Getting rid of household smells: ventilation, drains and the kitchen

Find the source instead of masking it

Many people reach for an air freshener first, but fragrance only hides a smell for a while and leaves the cause in place. Two smells mixed together can even be worse. Most household odours come from a handful of sources: standing water and damp, food and grease, drains, and fabrics that have soaked up smells. Your nose is sharpest just after you come in from outside, so walk around the home at that moment and notice where the smell gets stronger. When it appears is also a clue, whether after cooking, on rainy days or in the morning.

Ventilate briefly, often and with a cross-draught

Airing a room several times for a short while works better than one long session, and loses less heat. Opening a single window does not change the air much, so where possible open two windows facing each other or on opposite corners so air flows through. The best moment to ventilate is straight after cooking or showering, when smell and moisture are produced together. Cooker hoods and bathroom fans push air out, and they only work properly if air can come in, so leave a window or door slightly open. On days when outdoor air quality is poor, keep it short.

• Open two windows facing each other
• Air the home right after cooking, showering or drying laundry
• Open a window a little when the hood or fan is on
• Keep it brief when outdoor air is poor

Sewer smells start with the water in the drain

Drain pipes hold a small amount of water in a bend, which stops sewer smells coming up. If a drain smells after you have been away or one that is rarely used starts to smell, that water has probably dried out, so pour plenty of water in. Where a washing machine hose goes into a floor drain, any gap lets smells straight up, so close it with a sealing fitting or stopper. Cover drains that are almost never used, such as one on a balcony. Hair and limescale in bathroom drains are covered separately in the guide on bathroom grime.

• Pour water into drains that have gone unused
• Seal the gap between washing machine hose and drain
• Empty the sink strainer every day
• Cover drains you do not use

Deal with kitchen smells before they build up

Food waste is the biggest cause of kitchen smells. Draining off as much liquid as possible, keeping it in a lidded bin and taking it out often makes a big difference. If collection day is still a while away, tie the bag tightly and keep it somewhere cool. Damp cloths and sponges let bacteria multiply and soon smell sour, so wring them out and spread them to dry after use, and boil or replace them regularly. Stand chopping boards upright to dry after washing, and check the back of the fridge regularly for forgotten food. If cooking smells linger, check how often the hood filter is cleaned.

Smells held in fabric and laundry

Curtains, sofas, bedding and rugs absorb cooking, smoke and damp smells and release them slowly. Wash what you can regularly, and air what you cannot outdoors in a well-ventilated spot on a dry day. A musty smell on laundry usually comes from it staying wet too long. Take washing out as soon as the cycle ends, hang it up, and leave space between items so they dry quickly. A washing machine that stays damp inside can smell too, so leave its door open to dry after use.

The entrance, the bin and other hiding places

Putting shoes straight into the shoe cabinet traps moisture and intensifies the smell. Let them dry out for about a day first, and open the cabinet doors now and then to change the air. With bins, do not just change the bag; wash and dry the bin itself occasionally to clear smells soaked into the bottom. Smells can also start in places you rarely look, such as the drip tray under the fridge, inside the air conditioner or down the sides of the sofa. In humid seasons a mouldy smell often rises as well, so manage humidity at the same time.

Using air fresheners and deodorisers

An air freshener belongs after the cause is gone, as a finishing touch. Using several scents at once can mix into something headache-inducing, so stick to one. If you burn candles or incense, do not leave them unattended and keep flammable things away. Rather than using a strong product in a closed room for hours, use it with ventilation. In homes with pets or young children, check the warnings in the product instructions, and never mix cleaning products. Chlorine bleach mixed with acidic cleaners releases a toxic gas.

Smells that need action right away

If you smell gas, do not light anything or touch electrical switches; turn off the gas valve, open the windows, go outside and call your gas supplier or the fire service. If you smell burning, check whether extension leads, sockets or the backs of appliances are hot, and unplug anything that seems wrong. If a sewer smell persists after adding water, or a mouldy smell seems to come from inside a wall, it may be a pipe or leak problem, so ask the building manager or a professional to inspect it. If a smell keeps giving you headaches or dizziness, leave the room, ventilate, and seek medical advice if needed.