Nobody wants to be known for having a stinky house. When you invite guests over, you want them to feel comfortable and at ease—and a pleasant or neutral smell in your home helps to achieve that goal.

If you suspect your home is falling victim to a stubborn house odor, learn how to remove it and start breathing easy once again.

Leftover Food

A dirty kitchen has a distinct smell to it. That odor primarily comprises leftover food bits, grease, moisture, and sometimes mildew. All that leftover gunk can clog your garbage disposal and create an unpleasant stench, but luckily, the fix is relatively easy.

Clean out your dishwasher and garbage disposal on a regular basis. If the smell is coming from your dishwasher, place a small bowl of white vinegar in the lower rack and run the washer without detergent. For stinky disposal, pour one cup of ice and a half cup of table salt down there and run the disposal.

Old Trash Cans

You tie off your garbage bags and haul them out every so often, but sometimes the stink remains. Garbage cans may serve a humble purpose in the home, but they deserve a little TLC too. Wash your smellier trash cans with dish soap and warm water, and dry them thoroughly before using them again.

Image Source: pexels.com

To prevent the stink from returning with a vengeance, toss a couple of citrus peels, like orange or lemon, into the bottom of the can before replacing the bag.

Cigarette Smoke

Smoke is one of the most stubborn smells to remove from a home, but it is doable with a little elbow grease. To banish cigarette odors from your home, you’ll have to scrub and vacuum the place from top to bottom. Shampoo the carpets or remove them altogether. Replace your curtains and put a fresh coat of paint on the walls and ceiling.

To keep that smell from coming back, ban smoking inside your home. Set up an ashtray on your porch, patio, or balcony instead.

Animal Urine

If you’ve got a four-legged friend in the house, you may be familiar with their scent profile—but that doesn’t mean your guests will love it. Remove leftover smells from accidents with a solution of items you probably have around the house. One cup of peroxide, three tablespoons of baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap create a powerful stink remover.

Prevent those smells from returning by taking the dog for walks more often, or by cleaning the cat’s litter box regularly. Your pet will thank you!

If your home is experiencing one of these stubborn house smells, don’t fret. There are plenty of ways to remove them from your space and prevent them from coming back.