How to Get Rid of New House Smell
You Love Your New House But It Smells, What to Do
If you recently moved into a new house and you've detected a bad smell, you might be second guessing your purchase. But, don't panic! There are ways to get rid of the stench! Here are some of the reasons your house might smell, and how to get rid the offending odor.
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Carcass Smell: Look for Dead Animals
It's hard to describe this odor, but you know it when you smell it—something's dead. Search beneath the house and around it for dead animals or birds. It's not uncommon for wildlife to get into attics or walls and chimneys, as well. Once you remove the carcass, you'll want to spray the area with an enzymatic cleaner in order to break down the organic materials and eliminate diseases and odors. Be sure to let the solution sit for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping.
For further deodorizing, you can use an open box of baking soda or a container of freshly ground coffee with holes in the lid, to absorb the odor. Finally, be sure you to cover, plug or put a screen over all exterior holes larger than one- half inch in diameter, and all vents, chimneys, crawl spaces, gaps and cracks. Read this first-time home buyer's guide to home maintenance.
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Rotten Food: Target the Kitchen, but it Could be Anywhere!
If the kitchen appears empty and clean but a rotten food smell persists, thoroughly examine the refrigerator, cupboards, drawers and oven for old food that's have gone bad. And who know where the previous residents ate! Bedrooms, the living room or the TV room might be housing the rotting food. After disposing of the old food, use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe things down. Finally, place bowls of white vinegar throughout the room to neutralize the odor. Does your kitchen sponge smell? Here's how to clean it.
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Pet Smell: Treat the Carpet
Maybe you didn't notice it at first, but now you've detected the smell of pet urine, and you don't even have a pet! You can sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the carpet, let it stand for a few minutes and then vacuuming it up and if you're lucky, that will take care of the smell. If you suspect the smell is coming from the carpet and you want to clean it more thoroughly, here's how to clean it.
Also, keep in mind that if the pet urine soaked through the carpet into the subfloor below, you won't be able to get rid of the smell without ripping out the carpet and replacing those boards. Check out these carpet cleaning tips for pet owners.
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Fishy Smell: Check Electrical Components
A fishy smell that's not coming from a fish is definitely a problem. In the case of your new home, it could be a sign of potentially dangerous overheating electrical components. You could try to figure out the exact source of the smell, but we recommend you call a licensed electrician for an inspection. They will have diagnostic tools to help locate the problem along with the knowledge of how to fix it. These 20 hidden things in your home may be a fire hazard.
Originally Published: January 31, 2020
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How to Get Rid of New House Smell
Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/your-new-house-smells-what-to-do/
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