Are you worried that you have gone “nose-blind” to the scents of your home? Or do you know just how your house smells and you worry that it could turn off potential buyers?
I’ve put together a few ideas to help you…
If you aren’t a smoker or an animal owner and your home doesn’t have any strong offending odors you may just want to entice buyers with a pleasant-smelling open house. You can freshen up the air with some candles or potpourri placed around the home. And, there is always the tried and true trick of baking cookies. These tricks won’t do anything to get rid of anything stinky but will give the potential buyers a happy pleasant smell as they tour your home.
Of course, if you have actual odors that need to be addressed then cookies can only mask so much. Before you start with the cleaning process, open up the windows and let Mother Nature help air out the house. If you can get the air fresh it will help lead you to the offending items in need of cleaning.
The first step is a thorough cleaning. Scrub the floors and walls with either a cleaning solution or a mixture of water and vinegar. Or a bleach solution if you’ve got more stubborn smells.
If you have a low-level odor then sprinkling some baking soda in the carpets and on the furniture before vacuuming can help absorb the bad smells. Baking soda is a proven odor absorber, let it sit for about 15 minutes before vacuuming. You can also leave bowls of baking soda on shelves or in cabinets, and an open box in the fridge, to help absorb odors.
Here’s a fun project you can use to semi-hide what you’re doing:
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/DIY-Scented-Coffee-Filter-Sachets-32107228
There are other carpet deodorizer powders that you can use but these sometimes leave an artificial smell behind. But, they may be necessary if the smells are too strong.
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-deodorize-your-carpet-naturally-with-baking-soda-252554
Simple clean not enough?
If you have more stubborn smells from smoking or pets you may need to hire a professional to clean the carpets, fabric furniture and window coverings. And, you may even need to freshen things up with a new coat of paint. Fresh paint adds an odor of its own but it’s better, and cleaner smelling, than cat urine.
Once you get the smells gone you want to make sure they stay gone:
- If you have smokers in the house make sure they keep it outside.
- If you can’t relocate the pets while you’re selling, then seal off a few rooms to keep them clean.
- Invest in an air purifier. You can always take that with you in case your new home doesn’t go through the same odor-removal process.
- Put dryer sheets in dresser drawers or in closets to keep them smelling clean. (Yes, homebuyers will look almost anywhere)
- Don’t fill the home with plug-in air fresheners. You may think these will keep everything smelling good, but they are often too overpowering with artificial smells. And, buyers may wonder what you’re trying to hide.
One of the best ways to keep your house smelling clean is to keep your AC and Heating Systems maintained to ensure you have proper airflow. Not to mention keeping that plumbing and sewer under control.
If you need a maintenance appointment, give us a call, we’ll be out quickly as a Haire!