What causes foul odor in your home gives reasons for the stench, familiar places to check, and possible solutions to resolve the problem. From a natural gas leak, or a smelly pipe in your toilet, to pets and dirty carpet, what causes foul odor in your home is a must-read
A smelly pipe behind your toilet
A smelly pipe behind your toilet after flushing usually indicates a problem with the toilet’s wax ring seal, which is broken and allows sewer gas to escape from the drain pipe when water rushes through, causing an unpleasant smell. Other potential causes include a clogged drain, a blocked vent pipe, or a dried-out P-trap that no longer effectively traps water to prevent sewer gas from entering your home. You can reduce the foul odor by ensuring your bathroom has proper ventilation to remove moisture and odors. Otherwise, call a plumber if the problem persists.
Natural gas leak
If you notice a gas smell in your kitchen, move away. Don’t light a match, don’t smoke or operate electrical switches, or create any sources of ignition. If the smell is strong, leave the building and call a local gas company immediately. To get the smell out of the house you could try window fans and open windows to draw in fresh air. The odor will evaporate in less than an hour
Dogs and cats
What causes foul odor in your home includes pets. So yes pets are great but dealing with poop and pee is part of living with a cat or dog. But there are reasons other than odor to be careful about. A dog’s urine has many types of bacteria. And both cat and dog poop can carry things like roundworm and hookworm that can infect you. So be certain to clean up urine quickly, remove poop out of kitty litter every day, and wash your hands after.
Kitchen sink garbage disposal
While odor-causing bacteria can live in your kitchen sink and drain, more can grow from garbage disposal scraps. So it’s crucial to clean once a week: Put six ice cubes, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, three thin lemon slices, and one teaspoon of bleach into the disposal. Add six more ice cubes and turn it on. Run cold water for 30 seconds when the grinding stops. This is how it works: the ice helps knock food particles loose, bleach kills bacteria, and lemon slices help with odor.
Dirty carpet
It can catch dust, dirt, and pet poop or pee. Carpeting can also trap mold spores, leaving your home with a musty smell. To prevent odors, vacuum at least three times a week with a machine that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Deep clean your carpets once a year using dry steam cleaning.
Smelly fridge
When your food tastes and smells bad, they have been infected with spoilage bacteria that can grow in low temperatures. Therefore wipe up spills using hot, soapy water to keep your fridge fresh. Don’t use cleaning products as they may make your food taste like chemicals. Likewise, go through your fridge once a week and discard expired foods. Also, an open box of baking soda can help eliminate odors.
Damp towels
If you don’t wash them often enough, they’ll breed bacteria and smell like dirty gym socks. One study found that a type of bacteria called Moraxella osloensis is the main cause of stinky laundry. So, wash your towel at least once a week, but more if you live somewhere hot and humid. Spread it out on a towel rack outside to dry.
Dead animal
A faint smell that slowly gets stronger and stays for days or weeks could be that a rat, lizard, or wall gecko has died in a hidden corner of your kitchen store, attic, inside a wall, or under your deck. Trace the smell and once you discover the dead animal, remove, clean the area, and disinfect it.
Dirty sheets
You shed dead skin cells every night while you’re asleep. Both odor-causing bacteria and dust mites love dead skin cells. That’s why you should wash your sheets at least every two weeks. Try it more often when the weather’s hot or if you sweat at night.
Stinking dishwasher
The source of smell could be from food particles trapped in the filter. So once a week, take the filter out and scrub it with a soft brush under running water. Wipe up other residue inside the appliance with a sponge. You can use dishwasher cleaner to get it super clean. Or you can put a bowl filled with vinegar in the bottom rack of the empty dishwasher and run a cycle.
Concealed mold
You can smell mold but not see it. In this case, it’s hidden behind drywall or wallpaper, under the wood paneling, or in walls near pipes. Besides it can grow under carpets, ceiling tiles, or inside air ducts. Moisture encourages mold growth, for instance under a sink with a leaky pipe or in a poorly ventilated bathroom. So the best solution is to call for professional help and not try to fix it yourself.
