Does Your Home Smell? Here’s How to Fix the Problem

Does your home smell like the home of that nice old lady who had too many cats? Or maybe like someone has hung soggy socks by the air vents for a few weeks? Your home should never have unpleasant odors. Take these simple steps to remove bad odors and leave your Mobile, Alabama, house smelling fresh.

Identify and Remove Culprits

If the odor permeating your home reminds you of sweaty socks, you may have a 

mold or mildew issue

. And if that’s the case, you need to determine the source — fast. Sniff around to find where the smell seems to be the strongest. If mold or mildew isn’t behind a wall or under the floor, you should be able to see it. Look thoroughly in dark, damp places, where mold is likely to grow.

Once you’ve identified the source of the unwelcome fungi, the next step is to show it who’s the boss. If molds have damaged a part of your home, you’ll need to have whatever was affected removed and replaced. If molds or mildew are just on the surface, scrub it with a mixture of one part bleach and four parts water, then rinse off the residue. Be sure to take all safety precautions. Wear gloves and a mask whenever you deal with molds.

Ventilate

Open doors or windows occasionally to let fresh air inside. In the past, people were hesitant to do this because of concerns about the quality of the outdoor air. However, outdoor air has been found to be significantly more polluted than outdoor air.

If you’ve been destroying mold and mildew spores with bleach, you need to get a breeze going. Open some windows and get fans going to move air throughout the rooms in your home. To prevent future mold and mildew growth, ensure damp and dark areas, such as laundry rooms and bathrooms, are well ventilated and dry moisture from condensation as soon as it appears.

Make your house feel fresh by eliminating unpleasant and harmful odors. For more help with 

improving the air quality in your home

, call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at