Smells, of course, tell a lot about a person's house. Do they clean regularly? Do they never clean at all? Are there pets afoot? Does it smell warm and inviting, like a fresh spring breeze? Or does the house smell of grease, old soap, and disinfectant?
As a realtor, I enter houses all the time. Sometimes, those smells in the four walls are nice and inviting. A client wishes to linger, even if there is no smell but a clean house smell.
Other times, they and I are running for the door.
Clients will overlook a lot in their quest for a home. Smells, however, are one of those things people, quite simply, run from.
Summer, it seems, brings out the worst of the worst smells. It feels, and smells, like everything is dying in the heat's path, even if it's not. Children, animals outside, clothes, even the garage smells like old socks that have been left to rot for weeks after a hard rain . . .
I used to reach for sprays, candles, and wax melts. Sprays, unfortunately, nearly always give me a headache or allergy attack, or the air stinks worse after the smell fades. Once, I had a candle explode back to life when I should have been out of the house. We won't go into the future of what could have been in this blog, but I never used a candle again.
Wax melts, which I will still use from time to time, can be expensive, and they don't last long. Your nose, actually, just gets used to the smell - which can be a scary thought. Their ingredients are oftentimes questionable, and if you find one that lasts even a few days but is environmental and health friendly, it costs an arm, a leg, and your first child.
And, really, all those tricks do nothing more than mask the offending odor(s). Eventually, its just best to deal with the cause.
So, what are some of the best ways to be sure your house smells clean without all the tricks?
Tip #1 - Empty the garbage can daily and at night before going to bed. Clean the kitchen every night.
This seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes we get busy and forget. Sometimes, we have adult children, or spouses, that are night-eaters.
Sometimes, like I did not too long ago, one needs to clean the garbage can itself, or simply throw it away and purchase a new one.
Along with that, clean the kitchen every night. Load the dishwasher or wash those dishes. Clear off and wipe down countertops. Put uneaten food away where it goes - either in the refrigerator as leftovers for the next day or in the pantry for storage.
Tip #2 - Clean out the refrigerator.
The smells in a refrigerator can waft into the kitchen and around the house faster than a Nova Scotia fog. These funky smells can linger. They can set up house in corners of rooms.
One way to battle house smells is to clean out the refrigerator, and even the freezer, from time to time. Throw out food. Clean and wash the bins. For really crused dirt, bins and baskets can be put in the dishwasher and washed. And don't forget to wipe down the interior of the fridge. Toothbrushes work great for cleaning crumbs out of crevices and cracks.
I wish all the disinfecting fluids invented made such an "abominable smell" that they forced you to admit fresh air. That would be a useful invention.
Florence Nightingale
Tip #3 - Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and rugs before vacuuming.
This is one my favorite all-time tips. Sure, you can buy those fancy carpet powders, but you really have no idea how they are getting those nice smells into the powder. They are also way more expensive than plain old-fashioned baking soda, which is non-toxic and actually has healthy properties.
And, it works great on carpets and rugs.
Better yet, throw smallish rugs into the washing machine. If the rugs are too large for your washing machine but washable, it never hurts to make a trip to the laundromat once or twice a year to wash.
You can also check out large, washable rugs like Ruggables. One of these days, I intend to try these out in my home.
Tip #4 - Open windows regularly. Let the sunshine in!
Nothing beats a waft of fresh air. Our grandparents and great-grandparents, while living inside homes, still invited the outdoors in on a regular basis.
Now, granted, some times the outdoor smells are not much better than indoors, and when the weather is too hot, it's counterintuitive to open your home to the outdoor world.
But in milder climates, or when the summer weather has occasionally cooled in the early morning or the evening, opening the windows for a breath of fresh air can go a long way to clearing out funky smells in your home.
Along with that, open up heavy curtains and blinds and let the sunshine in! Sunlight and small amounts of heat kill germs and, by proxy, smells. Your house will smell better and you will be driving out germs that can make you sick.
Tip #5 - Use a pet deodorizer.
According to Forbes Advisor (dated June 2023), 66% of U.S. household, which is 86.9 million homes, own pets. Over 65 million homes own a dog, and 46 plus million households own a cat. Freshwater fish owners are a distant third at 11 million plus American households.
First and foremost, keep dogs bathed and groomed well. If possible, house train them to do their business outside. If that is not possible, opt for doggy pads. Be sure to pick them up after use and throw them away.
For inside cats, there should be one litter box per cat plus one extra. Clean the boxes daily, or even, twice daily. Change the litter on a regular basis. Experiment with litters to find one that absorbs smells. Cheap, in this instance, is not better. Personally, I have found FreshStart little to be the best for absorbing smells as well as being pocket-book friendly.
And nothing can stink like an untended fish tank! Really large tanks can even change the climate, humidity, and smell of a room, so clean them on a regular basis. The fish will be happy, and you will be, too.
How does your house smell?
If you are having problems with smells this summer, start today by taking one or more of the tips above and putting them into action to control the smells and bring your memories back to sweet-smelling tales this summer!
After all, it's YOUR house and YOUR story, and you want to write memories that last a lifetime!
Donna Hechler Porter is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Elite Realty in Baytown, Texas. An educator, a published author, and an arm-chair historian, Donna runs a small publishing business in addition to educating people about how to build future wealth through home ownership. Feel free to contact Donna at dhporter@kw.com.