Reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor
Before we talk about how to remove musty smell in your closet, we recommend that you establish the cause of the smell. Here are the main reasons why an unpleasant odor occurs:
- Insufficient drying. Any laundry you have washed must be thoroughly dried before placing it on the shelves. Even a seemingly insignificant amount of moisture can provoke the development of fungus, which is the cause of the unpleasant odor.
- The things were folded right after ironing. Experts say: any wardrobe item or home textiles should be given time to cool down. Only when things have completely cooled down can they be rolled up or hung on "hangers" and placed in the closet.
- Storing clean and unwashed items in one place. For this reason, freshly fragrant laundry acquires an unpleasant odor, which eventually turns into musty.
- Clothes are kept locked up for too long. Periodically, you should ventilate those things that are in the chest of drawers or on the shelves of the cabinet. Otherwise, getting rid of the unpleasant "odor" will be difficult.
- The ventilation system is broken in the house. Things often start to smell unpleasant in those houses where the ventilation system cannot cope with high levels of humidity.
- The cabinet was infected with a fungus. For example, you could inherit a piece of furniture with a fungus, which, of course, “bloomed”.
But what to do if absolutely all the recommendations for washing, drying and storing wardrobe items have been followed, but there is an unpleasant musty smell on the things? Pay attention to the piece of furniture in which the textiles are stored: most likely, the reason for the specific smell lies in it!
The reason for the smell of linoleum
Linoleum is a floor covering that always has a specific smell. It is formed by substances that are part of the main components of the material. Despite the fact that linoleum smells, it does not harm human health. However, this only applies to certified goods. It is imperative to require a quality certificate when purchasing.
Even if the material is safe, an unpleasant odor still interferes with being in the room even for healthy people. And if a person is very sensitive to various odors, or even worse, he has various allergic reactions, then it is not recommended to use such floor coverings without special treatment.
If linoleum has a natural base, then the smell usually disappears on its own 2 weeks after its installation. A fabric base is used as a natural component. It has a specific flax smell. If the room has high humidity, then the flaxseed oil aroma will disappear for more than 14 days.
If the flooring is based on polyvinyl chloride, then its smell will also pass on its own in 2-3 weeks. After laying the linoleum, the PVC particle evaporates into the environment for some time.
If the smell does not go away on its own, you should proceed to one of the ways to eliminate it.
We remove the smell of linoleum
If the unpleasant smell persists, then you can eliminate it using simple and effective methods.
Ventilation is a versatile way to combat odors
It's no secret that regular airing of the room will help get rid of the unpleasant smell of linoleum as soon as possible. Professionals recommend doing the following: before laying linoleum, you need to let it lie down and ventilate.
To remove the smell, you must carefully put the linoleum face down, leave it in this position for a couple of days.This measure will not only remove the unpleasant odor, but also provide the coating with a perfectly flat surface.
Candles against the smell of linoleum
Candles help us out not only during fortune-telling, but also in everyday life. To remove the smell of linoleum, you can use ordinary household candles or scented options.
You need to spread the linoleum, take a few candles and set them on fire. Thanks to the flame of the candles, all the released chemical compounds will burn in the flame. Of course, candles should be positioned and lit in such a way as to exclude even the slightest risk of a fire in the house.
After the performed procedure, it is imperative to ventilate the room. The result will not be long in coming - no unpleasant smell of linoleum.
How to remove the smell of linoleum with vinegar
The purchased linoleum must be placed indoors. Take table vinegar and a cotton swab, put on rubber gloves.
Using a swab soaked in vinegar, carefully process all sections of the purchased flooring. Repeat the operation several times. After the procedure, ventilate the room.
Soda will help remove the smell of linoleum
After linoleum has become a decoration for your home, you can eliminate the unpleasant odor with a soda solution. Pour a glass of soda into a bucket of water and rinse the floor thoroughly with it.
To remove the smell of linoleum, you can simply sprinkle baking soda on the floor, leave it in this position for several hours, then remove the substance with a vacuum cleaner. The soda will absorb all the unpleasant aromas.
Warming up the material
Before you start laying linoleum, you should warm up the roll. This can be done by placing the material near a heater or heating system. Due to the fact that the slices dry out, the unpleasant odor will disappear.
We use adhesive tape
Increasingly, adhesive tape is used to combat the unpleasant odor of linoleum. This material will be required to carefully glue the sections of linoleum. The sealed areas will not be visible thanks to the skirting boards.
Similarly, you can use narrow electrical tape, liquid nails. Since it is the linoleum cut area that is the space that most of all spreads unpleasant odors, then after it is sealed, the smell in the apartment will disappear.
Linoleum is practical to use, has an attractive appearance, therefore, in many apartments and houses it is used as a floor covering. If the unpleasant smell of linoleum spoiled your mood, then you can get rid of the problem using simple and effective methods.
They have been talking about the toxicity and allergenicity of linoleum for a long time, and many consumers still treat it with a tinge of mistrust. This is especially true if a floor covering is chosen for a children's room. We suggest that you do not panic and learn how to get rid of the smell of linoleum.
What worries the consumer about this practical and inexpensive floor covering? Most often - a specific smell. We must say right away that it does not conceal harm to the body.
It is quite natural that the surface of the new linoleum contains microscopic particles of PVC and other substances that were used during the production process. But such residues disappear completely within a few days. And if you still don't know how to get rid of the smell of new linoleum, just spread it out and let it rest for a few days.
Always buy linoleum from trusted manufacturers that guarantee the quality of their goods.
For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that after a certain operational period, polyvinyl chloride linoleums lose their protective layer, and PVC particles begin to get into the air. Characteristic odors that appear after several years of use signal that the coating needs to be changed.
But if your linoleum is made from natural raw materials, then there will be no reason to worry.
It follows from all that talk about the toxicity of the coating is a myth. But it will be fair to say that the degree of danger between natural and artificial materials still exists.
Reasons for the appearance of a sour smell
The first reason is bacteria that die under the influence of sweat and salt, from which a sour smell is formed. This happens in the absence of proper personal care and neglect of the rules of personal hygiene. But there are several other reasons why sour body odor can appear.
Some diseases provoke the release of unpleasant odors. Most often this is observed in people with diabetes mellitus, with a malfunction of the thyroid gland, during age-related hormonal disruptions and other problems that are associated with hormones.
In case of respiratory disease, a rather pungent vinegar smell is released from the human body. This can signal serious illness and is one of the symptoms in the early stages. After a strong emotional stress, an acidic smell may appear, as well as fatigue after a long work process.
Reasons for the appearance
There are a number of reasons that are responsible for the unpleasant smell when the air conditioner is operating. You can fix the problem yourself or use professional help. It is necessary to understand that the disrupted operation of the device negatively affects health, so you should not postpone diagnostics and repairs to a distant box.
3> Long break from work
The first and most common problem faced by air conditioner users is long interruptions in use. Often this appliance is turned on exclusively in the summer, so the risk of unpleasant odors increases.
Violation of the rules of care
An unpleasant smell from the air conditioner also occurs as a result of violation of the rules for caring for the device. In order not to face this problem, it is recommended to regularly disassemble, clean and flush the system. This process takes quite a long time, but the room will always be fresh.
Untimely replacement of filters
If the filters are not replaced in a timely manner, this will also negatively affect the air condition in the room when using air conditioners. This procedure is done independently, or you can use the services of specialists.
How to remove correctly
In order to prevent the spread of bacteria and harmful substances in the house, it is important to carry out general cleaning of the room on time, to process the places where pets excrement accumulate and toilets
Often the surfaces of sofas, carpets, mattresses, furniture are contaminated with feces. Sequencing:
- remove feces from the surface of furniture;
- wipe the contaminated area with soapy water;
- wipe the stain with a clean dry cloth and dry.
If the unpleasant odor remains, more effective options are used.
Absorbents
To remove the stench from feces, medicinal substances or products with an adsorbing effect are used.
Apply:
- Activated carbon;
- mustard;
- ground coffee;
- charcoal;
- tea leaves.
The products can be applied dry or diluted with water to a gruel state. Keep in a contaminated area for 2-4 hours. It is convenient to collect with a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Soda and salt
To remove odors from hands or smooth surfaces of furniture, table salt mixed with mint essential oil is used. The product will help deal with dirt and leave behind a light, fresh scent.
Baking soda can be used to remove odors from upholstered furniture or carpets. The powder is mixed with water to a pasty consistency and applied to the stain. Allow to dry and remove with a vacuum cleaner.
Iodine or potassium permanganate
Iodine or potassium permanganate, diluted in water, will help to cope with stains and unpleasant odors on dark furniture.The required piece of cloth is moistened in the solution and spread on the stained surface, removed after 30 minutes. Repeat the procedure if necessary. The odor coming from the litter box can also be eliminated with iodine or potassium permanganate. The surface is washed with a mild chemical solution and wiped dry.
Vinegar and citric acid
You can remove an unpleasant odor with a 9% vinegar solution. Dissolve a teaspoon in 500 ml of water and add a drop of dishwashing liquid. Dissolve citric acid in a 4: 1 ratio. The solution is whipped into a foam and applied to the contaminated area. Wipe dry after 20 minutes.
Bleach or peroxide
Chlorine bleach, which is used to treat the surface for half an hour, will help to rid the white fabric of traces of feces.
It is important to thoroughly rinse off the liquid so that there are no streaks.
Hydrogen peroxide mixed with a little water and detergent or dishwashing detergent can work well for stains. The substance is diluted in a ratio of 1 to 1, applied to the stain after it has been treated with vinegar and soda. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
The reasons for the appearance of unpleasant odors in the apartment
Extraneous pungent odors can exude many rooms and objects. Possible reasons:
- smoking and drinking in the home;
- living in an apartment of pets, the presence of a regularly operated cat litter;
- expired food in or out of the refrigerator;
- untimely replacement of garbage bags, accumulation of garbage;
- poor hood;
- high humidity (dampness);
- storage of dirty clothes;
- poor quality cleaning.
Places of accumulation of unpleasant odors in the home
Most often, this phenomenon is observed in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and basement. Dust also smells bad, while it accumulates in places where owners look least often: behind heating radiators, under a bathroom, behind a stove and a washing machine, under a refrigerator, in ventilation. Houseplants, artificial flowers, figurines, stacks of newspapers are real dust collectors that absorb unpleasant odors.
The inside of the refrigerator can also smell awful if rotten and moldy food is in it.
Particular attention should be paid to the fruit and vegetable compartment. In devices with the No Frost system, the drainage hole for the condensate outlet is often clogged
Sewers are often the main source of bad odor in your home. Almost everything that a person flushes in the kitchen sink, shower or toilet enters the "magic" pipe and is discharged outside. Dirt partially settles in siphons, corrugated pipes and on the inner walls of pipes - in such an environment, bacterial colonies settle and multiply. If you do not periodically do preventive cleaning, you will get a terrible smell, which will be very difficult to get rid of due to the presence of a large amount of deposits.
Industrial odor removers
To get rid of a bad smell, it is often enough to act on the opposite. For example, if the carpet smells damp, you need to ventilate and dry it thoroughly. It can take a day to one week for a damp carpet to dry completely. Do not hang the carpet in the bright sun - under the influence of direct sunlight, its colors can fade. Also, do not dry the product near heating devices - exposure to high temperatures can lead to deformation of its base and cause the lint to fall out.
Sometimes, despite drying, it is impossible to remove the stench. We have to resort to using household chemicals. According to customer reviews, the following cleaning products have a good effect:
- Grass Carpet Foam Cleaner 215110 - Russian-made product has a high degree of foaming, helps to quickly get rid of bad odor.
- PUFAS tov-099507 is a preparation made in Germany, suitable for cleaning carpets made of synthetic and natural materials, has increased efficiency, due to its high concentration, an economical consumption of the cleaner is achieved during use.
- Pramol TAPI-SHAMPOO 4001.101 - shampoo for carpet cleaning, produced in Switzerland. Eliminates odor and has an antibacterial effect, and also returns the carpet to its original color brightness. The concentrated preparation requires dilution in accordance with the instructions.
- Pramol TAPI 3000 4018.601 is a powdered product of the same brand, designed to get rid of the bad smell of natural and synthetic carpets. The wet powder is evenly applied to the surface of the pile, absorbs dirt and odor when dry, and then removed.
- PROSEPT Carpet DryClean 205-5 is a Russian shampoo that forms a thick foam when used and can effectively and quickly help the hostess clean the carpet in a dry way. Does not damage the color and structure of the fibers.
How to get rid of the chipboard smell: a list of ways (+ video)
There are five ways to remove odor from chipboard, differing in efficiency, cost and complexity. If you do not want to spoil the furniture, then it is better to start with expensive methods, saving folk remedies only as a last resort.
Odor removal methods:
- Airing and drying.
- Ozonation.
- End machining.
- The use of purchased (chemical) products.
- Folk remedies.
Airing and drying
If the problem is in the newly purchased furniture, then it just needs to be ventilated for several days. If the furniture is old, then you will also have to carry out drying. Old furniture should be placed in a non-residential area, all doors and drawers should be opened, and if it is a sofa, then it should be laid out.
The idea is simple: you need to achieve the maximum area that will be ventilated. After cooking in the room, the windows are opened for ventilation. One day will not be enough, it is advisable to ventilate the furniture for 3-7 days.
It would be even better to make a draft: by opening the windows in the room, you also need to open the door. This will increase the efficiency of odor removal, but this option is acceptable only if there is no one in the house, because otherwise it is fraught with infectious diseases in residents (FLU, ARVI, bronchitis).
If this method does not help, and the old furniture still smells unpleasant, you need to do the opposite: close the windows and doors, put a heating device in the room and turn it on. Heating should take 3-4 hours.
Ozonation
The procedure is carried out using an ozonizer - this is a device through which air passes into the room. During the passage of air through the ozonizer, it is filtered from small harmful particles and additionally saturated with ozone.
The ozonizer is a very expensive apparatus, but it is very effective. It not only removes unpleasant odors, but also prevents infections in residents. Ozonation removes microbial elements from the air, removes viruses.
However, it is not advisable to buy an ozonizer to remove an unpleasant odor. Only use it if you already have it.
End machining
Very often, the problem is caused by poor-quality processing or no end-face processing at all. It is from the ends that formaldehyde vapors are released, since paint and laminate on the main surface prevent diffusion.
If an unpleasant smell or stench is localized at the ends, you need to purchase a furniture edge and glue them (you can do this yourself). After gluing, it is imperative to ventilate the room in order to remove the residual odor.
Folk remedies
The most popular because of their cheapness and safety are such products as tea, table salt or even activated carbon. All of these substances have one thing in common: they absorb (absorb) unpleasant odors and moisture.
Bags of any tea or bags of salt can be laid out in drawers or furniture shelves, leaving them for several days (during this time, the smells will be absorbed). As for activated carbon, it can be used in a similar way, having previously been ground to a powder form.
Essential oils can be used, but they do not so much remove the smell as mask it. You can use any essential oils: moisten rags in them, and lay them out on the shelves or drawers of furniture.
You can use ammonia with vinegar. Add a teaspoon of ammonia to a glass of warm water, moisten with a sponge in the resulting solution and use it to process those parts of the furniture that emit an unpleasant odor. The same product can be used to clean leather products.
Using purchased funds
Often, purchased chemicals are indispensable.
Yes, they need to be used with care, they are dangerous if used incorrectly, but they are also the most effective in removing odors. In the departments of household chemicals, you can easily find such air purification products.
Sometimes it is not possible to completely remove the smell from new furniture, in such cases it remains only to replace it with another
Such products are diluted in water in the proportions indicated on the label (each product has its own proportions), after which they are applied to furniture. The product forms a thin film that prevents the spread of unpleasant odors in the room.
How to fix the problem quickly?
What needs to be done to eliminate the unpleasant odor? A radical method is general cleaning, in which all contents are cleaned:
- Remove all fish from the aquarium with a net, place them in a jar of water;
- Clean the bottom, walls, plants, decorative items consistently;
- Clean the filter;
- Remove rotten algae;
- Change or replace water.
You can quickly and effectively eliminate the odor in the aquarium using carbon filtration (you need to purchase a special aquarium carbon that does not emit phosphates and does not produce dust).
- Cut off a hole at the bottom of the bottle;
- At the top, cut a small hole for the air tube;
- Wrapped coal in a synthetic winterizer, place it in the bottom of the bottle, also put a pebble down that will hold the device at the bottom;
- Insert the end of the tube into the upper opening of the bottle;
- We connect a homemade filter to the compressor.
This device will quickly get rid of the unpleasant odor.
How to get rid of unpleasant "odors"?
You can remove the musty smell in the apartment by wiping furniture, shelves and drawers in cabinets with a solution of potassium permanganate. This method will help to eliminate the odor from tobacco, and from old things, and from animals. Special ready-made products that kill microorganisms without harming pets will help to cope with the latter problem.
Understand the closets. Often we put old things in there and just forget about them. Without air access, that "aroma" begins to appear, which you can forget about if you store only clean things in the closet, do not forget to ventilate it and place sachets in the corners.
The refrigerator can also be the cause. Disconnect it from the mains, defrost it if necessary and, after washing it, spread the crushed activated carbon. To prevent excessive dampness in the bathroom, it is recommended to put bowls with salt. The smell of tobacco will be absorbed by wet towels spread around the room, as well as open containers with ground coffee, which will also serve as a flavoring agent.
Modern technologies will also come to the rescue in this matter. Ozonizers will saturate the air with ozone, disinfect it, destroying various microorganisms that are often the cause of the "heavy atmosphere". Do not ignore the use of aerosols, but only if they do not cause you allergies.The fresheners don't last as long, so you can use incense sticks or candles.
Folk recipes
In many cases, industrial household chemicals are able to compete with folk remedies that do not require significant material costs and are available to every housewife. Here are some recipes that can help make the smell fresh if the carpet stinks after washing:
- Baking soda can act as a deodorant that absorbs odors and does not harm either the carpet or the occupants. The carpet is thickly sprinkled with soda powder on the principle "the more the better", and in this form is left overnight. In the morning, you need to vacuum it, making sure that there are no traces of soda on the pile. If you add a few drops of essential oil to sodium carbonate, stirring thoroughly, the carpet will get rid of the stench and acquire a pleasant delicate aroma.
- Vinegar absorbs the stench well, although it itself has a pungent specific smell, but evaporates quickly after airing. White vinegar works best for deodorization, pour it into a spray bottle and spray it evenly over the carpet.
- Vodka is an excellent odor remover and antibacterial agent. You need to sprinkle the carpet with a small amount of liquid, after 10-15 minutes, remove it with paper towels. You can also sprinkle baking soda on the pile and then vacuum it to absorb moisture more quickly.