by Carolyn Noblett

Created on: July 09, 2010   Last Updated: May 01, 2012

There are several ways to insure that your home smells nice and one of the first actions you can take is to make sure that any carpeting is as clean as possible. Either doing-it-yourself or having a professional clean it, will go a long way toward remedying, and preventing unwanted odors.

-Smoke and tobacco

If everyone in your home has finally quit smoking, and you have not yet washed every piece of fabric in your home, now would be a good time. Some items might need to go to the dry cleaners and some might need some special care such as leather coats, jackets, etc.

Curtains and drapes will hold the smell of tobacco for ages. These might also be candidates for the dry cleaner or you may be able to wash them by hand. Eventually some items such as stuffed furniture might have to be replaced. It is ok to ask smokers to step outside from now on.

-Must and mold

Books, papers stubbornly collect, and hold odors. Smoke and musk cling tightly to paper fibers. You may be able seal these up in a bag with charcoal or dryer sheets for a few hours or days. If there is a way to place these items outdoors in the fresh air, it could help them to air out eventually.

Older homes sometimes have a damp and musty smelling basement. Finding a way to channel water away from the home might discourage some of the dampness reducing the musty smell.

-Cooking odors

In the kitchen, you can sometimes collect cooking odors by placing a small amount of vinegar and water into a pan to simmer for just a few minutes. The vinegar smell will disappear within minutes of turning off the heat. Wash skillets as soon as they have cooled to keep the smell down to a minimum and put leftovers away as soon as possible.

-Pets

These can be our best friends whether feline, canine or something else entirely.

Emptying the litter box is one job that no one really likes but someone absolutely must do, and it needs to be completed daily. It may be possible to move the box to another area such as the garage with a pet door installed. This might keep the smell down in the living area for a while longer.

With puppies, do not give up on housebreaking. Eventually they will understand what you want from them, but you still have to clean up any accidents as soon as you notice them. On the other end of the spectrum, if the dog is older and growing incontinent you may have to diaper it after a certain point. Figure out where the tail should come out of the diaper and cut accordingly before you put it on. You will still need to take your beloved pet outside regularly.

-Temporary measures

You can temporarily mask odors in a pinch, but these measures are exactly that. There is a large variety of candles, potpourri and sprays for unexpected or short notice company and they are pleasing even without guests. They also give you time to get to the cause of any smells. With a little detective work, you can isolate and eliminate smells in your home leaving it clean and inviting.

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