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The prevailing method used by most men to combat foul odors at home is to mask them with air fresheners, candles, and other deodorizers. While potentially effective at concealing the stink, these options do nothing to strike bad smells at the source. While your nose may eventually grow accustomed to household odors and the subsequent cover-up aromas, guests will be hit face-first with your home’s bad smells if the source of the stink is not eliminated. What’s more, all it takes is for you to be gone a few days for your nose to regain its sensitivity towards the odors upon your return.
Given the potential for bad smells to ruin the moment and generally put us in a bad mood, it’s important for men to take the proper steps towards attacking foul odors at the source. The following outlines the primary targets every guy should have on their list in the fight against nasty household smells:
Bedroom
The source of bad smells in a bedroom typically originate from one of three places: bedding, carpeting, and dirty laundry. Cleaning and washing these textiles on a regular basis will help to keep a bedroom from becoming musty. Go one step further and opt for a copper pillow and mattress set. Due to the antimicrobial properties of copper, these bedding options help to eliminate bad smells from the largest piece of furniture in the room.
Bathroom
The most notorious odors to come from a bathroom tend to be acute in nature. Foul smells which linger in the bathroom long past the expected expiration date of a typical visit in the second degree are likely coming from the plumbing below and behind the bathtub, toilet, and sink. Buildup accumulating in the pipes can provide the ideal breeding ground for a whole host of smelly microorganisms. Pouring bleach down the drains as well as de-clogger on a regular basis can help to keep bathrooms smelling as naturally fresh as possible.
Kitchen
Unsavory smells in the kitchen are most likely originating from the trash, the sink drain, or the dishwashing machine. Trash containing organic material is going to quickly cause an enclosed environment to smell bad if not removed. Go further and spray the trash can with a disinfectant prior to lining it with a new bag. Use garbage disposal cleaner to dislodge any bits of old food that remain clung to the insides of your sink drain, and make sure to clean the filter in your dishwasher on a regular basis. We don’t have any advice for when the smells are coming from the oven except that you probably need to become a better cook.
Living Room
Similar to the bedroom, the likely source for bad smells in the living room is something made of fabric or some other textile. The furniture, curtains, and carpeting are all going to absorb odors over the course of days and weeks, requiring occasional cleaning to properly remove. If left unchecked, these accumulating odors add up to a signature stink of a living space which smells like it’s been lived in for too long.
Basement
If bad smells are emanating from your basement, chances are standing water is to blame. Check for puddles of water and any sign of water leaks. Be especially vigilant in the aftermath of a bad rain storm or melting of snow. Not only is stagnant water sure to cause the basement to stink, but it also runs the risk of leading to more dangerous problems such as black mold or cracks in the building foundation.
There is no denying the value of deodorizers for neutralizing bad odors at home in a flash. Yet air fresheners and similar products are a temporary solution to a problem that requires more direct attention. The truth about bad household smells is that they are literally embedded in the very fabric of our home life, requiring extra energy and attention to address and eliminate.
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This content is sponsored by Anne Davis.
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