Have you ever come home, opened the door and suddenly thought, “What is that smell?”
Maybe it’s something you’ve never noticed before. Maybe it seems to come and go. Or maybe someone else walks into your house and mentions an odour that you genuinely can’t smell at all.
Household smells can be surprisingly difficult to track down, and sometimes the source is nowhere near what you would expect.
A strange fishy smell may have nothing to do with dinner. A wet-dog smell can show up in a house without a dog. And that mystery odour coming from the basement may have a much simpler explanation than you first imagined.
Of course, there’s another factor at play too. When we live with a scent every day, we can gradually become less aware of it, often referred to as becoming “nose blind.” That can be particularly important when you’re preparing a home for sale because buyers are walking in with completely fresh noses.
So whether you’re getting ready to list your Windsor-Essex home or you’ve simply found yourself wandering from room to room wondering, “Where on earth is that coming from?”, here are some surprisingly common culprits worth investigating.
Something Smells Fishy, But Nobody Cooked Fish
A strange fishy or chemical smell in a home is one you should not simply cover up with an air freshener.
Surprisingly, certain electrical components can sometimes produce unusual odours when they are overheating. An outlet, light fixture, electrical component or wiring issue may be the source.
If the smell seems to be coming from an electrical area, particularly if there is heat, discolouration, buzzing or a burning smell, have it investigated by a qualified professional.
This is a good reminder that when a homeowner says, “Oh, that smell has always been there,” that doesn’t necessarily make it harmless.
The Rotten Egg Smell
A rotten egg or sulphur-type smell is another one that homeowners should take seriously.
Natural gas is intentionally given an odour so that leaks can be detected. If you believe you may be smelling natural gas, leave the home and contact your utility provider or emergency services as appropriate.
But there is another surprisingly common source of sewer-type smells in a house: a dry plumbing trap.
Sinks, showers and floor drains contain traps that hold a small amount of water. That water creates a barrier that helps prevent sewer gases from entering the house.
If you have a basement shower, floor drain or bathroom sink that rarely gets used, the water can eventually evaporate.
Sometimes simply running water into an unused drain solves the mystery.
Your House Smells Like Wet Dog, But You Don’t Own a Dog
Before blaming some mysterious neighbourhood animal, check your dishwasher.
Yes, your dishwasher.
Food particles, grease and debris can collect around the filter, seals and drain area. Over time, that can produce a surprisingly unpleasant smell.
Dishwashers are particularly easy to overlook because we assume the appliance that cleans our dishes must also clean itself.
Apparently, even the thing that cleans things needs cleaning.
Check your manufacturer’s instructions for how to clean the filter and interior safely.
The Laundry Room Smells Musty
Another appliance that can become a source of household odours is the washing machine.
Front-loading washers, in particular, can sometimes develop mildew or odours around the rubber door gasket, detergent compartments or other areas where moisture sits.
Those smells can eventually transfer to towels and clothing, which means the odour can start travelling through the house.
Regular cleaning and allowing the washer to dry between loads can make a significant difference.
The Mystery Smell in the Bedroom
If a bedroom, closet or basement smells musty, don’t automatically assume the house has a major moisture problem, but don’t ignore it either.
Musty smells can come from:
- damp carpet or underpad
- upholstered furniture
- closets with poor airflow
- stored clothing or linens
- condensation or excess moisture
- furniture placed tightly against exterior walls
- mould or mildew
One surprisingly common spot is behind large pieces of furniture.
Move a dresser or bed that has been sitting against the same wall for years and you may discover that very little air has been circulating behind it.
If the smell persists, it’s worth investigating the source rather than simply masking it.
Why Does Dinner Still Smell Like Dinner Three Days Later?
Sometimes it isn’t the food that still smells.
It’s everything that absorbed the smell while you were cooking.
Curtains, carpets, area rugs, upholstered furniture and other fabrics can hold cooking odours much longer than homeowners realize.
Your range hood filter can also be a major culprit, particularly if it hasn’t been cleaned or replaced in a while.
If you regularly cook foods with strong spices, frying oils or other distinctive aromas, you may no longer notice them. Someone walking into your home for the first time probably will.
Why Does My House Smell Like Cat When I Don’t Have a Cat?
Ammonia-type smells can sometimes be confusing.
Pets are an obvious possibility, but they’re not the only one.
Drains, old carpeting, moisture problems and certain materials can sometimes create odours that homeowners associate with pets.
If pets previously lived in the home, urine can also penetrate much deeper than the carpet itself. Depending on the severity, odours may remain in the carpet underpad, subfloor, trim or other materials.
And this brings us to one of the biggest mistakes people make when preparing a home for sale.
Please Don’t Try to Cover It Up
When sellers know there is an odour, the instinct is often to add another smell.
Plug-ins.
Candles.
Wax melts.
Carpet freshener.
Room sprays.
Suddenly, instead of eliminating the original problem, the house smells like vanilla-lavender-tropical-fruit-something-or-other.
And buyers may start wondering what you’re trying to hide.
Generally, clean and neutral is better than heavily scented.
Before listing your home, concentrate on the basics:
Clean fabrics and carpets. Empty and wash garbage containers. Clean pet areas. Check drains. Clean appliances. Wash bedding. Open the windows when weather permits. Clean your range hood and filters.
Most importantly, find the source of the smell rather than trying to disguise it.
Sellers: Bring in a Fresh Nose
If you’re preparing your home for sale, you may actually be the least qualified person to determine whether your house has an odour.
You live there.
You’re used to it.
Ask someone who doesn’t.
And preferably choose someone who is comfortable being completely honest with you.
You don’t necessarily want the friend who walks in and says:
“Your house always smells wonderful!”
You might need the friend who walks through the door, pauses and says:
“Okay…what happened in the basement?”
That friend could save you from a poor first impression with buyers.
Buyers Remember How a House Feels and Smells
When buyers tour several Windsor-Essex homes in the same afternoon, the details can start blending together.
They may forget which house had the larger dining room.
They may forget which one had the nicer bathroom tile.
But there is a very good chance they will remember:
“That was the house that smelled weird.”
Smell is part of the overall experience of walking into a home, which means addressing odours before listing can be one of the simplest and least expensive ways to improve that important first impression.
And sometimes the thing standing between your house and a much better showing experience really is just your dishwasher filter.
This blog is for information purposes and is not intended to replace legal, accounting, financial or environmental advice, nor is it intended to solicit those currently under contract with another Brokerage.
