No matter how spotless your home and how fastidious your cleaning routine, there may come a time when you notice a bit of an unpleasant whiff. Whether it’s coming from your oven, your fridge or your dog’s basket, fear not, as there are always ways to remove bad smells from your home.
In this guide, we’re taking an A-Z look at removing bad odours from around your home – from bins to wardrobes, and everything in between. Read on and get ready for freshness in a jiffy.
Animal odours
We love our pets, but they’re not known for being the most pleasantly fragrant of things. If your dog or cat bed could do with a refresh then sprinkle with baking soda, leave for half an hour or so and then hoover. Et voila! Fido is fragrant once more.
Bins
Slight whiff coming from the bin despite you having taken out the rubbish bag? It might not be the rubbish that smells but the bin itself. The solution? Baking soda. Yep, that perennial household item will come in very useful. Simply sprinkle baking soda into the base of the bin, top up with a regular kitchen cleaner and your bin will smell like new again.
Chopping boards
According to the New York Times, if sponges and small chopping boards are losing their lustre, simply pop them in the microwave for between 30 and 60 seconds to get rid of any lingering bacteria. Larger plastic boards can go in the dishwasher on a hot setting, which should help them to look and smell a little fresher.
Dishwashers
Our dishwashers work hard for us all year, so the least we can do is to repay the favour. Place half a cup of white vinegar in a bowl on the top rack of an otherwise empty dishwasher and run on the hottest cycle. The acids in the vinegar will break down any lingering deposits, leaving it smelling fresh and clean without the need for harsh chemicals.
Fridges
Noticed an unpleasant smell coming from the fridge and despite removing every dubious food items, found that the odour lingers? We’ve all been there. Take the time to give your salad crispers and shelves a clean and then place an open box of, you guessed it, baking soda on the top shelf to remove any lingering odours. Aim to double wrap any particularly pungent items in cling film and store any stinky leftovers in containers with secure lids.
Kitchen sinks
If your sink is losing its freshness, it’s relatively simple to put right. Anything you put down the sink (other than liquids, of course) can get stuck and, over time, the bacteria could start to give off gasses that don’t smell too pleasant. Try pouring white wine vinegar down the sink and allowing it to sit for half an hour, before flushing through with boiling water from the kettle. It’s amazing what vinegar can do.
Microwaves
The microwave has to be up there with sliced bread in terms of useful inventions. We heat soup and defrost leftovers, we even disinfect chopping boards… all that hard work can mean the microwave develops a bit of a whiff after a while. The solution to unpleasant smells is beautifully simple. First of all, wipe out any food spills and splashes and then pour half a cup of water into a bowl with the squeeze of half a lemon, before heating for three minutes or until the water boils. Hey presto – clean, fresh microwave.
Ovens
Over time, ovens can become a bit of haven for bacteria which can lead to bad smells, but with the right product, your oven can be good as new in no time. Oven Pride is a single-use, all-in-one oven cleaner that removes the need for heavy scrubbing. Our powerful cleaning system leaves ovens sparkling clean and free from bad odours in no time.
Pillows
If you have feather pillows that can’t go in the washing machine, then place them in a bag and pop them in the freezer for six hours. This will kill any dust mites that can cause a pillow to lose its freshness.
Showers
Logic states that your shower should be the cleanest place in your house, but if you’re noticing a whiff then it’s more than likely your drain. Soap scum, hair, dirt and other small items can clog up your drain and cause it to lose its freshness. Use half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of white distilled vinegar, pour down the sink, pop the plug in and allow the chemical reaction to do the work.
Toilet and bathroom
We’re not known for our glorious weather here in the UK, but when you can, opt to leave your toilet and bathroom windows open to allow a little air in and use odour eliminators over air fresheners. And, if all else fails, place an open box of trusty baking soda on a shelf and let it absorb the smells.
The underside of work surfaces and furniture
If you’ve cleaned the surfaces, hoovered the floors and sprayed the fabrics but still aren’t finished, then take a look underneath. The underside of work surfaces and furniture can collect dust, hair and food particles that we may not notice. Wipe clean and deodorise. Smells will be banished in no time.
Wardrobes
Noticed a bit of a stale smell coming from old wardrobes and draws? No problem. Leave the doors or draws open so that they can air out, as closing them up can lead to moisture being trapped inside which is where the stale smell comes from. A humidifier will work wonders too – look for the specially designed wardrobe humidifier if you’re looking to overhaul an antique wardrobe.
At Oven Pride, we’ve made it our mission to take the stress out of cleaning the oven, so you can enjoy endless fun and creation in the kitchen. For more information and kitchen cleaning advice, visit the homepage today.
