Because no one wants to live in the smelly house

You can’t live in a house and not create odours. And adding kids and pets to the mix is a sure-fire way to multiply these stinks.

No matter how much of a clean freak you are, your home is going to have unwanted smells at times. You can go a massive Spring clean, burn oils, spray air fresheners, use plugin sprays, or have reed oil diffusers, but this won’t work. It will only mask the smell for a little while.

You need to find the source of the odour and get rid of it.

Try these proven methods to get rid of common household odours

Musty bathrooms

Have you ever walked into a bathroom and it smells stale? Bathrooms are the perfect environment for mould. And bathrooms grow those gooey, smelly hair monsters that live in your drains; try pulling them out from a sink without dry retching. To get rid of the smell, open the window, wash all the towels, clean out the drains and wipe down all surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner, followed by bleach.

Smelly rubbish bins

When you open your cupboard, and the smell of rotting food hits you in the face, you’ve got to change your bin bag. And be careful tying it up, those odours seem to poof straight out the bag and up your nostrils. Blah. Once you’ve removed the bag, wipe your bin using disposable cleaning wipes. If the smell remains, sprinkle some baking soda onto the bottom of the bin to help absorb odours.

Cats aren’t always clean

If you’ve got a cat, you’ll know how bad the stench of a full litter tray is – especially when the bugger hasn’t covered their doody. And with constant use, the tray itself can hold smells. After emptying the tray, cover it with baking soda, top with water and leave it to soak for several hours. Drain the liquid and wash it with hot, soapy water and dry well. Quick tip: sprinkle baking soda in the tray every time you change the litter.

Stinky cigarettes

If you’re a smoker, you won’t notice the smell. But if you give up, or you’re a non-smoker who moves into a house of a smoker, you’ll smell the stale stench of cigarettes. The tar in cigarettes gets into EVERYTHING. You’ll need to steam clean the carpets, floors, fabric furniture and curtains. Then use a multipurpose surface cleaner and wash all surfaces like walls, doors, windows and the ceiling. Also, make sure you clean your air conditioning filters.

Microwave disasters

When you’re in a hurry, microwaves are a godsend to zap food. You pop it in, push a few buttons and let work its magic to cook your food. From frozen meals to movie popcorn, you can prepare food in a matter of minutes. But when you’ve hit the wrong cooking time and the food burn – it stinks bad. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with ½ a lemon and 1 ½ cups of water. Microwave it on high until it boils, then let the water cool. Wipe the walls with paper towel and leave the door open for a few hours.

Spoiled milk can bring tears to your eyes

If you’ve got little ones, I’m sure you’ve (at least once) experienced the smell of spoiled milk. Bottles get hidden under couches, under car seats, under cots, and milk drips out onto carpets and couches. It takes a little while (quicker in the heat), but once you get a whiff of the sour off-milk smell, it’s something you’ll never forget. Grab some baking soda and pour it directly onto the milk stain. Leave it overnight, before loosening the soda and vacuuming the area. If the smell remains, you’ll need to steam clean and deodorise your carpet or car’s interior.

We’re sure you’ve all had a shocking household odour at some stage. Share your stinky story with us in the comments below.