Does your house smell bad? Why nose blindness is hard to tell—plus 7 expert tips to freshen things up.

You’ve probably walked into someone else’s home and noticed the lingering aromas of last night’s salmon dinner, pet odors, musty bedrooms, or slightly musty bathrooms. But why is it so difficult to tell if your home smells bad? This is because after a while you stop noticing it.

There’s even a name for it: nose blindness or olfactory adaptation. But don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s your brain’s fault.

Nasal blindness is a natural sensory phenomenon in which the brain adjusts over time—and essentially “switches off”—to constant or familiar smells, Dr. Nick Rowan, an otolaryngologist specializing in rhinology and skull base surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told Yahoo Life. . Dr. Tran Locke, assistant professor of otolaryngology at Baylor College of Medicine, explains that “our brains are designed to detect new smells that may signal a change in the environment, such as the presence of smoke or food. When we are constantly exposed to a smell, such as the smell of our home, our brain begins to filter the smell. This allows us to focus on new smells that may arise in the environment, rather than being distracted by background smells.”

Moisture is the main culprit of unpleasant odors in the house. “When surfaces and items are exposed to moisture for long periods of time, they can begin to grow bacteria, which can lead to mold and mildew, which creates a musty smell,” Caroline Kazimierski, president of Sophia Cleaning Services, told Yahoo Life. “You can find this smell anywhere from towels to toilets to drains – anywhere there is moisture. Thus, ventilation and regular cleaning are the best ways to combat this musty smell.”

In general, the most common sources of odor in homes include the trash can, refrigerator and garbage disposal, as well as carpeting, upholstered furniture and pet items, Natalie D’Apolito, public affairs coordinator for the American Cleaning Institute, tells Yahoo Life. .

So how can you tell if your home’s scent is more stinky than fresh, and what can you do to make it smell good? Here’s what the experts suggest.

How to Determine What Your Home Really Smells Like

Nasal blindness is difficult to prevent because, as Rowan explains, it is a natural adaptation of the brain. However, there are things you can do to take a fresh look at whether bad odors are lingering in your home.

“Going away for a while, like on vacation, resets the olfactory region of the brain, so that when you come back you’ll be able to smell what your home smells like,” Locke says. Rowan agrees, saying that “coming home after a trip can give you a new perspective on the smells in your home.”

Rowan adds: “Some people also find that getting out of the house, even for a few hours, spending time outdoors, and then re-entering can provide a similar, albeit less intense, olfactory reset.”

However, he says one of the best ways to get a better idea of ​​what your home smells like is to ask a trusted friend or family member for their honest impression, “as they will notice smells that you may have become accustomed to or perhaps You won’t even recognize them.” because they are a unique “you”.

Not going on vacation anytime soon or afraid to ask someone to smell your home? Rowan suggests surrounding yourself with a variety of scents to help keep your nose and olfactory nerves alert. “Using different scents or scents in your home, as well as opening windows or using fans to circulate air, can prevent odor from lingering in your home and reduce the risk of nasal blindness,” he says.

7 tips to help make your home smell nice

Taking out the trash, using a dehumidifier to combat humidity, and opening some windows can certainly help, but there are a few other ways to freshen up your space, according to experts:

Use a natural air purifier. Want to neutralize odors in your home rather than just mask them? Grab a few bamboo charcoal air purifying bags, which will naturally absorb unpleasant odors anywhere in your home, including near trash cans and litter boxes. You can also put them in sneakers and boots.

Leave the bowl with the vinegar. Fish for dinner last night? Logan Taylor, president and founder of Dazzle Cleaning Co., recommends pouring distilled white vinegar into a bowl and leaving it in the kitchen for a few hours or overnight to remove strong odors. “This will leave the room smelling like vinegar, but the smell will dissipate quickly,” Taylor told Apartment Therapy.

Sprinkle some baking soda. “Baking soda is also a great way to neutralize odors, whether you store it in the refrigerator or sprinkle it on upholstered furniture or carpets and then vacuum,” says D’Apolito. “Many bad odors are acidic, so a base like baking soda can absorb them in a pinch.” Baking soda will also help eliminate unpleasant odors coming from your garbage disposal. D’Apolito recommends pouring boiling water down the drain, followed by a half cup of baking soda, and then a half cup to 1 cup of white vinegar to thoroughly clean the drain. “Let this mixture sit for a few minutes, then rinse with more boiling water,” she says.

Use a diffuser with essential oils. “I feel like the smell of your home has as much to do with how it looks” as the furniture and fixtures, interior decorator Eileen Lane Kennedy told Yahoo Life. “The calming aroma immediately gives the room a zen atmosphere.” Kennedy is a fan of using natural oil water diffusers, like the Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser from Whole Foods (her favorite product is Lemon Eucalyptus from Aura Cacia). “They are safe to leave and will add a subtle scent to your home,” she says. “You can change the scent depending on your mood or the time of year.”

And clean with them. This is one of Kazimierski’s favorite ways to create a pleasant smell in the house. “I often add a few drops of lemongrass or orange-scented essential oils to my cleaning solutions to mask any harsh chemical odors that cleaning solutions may have and add a more lasting, refreshing scent associated with cleanliness,” she says. “I also often add a few drops of different essential oils to fabric sprays and then spritz them on sofas, curtains and blankets to keep those items not only smelling clean, but smelling good!”

Try wall plugins. While not everyone is a fan, Kazimierski says if you’re looking for a consistent scent, you can’t beat wall-mounted air fresheners. “They work 24/7 and are not a fire hazard like candles,” she says. “Keeping your home clean is the best way to prevent bad odors in the first place, but using something like wall sockets will create nice smells that you can change depending on the season or your personal preference.”

Make a cooking pot. As a last resort, boil water in a saucepan, add a few slices of orange, some cranberries and some cinnamon sticks – or add other citrus fruits such as lemons and limes, or replace the cinnamon with sprigs of rosemary, lavender or pine cuttings – and simmer. on the stove until your home is filled with that cozy aroma. Just keep an eye on the water level and turn off the heat after a couple of hours, although you can leave the pan on the stove to continue enjoying the flavors.

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