Easy Ways to Get Rid of That Old House Smell

When you buy a house, there are always a few things you can’t help but notice about the interior of your new home. Inevitably, there’s a bit of an “old house smell” that lingers for a while, even after you’ve made all of the necessary renovations. It doesn’t take much to transfer that smell from home to new home, but there are ways to minimize your new-house smell and make your home smell fresh and new again. Here are five easy ways to get rid of that old house smell.

Clean the Drying Racks

One of the first things that people notice when they walk into a new place is the smell. This can be a bit hard to control, but it’s important to clean your drying racks to get rid of any lingering smell. When you have dishes in the sink, you don’t want that saltiness or soap scents to transfer over onto your towels and clothes. To clean the drying racks, start by spraying them down with a hose and then using a scrubber brush to get off all of the build-up. If you aren’t able to use a brush, you can use a vacuum cleaner on them as well.

Shut the windows.

The best way to get rid of that old house smell is to shut the windows. If you leave your windows open, the smell of decades worth of dust can get in and permeate your walls. Air out your living room by opening up the window and letting it air out for an hour or two before shutting it again. The fresh air helps fight off that musty odor right away.

 Use a dehumidifier.

One of the easiest ways to get rid of that old house smell is to get a dehumidifier. If you have an area in your home that always smells musty, a dehumidifier is the perfect solution. Using a dehumidifier will allow you to control the humidity levels in that room and make it much more livable.

Set Up Your Accessories

Another easy way for you to minimize any old-house smells coming from your house is by setting up all of your accessories. This includes everything from blankets and pillows on your bedding to your soaps in the bathroom and candles in whatever room you are sitting in at night. By setting up these items correctly, it will help minimize any lingering smells coming through them after they’ve been used for a while.

Use Air Fresheners

If nothing else works, you can always try an air freshener! There are many different options available like plug-ins or sprays that release oils into the air and create an aroma in order to cover up any lingering smells. It doesn’t take much either; just put one of these near where there is any kind of activity such

 Vacuum and Deodorize

Vacuuming and deodorizing your house is one of the most important things you can do to get rid of old-house smell. The key is to remove all particles on the surface of the carpet, along baseboards, and in corners where dust accumulates. This will eliminate the grime responsible for that old-house smell.

 Deodorize with Carpet Depot

Odor Eliminators

Carpet Depot has a wide variety of products to rid your home of that old house smell, including air fresheners, air purifiers, and odor eliminators. You could even use their pre-moistened novelettes that are perfect for removing odors from hard surfaces like wood and tile.

 Use a deodorizer.

Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and upholstery as needed. For freshness in the kitchen, place a dish of white vinegar and water with a few drops of essential oils like lavender or vanilla extract in the microwave.

Get Rid of Mold

Mold is the biggest culprit when it comes to transferring old-house smell into your new home. Therefore, if you have a mold problem, that’s your first step in getting rid of the old-house smell. Mold can be removed by hiring a professional or doing it yourself.

Clean your refrigerator coils.

Replace the filters of your heating and air conditioning system, especially if you have pets that shed fur.

Use a house humidifier to reduce dry air in the winter months. Clean all surfaces in your new home at least once a week, including surfaces you may not necessarily notice like ceiling vents and inside cabinets.

For a thorough cleaning, spray down walls and ceilings with an all-purpose cleaner (diluted to half strength) before wiping down with a cloth moistened with hot water. Make sure to clean inside all toilet bowls as well as under toilets and sinks where dirt collects around pipes.

Remove oven linings.

The first step to removing the smell of a house is to remove those oven linings. The smell of a house is often stronger in the kitchen, which means the oven lining is more likely to be the culprit.

If you have an older home with an electric stove, you might want to invest in a new oven liner. These are not only easy to install, but they also help with cooking as they can withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees and are non-stick.

A cleaner alternative if you still want that old-fashioned look is using enamel paint instead of oven liner. It works just as well and costs less money than buying a new liner for your stove top or oven.

Vacuum your carpets.

Start by vacuuming your carpets. If you can, vacuum both the carpet and the floor underneath it. This will get rid of dust and any lingering particles that could be causing that unpleasant smell.

Avoid cooking with oil-based products.

Because oil-based products can linger in the air long after they’ve been used, it’s best to avoid cooking with them as much as possible. When you do cook with them, make sure you’re cooking outside or in a well-ventilated area so that the smell doesn’t linger.

Wash your floors.

One of the best ways to get rid of that old house smell is to wash your floors. This will help freshen up any surface in your home, and it will leave them looking clean as well. Once you’ve washed your floors, vacuum them thoroughly with a new vacuum cleaner bag, making sure not to push too hard on the floor so you don’t damage it.

You can also try using a mop soaked in vinegar or lemon juice instead of water to clean and disinfect your floors while leaving them with a pleasant scent.

Make your home smell fresh.

The first step in getting rid of that old house smell is making your home smell fresh. The easiest way to do this is with a room freshener, like an oil diffuse or scented candle. This method works well because it disperses the scent of your chosen room freshener into your home and doesn’t just mask the old house smell.

Another great way to make your home smell fresh is by using baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda around the room and leave it overnight to absorb any lingering odors. Baking soda is also a great way to get rid of stains on carpets and eliminate dog smells from furniture or floors.

Lastly, it’s important to have proper ventilation throughout your home so that air can circulate and remove any lingering odors that come with an old house smell. One easy way to do this is by opening up your windows for a couple hours every day, especially in the springtime when you want to run the air conditioning less often. If you want, you can also invest in a whole-house dehumidifier which will help keep moisture levels down.

Conclusion

Getting rid of that old house smell doesn’t have to be difficult. There are plenty of simple ways to make your home smell fresh with just a little bit of effort. And once your home smells fresh, you may find that you are more inclined to tidy up and maintain your home more often.