone else is in the habit of sitting on furniture or not showering immediately after a labor-intensive job or sweaty workout, body oils and other things can transfer to soft textiles throughout the home—especially where furniture is concerned.

Making-sure-we-stay-on-top-of-personal-hygiene-can-be-essential-for-keeping-your-home-free-of-bad-household-odors

Tips and Tricks

  • Prevent the Triple-B Threat: If you or a loved one works out, plays sports, or has a labor-intensive job, taking a shower before settling in at home can significantly help prevent body odors, sweat, oil, and bacteria from seeping into soft textiles and furniture, particularly if you’ve been hot and sweaty.
    • ***Don’t forget to wash any activewear or sportswear clothing as soon as possible. Items such as gym bags and workout gear should at least be wiped clean every now and then, too.
  • You Smell What You Eat…Sort of: Many house odors can come from the food we cook, store, and consume. While these odors might be tantalizing in the moment, they can later transfer to soft surfaces throughout the house, giving a distinct scent that people eventually turn nose-blind to.
    • Above all, these smells can also be excreted through our breath and skin and into the environment, even without our realization.
    • Common Odor-inducting Culptrits: onions, garlic, aromatic spices and seasonings, herbs, alcohol, tobacco products.
  • Check the Self-care/Hygiene Game: Sometimes household odors can occur when one’s hygiene game isn’t exactly up to snuff. And, believe it or not, this can be more common than you might think otherwise. If you can’t root down an external source, consider double-checking household dental, hair, body, laundry care, and health.
    • If it’s a loved one or roommate, go easy on them and try to be kind and considerate if you decide to talk to them about it. Or find ways to work around it, such as odor-fighting laundry beads on their bedding and clothes, such as these by Febreze.
  • It Could Be Chemical or Underlying Health Issue: Sometimes body odors can crop up due to internal issues and may need to be dealt with in other ways besides cleaning. This might include things such as an illness, halitosis, hormones, or injury. Age is another factor to consider.
  • It Can Also Be Psychological: Sometimes problems can occur from psychological reasons as much as physical, such as depression, ADHD, or several other concerns, and may not be immediately aware of it. So, again, be kind to others and/or yourself if this might be an issue.

15. Give Odor Eliminators and Fresheners a Try

While regularly cleaning surfaces is the best way to eliminate odors in the home, odor-eliminating products can help ensure that all the efforts of cleaning to banish bad house odors will last longer in between cleanings.

Go Scorched Earth on Odors During Laundry Time

You-can-work-on-getting-rid-of-bad-household-smells-starting-with-how-and-when-you-do-your-laundry

For instance, odor-eliminating laundry products can help eliminate musty, sweaty, or otherwise funky-smelling items in the wash. This is typically achieved through enzyme-based ingredients that can be found across multiple brand names and product lines.

There are also products with laundry boosters in things such as detergents or beads with Febreze in them.

Boosting laundry products are designed to provide longer-lasting fragrances. They may also continue to fight odors for a while after they’ve been washed, even up to several days and while in use.

Our favorite to use for our nose-sensitive household are these by Downy. Although the April Fresh pink version tends to be the most popular, it tends to be too strong for us.

Laundry-additives-and-certain-DIY-hacks-can-be-used-to-help-get-rid-of-and-potentially-prevent-bad-odors-from-entering-the-home

Get Trigger Happy

These days you can find numerous odor-annihilating products that come in spray form and as a fabric refresher.

In fact, many of them can even match your favorite laundry detergent scent. There are, however, plenty of eco-friendly and DIY options available, which you can typically find online.

Fabric Refreshers

Places like couches, chairs, beds, bedding, carpeting, and other soft surfaces are often where odors and bacteria lurk the most. Even so, they’re typically not washed nearly as often as they should be. And that’s where fabric freshening products come in handy.

Fabric refreshers are some of the more popular options for fighting bad house smells, ranging from super-popular scents to no fragrance selections. They’re are ideal for in-between furniture upholstery cleanings and laundry washings and can also help slow down odors from forming, thanks to their bacteria-fighting capabilities.

Aersols, Aromatics and Air Fresheners

Air form, or aerosol-type products, can vary in performance. Some are designed to mask odors while others are meant to eliminate them. These days, you can even find popular hybrids, like Scentiva, NeutraAir, and Febreze.

However, if you’re looking just to add fragrance, then pretty much any air freshener will do, whether store-bought or made at home through the use of pantry items, essential oils, and DIY recipes for sprays and diffusers. Even items such as candles, wax melts,

Note: **Products with Febreze add-ins or have an additive similar to Febreze. These are supposed to offer longer-lasting odor-eliminating benefits and fragrance after washing—even up to a few days. If you don’t have a favorite brand and want to see the entire brand lineup of products that have Febreze in them, click here.

Items without the asterisk typically offer some fragrance and eliminate odors in the wash, but may not have the same long-lasting effect as Febreze-type items commonly found in detergents and laundry bead boosters.

16. Invest in Quality Air Purifiers

Cleaning exhaust fans and their filters can help ensure that your house is adequately ventilated when it needs to be. This means cleaning vents, replacing one-time-use filters, washing reusable ones, and ensuring that things are running correctly.

In-home exhaust fans can help remove bad odors and are meant to reduce carbon monoxide while cooking on stovetops or with the oven, burning fireplaces, etc. Some exhaust fans can also help reduce mold issues by removing steamy air from the space, such as bathroom exhaust fans. Down below are a few examples of exhaust fans and filters.

  • Replace any dirty HVAC return vent filter every 2-3 months or as needed
  • Clean any dust and debris from bathroom exhaust fans
  • Under-the-microwave exhaust fan filters
  • Stove hood exhaust fan filters
  • Dust air and heating vents

17. Vacuum Often, Especially If You Have Pets

Rugs and carpeting, even upholstered furniture, can harbor various odor-causing sources, from the stuff we track in from the great outdoors to pet feces and other smell-inducing bacteria or particles. Due to this, it’s good to vacuum at least once a week, regardless if you have carpeting or not.

If your household has kids, pets, or is in the habit of wearing shoes in the house, you’ll likely want to vacuum several times a week, if not daily—at least in the main areas of the home.

Vacuuming-regularly-can-help-reduce-household-odors

Tips and Tricks

  • It’s essential to empty your vacuum regularly and to do maintenance cleanings on it and any filters to avoid further foul odors in the home.
  • Need more help removing odors? Some find it helpful to use a very light sprinkling of baking soda or carpet odor-eliminating powder on carpeting and rugs before vacuuming. Just make that you pick up all the debris and avoid clogging your vacuum.
  • Hate vacuuming? It might actually be the vacuum you’re using either isn’t user-friendly, might be too heavy, or just isn’t right for your type of household. Sometimes it helps to have something that’s powerful yet lightweight (under 10 pounds) and cordless for quick jobs and general maintenance cleaning.
  • Stack vacuuming with other chores to make your cleaning more efficient and easier, such as doing it after tidying, cleaning off counters, and/or a quick dusting.
  • Consider vacuuming the main area of your home several days a week, if not daily, to keep mess and bad household smells at bay. The more you do it, the faster and easier it ends up be and the less effort it typically requires.
  • Hate the noise of your vacuum? Try wireless headphones and bust out your favorite audiobook, podcast, or tunes.

18. Clean Carpets and Rugs

Carpet-clean-ever-so-often-to-help-keep-pet-hair-and-fur-under-control

As mentioned in the soft surfaces section, carpeting, doormats, and rugs can be one of the biggest hotspots in the home when it comes to unwanted house smells.

That’s because they not only have things typically tracked in from the outside world, but they hardly, if ever, get washed and tend to go through a lot of abuse, whether from us or our pets and the environment.

And if you ever carpet cleaned before, chances are good you’ve seen just how much nasty stuff comes up, even with the best and most consistent efforts to vacuum, otherwise.

As with most textiles, carpets, and rugs need to be cleaned ever so often to help remove some of the following common concerns.

The Down & Dirty Items of In Carpets

  • Dust
  • Dirt
  • Insect feces
  • Insect bits
  • Pet dander
  • Dust mites and mite feces
  • Mold/spores
  • Dead skin cells
  • Bacteria
  • Oils
  • Pollen
  • Bacteria
  • Food

Tips and Tricks

  • If you plan to carpet clean yourself, avoid over-saturating. Also, make sure not to use too much soap, even if the manufacturer’s directions tell you to.
  • It’s also crucial to do a rinse pass with water only, which helps to remove any leftover soap residue (just like laundry). You may also want to do a few dry passes to ensure faster drying times and less risk of mold issues.
  • Aim to use something that adequately agitates carpet fibers and, more importantly, has strong suction. While it’s tempting to go for cheap-y units (we’ve tested several), most of them aren’t efficient and may actually do more harm than good.
    • Check out video reviews to see things in action, or go with highly star-rated items, such as Rug Doctor, Hoover, the Big Green by Bissell, and this one that’s also by Bissell, which we have loved the most so far.
  • Don’t forget to clean doormats a few times out of the year (i.e., quarterly or more). If it’s not easily cleaned, you may want to consider replacing it if you feel it may be contributing to bad household smells.
  • If you have heavy stains, rather than repeatedly going over the spot with a machine, do a pre-treatment using a pre-treat spray or by pouring a mix of water and the cleaning solution on the spot to sit for a while before using the machine.
    • Just make sure to suck up the solution and rinse it well to avoid matted fibers and residue from attracting more dirt.
  • Vinegar water is great for maintenance carpet cleaning and deodorizing on most carpet types (check with manufacture to be sure). You don’t need much, but do make sure to open windows—especially with kids and pets at home.
    • Once the carpet or rug is fully dry, the vinegar smell will dissipate.
  • Vinegar water is also great for softening up or unclogging carpet fibers that have been matted from using too much rug-cleaning soap or from oil products, such as lotion.

19. Clean and Inspect Windows, Trim and Screens

open-up-a-window-after-showers-as-well-as-during-or-after-you-cook-to-reduce-foul-odors-at-home

Windows, window trim, and screens can accumulate a lot of dust, dirt, rot, and mold over time—especially in certain climates. This not only affects the longevity of your windows and screens but their efficiency as well.

Above all, it can create a bad odor that enters the home when the windows are left open, rather than refreshing the environment. Therefore, it’s ideal to keep them clean and in good working order.

  • Check and clean screens several times a year
  • Clean and inspect window trim
  • Clean and polish glass and framing regularly

Tips and Tricks

  • You can speed up the process of cleaning your windows, trim, and screening by staying on top of doing it consistently. Regularly cleaning them can also help to increase their longevity and efficiency.
  • Hate cleaning windows? Consider spending things up by trying microfiber window-cleaning kits, such as the starter kit by E-Cloth, and using just plain water—or maybe even a little water and vinegar for moderate cleaning jobs.
    • Microfiber doesn’t shed like other materials and is excellent for removing dirt quickly and can work with water only, which means no residue, streaks, product, or lint left behind.
    • Polishing cloths, such as what you use on cars, can add a shine that you won’t often find with other cleaning methods and can be followed up right after a microfiber cloth. We love the polishing cloths by E-Cloth.
  • If you have a heavy build of dirt and other debris on your windows, you can try using a dish soap like Dawn to clean windows to take care of most of the mess. Nylon sponges, such as a Dobie or similar, can be great for gently scraping off bird poop and bug splatterings.
  • Try a mix of 1 part distilled vinegar and 1 part water for hard water stains on windows. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then scrub clean gently using something like a nylon sponge. Or you can try this vinegar product by Mrs. Meyers, which may work better for more challenging jobs.

20. Clean Hard Floors…Regularly

Consistently mopping can be an effective way to remove unwanted odors from your home. Especially if your household has pets, kids, or is in the habit of wearing shoes that are worn outside within the residence.

If you’d rather not do a full-blown, bucket-and-soap kind of mop each week or even every other week, you can try maintenance cleaning with a microfiber floor mop or spray mop using just water or with just a touch of soap.

Other people might even prefer robotic mops or mop-and-vacuum all-in-one combos to get the job, even to the point of tackling the floors a few times per week.

ocedar-mop-fits-into-corners
From our O’Cedar Mop Review

Tips and Tricks

  • If you mop your floors using soap or other floor-cleaning products, don’t forget to do another pass with water only. Not doing so can leave a soapy residue on the floor, which builds up over time and can also attract more dirt.
  • When it comes to mopping, less is more. Try to avoid using too much soap or cleaning detergent since you’ll also want to remove the soap with another pass or two using water alone. The more soap there is, the more you’ll be mopping to get it off the floor and the floor itself clean.
  • Vinegar and water can do wonders for maintenance mopping most floors, providing they’re not too dirty and properly. Vinegar is also great for deodorizing, once the initial scent of vinegar goes away a short while later. Just make sure the area is well-ventilated, and be careful of pets (especially birds) in the area.
  • You can also use plain water for light mopping jobs.
  • Rather than using cotton-style string mops or traditional sponge-style mops, consider going for a mop with a microfiber head. Mops with microfiber mop heads are great for cleaning floors and controlling how wet they get, and far better than most traditional options. They’re also reusable and machine-washable.

25. Inspect and Clean the Dishwasher

cleaning-a-dishwasher-filter

Dishwashers often need regular maintenance cleaning (usually once a month) and occasionally deep cleanings a few times a year to keep them odor-free and running smoothly.

This is due to many odor-causing issues involved with dishwashers, such as food, grease build-up, hard water concerns, and even mold.

Cleaning a dishwasher can be as easy as tossing in a tab once a month for maintenance cleaning. Or it may involve more in-depth steps when deep-cleaning a dishwasher.

Either way, staying on top of it makes it a lot easier to keep clean and will drastically reduce or keep away bad household odors.

How often you should clean your dishwasher?

Find out with our post on How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher next, which also offers plenty of tips and tricks and loads of helpful habit.

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Not sure how to deep clean a dishwasher?

We’ve got you covered in our How to Deep Clean a Dishwasher post, which offers pictures and tutorial, along with mega tips and tricks.

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Conclusion

This post provided information on 28 tasks that you can do within the home to get rid of bad household odors. You can find a quickie list of those areas or items down below.

We also offered plenty of in-depth tips, tricks, and habits on dealing with common odor-prone issues, not to mention a few pointers on preventing them as much as possible.

Get rid of bad house smells at the source

Common Sources and Causes for Bad Smells

  • Try Deep Surface Cleaning
  • Check for Mildew and Mold
  • Prevent and Check for Sewer Smells & Plumbing Concerns
  • Look Where You Don’t Frequently clean
  • Check Shoes & Clothing
  • Deep Clean Soft Surfaces & Textiles
  • Dust More
  • Routinely Air Things Out
  • Regularly Groom Your Pets (Health/Hygiene)
  • Empty and Clean Recycling and Trash Bins
  • Use the Appropriate Odor-Eliminating Products
  • Sometimes It Can Be Use (Personal Health/Hygiene)
  • Air Purifiers
  • Vacuuming
  • Carpet Cleaning
  • Cleaning the Oven, Stove, Microwave & Toaster
  • Clean Windows, Trim & Screens
  • Clean Around, Under, and Behind Appliances
  • Regularly Clean Out the Fireplace
  • Replace or Clean In-Home Filters
  • Clean Hard Floors Consistently
  • Clean the Dishwasher
  • Clean the Garbage Disposal
  • Clean the Freezer
  • Clean the Fridge
  • Clean the Refrigerator
  • Clean/Inspect Exhaust Filters and Fans
  • Remove Odor-Causing Debris Outside

Have a favorite odor-busting method that we missed? Or maybe an odor-producing issue? Let us know in the comments and check out our other related topics below!

Happy Cleaning 🙂

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Check out these 14 Pet-Related Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks that you can do year-round to keep your home and furbaby in check.

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Before you throw them out, learn how to clean and maintain them properly, including tips on ressurecting them with these easy steps.

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