Month: September 2021

Our homes are our sanctuary. This is the place we sleep, eat, rest, and stay. And there’s no denying that part of living in a comfortable home is by its smell aside from its cleanliness. A fresh smell in your home gives you peace of mind to relax and enjoy, especially for home buddies.

Based on studies, smell has a huge impact on our brains. It either enhances or breaks our moods. And when it comes to our homes, if the place smells fresh, our stress naturally reduces. Who would want to stay at home if it stinks, right? If it smells bad, we feel uneasy.

In this blog, we will share with you some of the effective ways to eliminate bad odors in your homes.

Fragrance Sprays Are Not Always The Solution

Here’s the thing, it becomes a misconception (and a habit) that when we smell something funny in our house, we tend to spray, spray, and spray fragrance solutions. But did you know that it is not entirely the right way to aid this problem?

Yes, through spraying strong fragrance solutions or aerosols, the smell fades away. However, the bad odor is not gone. What happens is it only gives a temporary solution but still the bad odor issue still exists. And eventually, it will persist, giving a stronger foul smell. Yes, a stronger foul smell!

It’s either the fragrance of the solution you spray fades away over time or it mixes with the bad odor which causes a stronger foul smell. And we don’t want that right?

How To Aid The Issue?

Actually, there is one basic solution to remove the bad odor. In order for you to solve the issue is by finding what causes it. Yes, that’s what we often miss doing. It is important to find what or which causes the foul smell. And once you do, you can see how to deal with it. It’s always about thoroughly cleaning!

Cleaning is so important. When after cleaning an area in your house and aesthetically it looks sparkling, but there’s still foul odor in the air, then it means something is not right. There is probably one part you might have missed cleaning.

Effective Ways To Eliminate Bad Odors

There are ways you can eliminate unwanted smells in your house. There’s actually a long list about it. And we listed some of the most important you might want to consider. We believe that the list below can greatly help you with your cleaning.

• Open the windows

Know the humidity level of the room or area. Oftentimes, for example, mopping the floor, we tend to let the floor wet and dry naturally. It’s not good or bad—it actually varies depending on the situation.

If you mop the floor of a room with windows, open it so the natural air comes in which would help for the wet floor to dry more naturally. Opening the window has a big factor because it brings in the natural smell of nature (of course it varies, who knows if you are living in the city and opening the windows is not pleasant at all).

If opening the windows is not an option, then consider mopping with a dry cloth as your final moping. This helps dry the floor faster. This also helps so that the moisture in the room won’t be bad that may cause mold. If you can, you can use a dehumidifier.

• Spot the obvious

Garbage bins, litter boxes, fridges, and all others that can produce foul smells should be attended to. Use the proper solutions when cleaning it to eliminate the smell or from keeping it from producing foul odors.

Our sense of smell can actually adapt to the situation. This leads us to sometimes miss some areas to clean because we just got used to its smell. But this is not good at all. We should keep our focus straight and realize which spots, areas, and stuff to be cleaned. As mentioned earlier, don’t just spray fragrance solutions just to hide the foul smell lingering on the issue.

• Freshen up the air vents

It’s another thing we sometimes miss. Sometimes, your home is already clean yet there’s still something not right. You might find the cause of it through your air vents. Who knows that the reason why the air inside your house is not coming in/out is that the air vent filter is not clean.

• Don’t miss out the soft surfaces

Pillows, quilts, bed sheets, sofas, linen, and window covers are smell-magnets. Take time to check these also and change/clean them when needed. For example on your couch, juice splurge into it and you just let it dry then spray fragrance solution. You thought it’s good again, but it’s not. It might look clean again aesthetically but bacteria and germs might have started to accumulate there. You should check out how to properly clean it.

• Neutralizers

There are neutralizers that can be used to eliminate odors. It may come in different forms or commercial products. One best example is charcoal. Did you know that you can use it in your fridge to eliminate its funny smell? You can place it inside the fridge and it absorbs the smell/odor. You can also use it in a room by just placing it on a surface.

Another good example is plant. There are plants that naturally help purify the air and smell of your house. But please take note that it has its limits and proper ways of using it!

• Simmer fruits and herbs in the stove

This works best if you want your kitchen to have a fruity or herb-like scent. However, this just suggests that it’s a good air freshener. So, much better to do this once you have resolved the bad odor issue in your home and want to make it have a brand new fresh (nature-inspired) smell.

In Conclusion

Eliminating bad odor(s) in your home can be said that it depends on how you thoroughly clean. When your house is odorless, then it is safe to say that it is clean. Fragrance sprays are not entirely the answer to eliminating the bad smells. You have to find the root cause!

When you are cleaning and want to achieve a high-quality of cleanliness, do it the right way. There is no shortcut to achieving it. Everything needs time, focus, and effort to achieve it! But if you need assistance, you can always do so.

If you are living in Aurora, IL, and its surrounding areas, and need help making your house sparkling clean, contact us today! My Marvelous Maids are ready to help you clean your house. We have a team of professional house cleaners who are ready to provide the best service possible. You can call us to book an appointment.

House cleaning has been part of our lives since before we knew it. It naturally became part of our routine—whether doing small or big cleaning tasks. Aside from the fact that we’re reducing the eyesore stuff that ruins the aesthetics of our spaces, it’s also the most hygienic thing to do. Furthermore, nowadays, we clean our homes to prevent and/or reduce the spreading of the coronavirus (Covid-19), especially now that there’s a variant that’s more threatening to our health compared to the original strain.

In short, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting would make a big difference to keep us away from the risks of becoming sick and unhealthy. Mentioning those three, you have probably already heard a lot of various cleaning methods to achieve the cleanliness we’re aiming for. However, since there are a variety of methods we’re read or heard of, we sometimes get confused on which to follow—and which works best—because of them may contradict one another. 

In this blog, allow us to share to you some household cleaning myths that we frequently encounter. This also aims to help you understand and give you more ideas about it.

Myths About Household Cleaning

1. Bleach Cleans Thoroughly ‘Everything’

Bleach is a helpful tool and companion when you’re cleaning your house. It makes white become whiter. It removes stains that regular soap and water can’t deal with. However, you should understand that there are surfaces where bleach is not advisable to use .Yes, it can clean the surface but it can also harm and break down the build-up of that surface you’re cleaning.

Bleach can also be harmful to your kids and pets as it is concentrated. It also has a strong smell that can sometimes irritate your sense of smell.

2. Cleaning and Disinfecting Are The Same Thing

Cleaning and disinfecting are different from each other. While both have one goal which is to make surfaces and spaces clean, they serve different purposes.

Cleaning refers to removing dust and dirt, but it doesn’t entirely remove germs from the surfaces. But cleaning is important because it reduces the number of germs in the surrounding area.

On the other hand, disinfecting kills germs through the use of chemicals. Some common disinfectants are bleach and alcohol. For a certain period of time, you leave the disinfectant on the surface to kill germs. But take note that disinfecting does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces.

Nowadays, both are playing vital roles in our lives because of the spreading of the coronavirus. We use both methods to sanitize surfaces and areas aiming to kill germs, bacteria, and viruses.

3. Bleach Works Best In Hot Water

This is a myth! Contrary to what most people believe that bleach and hot water are a perfect combination when cleaning, it is not true. Mixing bleach into hot water can turn white into yellowish tint. To avoid this from happening, don’t use bleach and hot water together.

4. All Cleaners Are To Be Sprayed, Then Wipe-Off Right Away

No, this is not true. There is also a window time for a disinfectant or a cleaner to work properly. Seeing the word ‘instant’ on a label of a product often leads to the misconception that cleaners work in just a click. But in reality, it doesn’t work that way. You have to check and read the directions of the cleaning products you’re using and you’ll see that there are minutes required for it to sit well on the surface before wiping it off.

5. All Green Cleaning Products Are Safe To Use

This is a common misconception. A green label does not necessarily mean that it is the safest cleaner out there. There are variables and factors to consider. Some of the green label products are not safe around your pet or your children. And the best way to ensure you are using the right products according to your needs is by reading and understanding the label and description of it. Make reading a habit!

6. If The Surface/Area Smells Clean, Then It Must Be Clean

Just because the area is already smelling flowery and fresh does not necessarily mean it is. Remember that germs, bacteria, and viruses can’t be seen by our bare eyes. In reality, the safest clean is when the smell is odorless. This is why you should not be fooled by the deodorizers included in the content of the cleaners you’re using. Always remember not to rely on it but to use cleaners that are right according to what you’re cleaning.

7. Homemade Cleaning Products Are Not As Effective As Commercial Cleaning Products

This is a myth! In reality, homemade cleaning products are the safer cleaning products you can use in your house. They work well too! In fact, when you’re using homemade cleaning products, you’re sure about its content and know that it’s not concentrated with chemicals.

However, always remember that it has its limit. If you’re aiming to thoroughly clean and disinfect your house, choose the right cleaning equipment and cleaning products to use. Read the label to ensure if it fits your needs. And, lastly, follow the instructions to have it work properly.

Conclusion

One of the main goals of cleaning is to not just clean but to reduce the risk of picking up germs, bacteria, and viruses that can harm your health. But always consider also that you have to select and choose the right cleaning products for you to use that won’t harm your health also. Chemicals are harmful so ensure that while you are cleaning you are not risking yourself from being exposed to harmful elements.

If you are homeowners in Aurora, IL, and its surrounding areas and need assistance thoroughly cleaning your home, My Marvelous Maids is ready to help. Book a cleaning appointment with us today and we will send our highly-skilled professional cleaners to your home. Our aim is to deliver the best cleaning service possible to make your home a comfortable and clean place to stay in.