Spring Cleaning the Garage: Get the Smell Out

6/23/2017 (Permalink)

Keep your garage a safe haven with the cleaning tips!

Spring Cleaning the Garage: Get the Smell Out

Your car, tools, furniture, and all sorts of things can go in your garage, but if there’s a stink to it, even entering the room can be unpleasant. Fortunately deodorizing the area is relatively simple, so long as you tackle the sources of the smells and keep the area clean. Find out some useful tips below.

• Remove scent catchers. This means removing wet and old cardboard, papers, and the like. Water, in particular, can contribute to mold growth and musty odors in general, so it’s best not to leave any of these materials lying around if you can help it.
• Soak up spills. When oil and other strong-smelling liquids are left to sit, they can make many places unpleasant and unsanitary. You can sprinkle some cat litter on the offending spots to absorb the liquids for easy disposal, or you can proceed to the actual cleaning.
• Clean! You may go the route of an all-purpose cleaner or a bleach and water solution for tougher areas, but now is simply the time to give the area a thorough cleaning. Pay attention to where smells are coming from so that can eliminate all sources. Smaller spaces like garbage cans will also need to be scrubbed if they’re adding to the odor.
• Follow up. Though the garage is clean, you still need to keep up the cleanliness. Ventilate it with fresh air for several hours, if not a day, and watch for moisture and temperatures inside. Consider a ceiling fan, especially if you keep pungent chemicals constantly inside. As for keeping the smell away with deodorizers, air fresheners might only be enough to mask scents. Placing deodorants like vinegar, cat litter, or baking soda in controlled amounts can keep the stench away for good.

You probably don’t want any part of your home to stink every time you step inside, and the garage is no different. It isn’t too difficult to aerate and freshen up, so long as you can identify sources and take care of the mess. A little effort will render the room just as clean as pleasant as the others.

If you need professional help, you can call on businesses like SERVPRO of Belle Meade in Nashville to help with the load. Not every odor can be removed quickly and easily on your own, and SERVPRO professionals have the experience and 24/7 access to expedite the process. They'll remove odors at the source and get your home back to normal in no time.