Most smells at home are somewhat easy to identify –from the filthy litterbox to fired fish. However, there are more treacherous smells, which linger and seem so hard to get rid of, regardless of how many bottles of chemicals you unleash.
In order to keep the odors from taking over the home, you need to determine them first. If you clean your house often and it still smells, it could be your walls that causes it. Read on to this article to learn more about this!
What Causes The Smell In The House?
Maybe you have noticed wet cardboard or musty smell in the house. Or maybe you have referred to it as old house smell. Regardless of how you call it, one of the most common causes of musty. Lingering smells, particularly in older houses, is the hidden mold, commonly present in the walls.
As you possibly know, some kinds of mold might to toxic. Based on the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency, most mold problems in a household under 10 sq. ft. are adequately safe to clean on your own and do not really need any professional help. However, to be safe, you need to learn about the different kinds of mold.
And then, the first thing that you should do? Determine where that mold may be hiding. Below are some of the culprits:
- Walls
- Window frames where condensation accumulates
- Poor ventilation in the bathroom and kitchen
- Gutter issues
- Leaky plumbing.
Prevention is the key to molds. In rooms, which aren’t air-conditioned, mechanical dehumidifiers are beneficial. A humidistat may be connected to the unit, in order to control the humidity. Above all, cleaning is very important for your walls. But how to properly do it? Keep on reading to know!
How To Get Rid Of Persistent Odors?
if you already have an idea as to where the persistent smell is coming from, and what is really causing it, you might take the necessary steps in cleaning it up and make the home smell fresh once more. If you’ve been exposed to VOCs and mold, the health of the family might be affected.
Some things like deceased animals and rodent droppings might need professional assistance to make sure that the area is cleaned thoroughly. Some other situations might be handled by yourself.
Here are some ways to keep the home clean and free of persistent odors:
- Use vinegar and baking soda to neutralize any unwanted smells at home. You may use a spray bottle and put your mixture there –you may spray it on the walls to get rid of the foul odors that come from it.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the walls to take away the persistent odors. Leave it there overnight and then vacuum the walls. This will surely be effective.
- Increase the ventilation at home to help keep the house smell fresh. Try to add an air purifier to enhance the quality of air inside the house and to reduce the VOCs.
What To Know Before Cleaning The Walls?
Walls get dirty, particularly at dog and kid level. Cleaning them on a regular basis is the keep in keeping the house look clean and sparkling. Below is a way on how to clean walls (painted) without causing any damages to them.
Before you clean, identify what kind of pain is on the wall. Eggshell, stain, or flat surfaces are not as sturdy and may rub off when you scrub it excessively or if you use an harsh chemical cleaner. Regardless of the kind of paint on the wall, you must follow the proper way on how to clean walls. Scroll down to know the proper way!
How To Properly Clean Walls?
Before you even start cleaning your walls at home, here are some tools that you can use:
- Long-handled wall brush
- Microfiber cloth
- Container for soapy water
- Castile or dish soap
- Broom
Dust the Walls
You may start with a long-handled wall brush. You may choose the ones that have soft bristles in it –this won’t scratch the surfaces of the walls, yet hold and grab on to the dust really well.
Furthermore, you might also use a broom for this particular task –make sure that it is clean. You might also put any old t-shirt on the broom’s bristles and achieve the same tool as the long-handled wall brush.
Wash the Walls
Contingent on the degree of wall washing that should be done, you might choose your own wall-washing solution. Once you have already mixed up your solution, put towels on the floor if you are doing a full wall wash, as well as grab either a microfiber cloth, a clean towel, or a white sponge.
Furthermore, if you are just dealing with general dirt on your walls, you may only do a speedy wipe in a small one to two-foot section –wipe it from left to right and top to bottom. In case the walls are very dirty, and you are doing a full room wash, you might want to move from left to right and bottom to up. This is for you to not get any dirty drips on the walls.
You may mix up one of the following simple solutions to dissolve any kind of dirt on the walls:
Deeper Clean Wall Washing Solution
- Two tablespoons of white vinegar
- Half gallon of warm water
Basic Wall Washing Solution
- One to two drops of dish soap or Castile
- Half gallon of warm water
Make sure that you are using only just a damp cloth, sponge, or towel, and that you’re drying as you go. Once you are finally done with the small section, move on to the next.
Conclusion
The unwanted smells at home might be so annoying and worrisome, yet you don’t need to sit back and just let it take over the house.
By finding and getting rid of the source of the lingering smell, you may begin to breathe much easier once again. If it is on your walls, the aforementioned proper way to clean your wall can be beneficial for you!