Odor removal is directly related to our sense of smell. It is used by all living organisms to evaluate and react to their environment. Individuals perceive smells differently. An odor that may be pleasant to one person may be noxious to another. Therefore it is never very simple to eliminate unpleasant odors for everyone. Nevertheless, some odors are universally unpleasant and we shall discuss ways to eliminate them in this article.
1. Identify the source and the cause of the smell
Sometimes the cause of the smell is obvious, but if it is not, you will need to amplify your detection capabilities or call in a professional with experience. You can always choose a competent carpet cleaning company that will do a good job for you.
Some scents , like a person’s body odor, may be transitory, but most are not. Typically, they are embedded in the fabric of carpets, upholstery, or drapes. Odors like tobacco smoke that are trapped in fabrics are much more difficult to remove than the smell that come from urine or fecal matter.
Once you determine the type and source of the odor, it will be an easier job to deal with it.
If it is a kitchen odor, it can be controlled by cleaning and sanitizing. However, if it is coming from a sewer system, it may need more than just a simple cleaning. For instance, if your house smells like sewage, it might be caused by the sewer system or something inside the home.
These kinds of odors are very difficult to remove. A professional plumber can easily detect these smells and fix them. However, even though they are professional plumbers, they still do not have the same expertise as a trained odor eliminator.
2. Remove the source
This is most important because if the source is not removed, the odor will return.
It’s also important to note that a bad smell is usually a sign of a bigger problem.
3. Clean
The smell will not go away without thorough cleaning of all the source material and anything that came in contact with it.
4. Sanitize or disinfect
It is important to sanitize or disinfect the source or contaminated area after cleaning, especially for bad smells caused by toxic stuff, such as human waste or pet odor rotten food.
Sanitizing reduces the amount of bacteria, viruses and fungi and inhibits their growth. Disinfection kills pathogens that may be responsible for the smell. Remember to follow the federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines when using disinfectants.
5. Neutralize Remove, Remediate, or Replace the odor
Sometimes scents will still linger even after deep cleaning and sanitization. Other methods will then be necessary to eliminate them.
For example, a product can be used that will eliminate the odor or a product can be applied to the carpet to absorb the odor. It is therefore necessary to use a process for eliminating odors from carpeting and other surfaces without damaging the surface of the carpeting or other material.
