Stand in your kitchen and take a deep breath. Smell that? From last night’s fish to your son’s nasty lacrosse pads, you probably can’t detect any of your home’s rankest odors. You’ve got nose blindness. Most of us do. We just get used to smells in our home. But if you plan to sell your home soon in Albuquerque, those things you can’t smell may actually chase away potential buyers.
Here are 2 of the most common nose blindness culprits, and how to ban them from your home. And now you have all the time you need to tackle these potential Albuquerque home sale killers.
Pet Smells
There’s one easy way to tell if your home smells like pets: Do you have pets? Then yes, unless you’re an obsessive cleaner and groomer, your abode has at least some Fido funk.
It could be pee, but more likely it’s just hair, gunky ears, and weeks-old slobber. The first step to cleaning up pet smells is cleaning the pets themselves. Bathe and groom them regularly. Then, vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. If they have a favorite couch or cushion, cover it with a blanket and run it, and the cushion cover, through the wash weekly. Every time you vacuum, start with a hearty sprinkle of baking soda on the carpet.
And use that crevice tool liberally. Pet hair loves tight spaces like the border between the carpet and the wall, the edges of your steps and that little crack of space between the stove and your cabinets.
Hopefully urine isn’t the issue, but to be sure, you can use a black light to out any dried stains your pet was hoping you’d never notice. Use more of that baking soda followed by a half-water, half-vinegar solution to neutralize the odor. Lots of people also swear by store-bought neutralizers, like Nature’s Miracle.
Fridge and Freezer Grime
It’s your fridge and freezer’s job to keep your food fresh, but they need a little help staying fresh themselves.
Tiny food bits hang out long after you’ve tossed the item from which they came. Although you might not notice the odor creep, you may notice your ice starting to taste funny or see those food morsels start to accumulate in the corners of your fridge shelves. If you see or taste something icky, you can bet others can smell something icky.
To zap odors from from your freezer and fridge, unplug and empty them and do a thorough cleaning with a mix of hot water and baking soda. You can sanitize with a solution of one tablespoon bleach and one gallon of water. Let it air out for 15 minutes. Try wiping it down with vinegar for extra odor eliminating, or even leave the door open for a few days.
Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque.
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