Amoy Kulob at Mabaho? Here Are Ways to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh

“Ano ‘yung mabaho?” How many times have you stepped inside your house only to be greeted by a weird smell? Is it that kulob smell that’s taking over the space or a funky odor coming from the kitchen? It’s inevitable to encounter unpleasant odors coming from the different rooms in the home. According to Good Housekeeping, “as long as you cook, play, and well, live they’ll be there.” So how do you keep the home smelling clean aside from mopping, scrubbing, and sweeping religiously?

Here are common household odors and how to deal with them efficiently:

In the living area:

• Pillows and throws

These furnishings can quickly smell bad, especially if you don’t wash them or change pillow covers regularly. Do you often sit on the sofa even if you’re sweaty or just came from an errand? You’ll transfer all the dirt and grime from the outside onto your furnishings. Wash your pillows to avoid getting sick, make sure they dry properly and don’t forget to change pillowcases.

• Carpets and area rugs

Whether you have a carpet or an area rug at home, it takes quite a beating daily. We step on it, it gathers dust, and more often than not, we spill food and drinks on it. Good Housekeeping suggests sprinkling baking soda all over the rug to get rid of funky smells. Let the baking soda sit, can be overnight, before vacuuming. Simplemost also notes you can brush the carpet with a broom to distribute the baking soda evenly before vacuuming the following day.

In the kitchen:

• Trash can

Given all the cooking done in the kitchen, it can be challenging to keep it smelling good all day. Just imagine the smell of onions mixed with herbs, and sadly the stench of trash can, too. According to Good Housekeeping, “Sometimes it’s not the actual trash that smells — it’s the trash can itself.” To solve this, Simplemost suggests using baking soda or cat litter. Sprinkle it onto the bottom of the trash can to absorb odors.

• Refrigerator

From being greeted by the smell of onions and garlic to finding out your takeout is already spoiled, opening the ref can be surprising. Avoid funky odors by opening a box of baking soda and keeping it in the corner of your refrigerator. Opting for airtight food containers also helps. Real Living published an article with tips on how to avoid refrigerator odors such as leaving charcoal on a dish inside to help absorb odors and leaving a mixture of water, vinegar, and lemon juice inside the fridge to lessen smells.

• Chopping boards

It’s essential to have a clean chopping board in the kitchen since we use it when preparing food. Disinfect your boards by cleaning it with vinegar. Rub it with sliced lemon to get rid of nasty odors.

• Microwave

With all the food we heat using this appliance, it’s a given to have a foul-smelling microwave. Simplemost suggests cleaning it with vinegar. Give it a good wipe down and keep the door open to let it air out. Another suggestion is to “fill up a microwave-safe bowl with equal parts of water and vinegar, about two inches high. Heat for 90 seconds and let sit in the microwave to steam.”

In the bedroom:

• Mattress 

The same way we use pillows and throws, our mattresses take a beating almost every day. Over time, it may start to have a moldy smell. To avoid this, make sure you air it out regularly. Good Housekeeping also suggests sprinkling baking soda on the mattress and letting the powder sit before vacuuming it.

• Closet

Our closet is home to a whole gamut of smells like the kulob smell that sticks to clothes. Avoid this by airing out your wardrobe by keeping the door slightly open. According to Simplemost, you can also “vacuum the floor and corners then use coffee grounds as an odor absorber.” You can place them inside old socks or packets you can hang inside the closet. 

In the bathroom:

Aside from the kitchen, the bathroom is one of the main causes of having a smelly house. It doesn’t help that it’s always wet, too! Control the odor problem by airing out the bathroom after every use. You can use different deodorizers to keep it smelling fresh, but it all boils down to how you clean it. Simplemost says the toilet tank might be the primary reason why you have a stinky bathroom. “Scrub the tank with some vinegar (using gloves, of course), and that can help get rid of the unmistakable smell of urine.” Don’t forget to disinfect and clean the bathroom with an effective cleaner.

This story originally appeared on Smartparenting.com.ph.

* Minor edits have been made by the Realliving.com.ph editors.