Damp and humid conditions inside your home can actually exacerbate the symptoms of asthma, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. Not only that, but unwanted moisture is often the cause of underlying odors in your home. There’s nothing worse than scouring your house from top to bottom, only to still smell that noxious odor emanating from who knows where. Odors can be sneaky little wrenches in your works, hiding in the most innocuous places. It takes a sensitive nose and a strong stomach to track the most subtle scents to their sources.
What’s in Your Washer?
If running a load of laundry through your washer makes your laundry room smell like a mixture of wet beagle and rotten eggs, you might have mold growing in your machine. Owners of top-loading washing machines have an easier fix than those who’ve invested big bucks in front-loaders. For either model, leave the door open or the top up when you’re not using it. This will help circulate fresh air inside your machine, reducing the growth of mold spores. Other fixes include running an occasional bleach load through the machine or adding white vinegar to your rinse cycle. Lawsuits have been filed against makers of front-loading washers, due to their tendency to harbor smelly mold. The good news is manufacturers have taken steps to eliminate the problem on newer models.
Venting
Speaking of mold, it’s fond of the ductwork that carries heat and air conditioning throughout your home, as well. If you notice a musty smell emanating from the vents the first time you fire up the central air next summer, it might be because mold has formed inside your ductwork. To eliminate this permeating stench, inspect your ductwork for rips or tears that could be letting in moisture. If you find any, you need to repair them. The best order of business if you think you might have mold growing inside your ductwork involves calling in a professional to clean and service your heating and cooling system. Mold spores circulating throughout your home is a health hazard.
Blind to the Smell
Ancient window treatments all can harbor odd and musty odors. Is there a smoker in the house? If so, the fabrics that decorate your windows are especially suspect. To knock out this odor trap, wash your window fabrics frequently. Better yet, update to more modern, fabric-free window treatments. Blinds and shades rarely hold odor, and they have the added benefit of lightening and brightening your rooms and bringing your home into the 21st Century.
Draining Odors
A stinky sink drain can seem like an impossible fix, but it isn’t really. Try pouring a combination of baking soda and white vinegar in your drain and allow it to sit overnight. This helps kill and deodorize smelly bacteria growing in your P-trap. If your stubborn stink is still stinky, consider using a watered-down application of chlorine bleach. For odors that simply won’t go away, remove the drain covers and stopping mechanisms and use a bottle brush, soap and hot water to manually scrub the slime away. Any one of these techniques should do the job, but you may have to try them in combination for those really bad, stubborn smells.
