How To Stop Nasty Household Smells

Before you put anything in the bin, wash it out. That includes cans, bottles, meat trays and wrappers.

If you have a compost bin, put any food waste in that and keep it outside if possible.

You can wrap unwanted food in compostable, biodegradable bin liners to stop smells escaping.

Don’t overfill the bin – it’s best to have the lid closed all the time – and change the bin bag as often as possible.

Regularly wash out your bin. Spray with an anti-bacterial spray and don’t forget the lid and rim, where little bits of food can get lodged and rot. 

Shake some bicarbonate of soda around the bottom of the bin as this will help absorb odours. 

Keep your bin away from direct sunlight. This will slow down decomposition to reduce smells and the chance of maggots.

If you spill anything or something leaks, wipe it up straightaway. 

Regularly use a damp, all-purpose e-cloth to keep the shelves, racks and doors clean. Use a little bit of washing-up liquid in water to remove any dirt. 

If your fridge is already starting to smell, wipes down the walls, shelves and door seals with a solution of 15ml (1 tbsp) of bicarbonate of soda to 1 litre of warm water. You could also try a disinfectant solution.

To stop future smells developing, leave an open container of bicarbonate of soda inside the fridge (it lasts for up to three months), or invest in a specialised fridge deodoriser.

The most common cause of smelly sinks is a blockage in the U-bend of the pipework. To prevent that happening in the first place, do not put any food scraps, oil or fat down a plughole.

If water isn’t flowing freely down the sink, grab a plunger, and try and pull out any muck you can. Then pour down about 45ml of washing-up liquid and leave it there for 30 minutes. Follow with some boiling water.

For on-going maintenance, drain sticks use enzymatic power to prevent build-ups and eliminate odours. They break down almost anything that causes blockages and smells, and are perfect for use in any sink that has a U-bend.

To deal with a badly blocked sink, use a dedicated unblocking product, which will dissolve any plughole nasties.