Many common home odors are caused by moisture and the mold and mildew that it feeds. Naturally, if you are able to dry the moisture and clean out the mildew, you will have a much more pleasant smelling home. There are some typical places in your home where you will want to check to be sure that you are not fostering a mold and mildew breading ground. First, deodorize your garbage disposal at least once a month by using an over-the-counter cleaner. Some people use the rinds of citrus fruits to freshen up their disposals between cleanings by simply cutting up these parts of the fruits with the garbage disposal. By opening the washing machine and dishwasher after each load, you will allow air to circulate and kill mildew fungus. You should also pour water into basement floor drains monthly to cut down on the discharge of plumbing gasses.

The kitchen is full of all kinds of odors and opportunities for more odors than you can think of. Start by cooking cleaner by making sure that you have proper ventilation in your kitchen and most especially over your cook top. Just about everyone knows about using baking soda to freshen up your fridge, but did you know that you can also pour a little vanilla extract on a cotton ball and place it in the refrigerator to eliminate odors? You can even place these cotton balls in small bowls and place them around the house to achieve the same effect. Don't worry, you can still put that baking soda to good use by using it as a cutting board deodorizer. Simply use a paste of baking soda and water to scrub the board and then be sure to rinse well. The baking soda solution can make its way into the cracks of the board, sanitizing it as it cleans. The same technique can be used with plastic cutting boards.

Another clever tip is to insert a car air freshener or potpourri through the intake hole of your vacuum cleaner each time you switch out the bag. This will give off a fresh scent when you turn on your vacuum and clean your carpet. You can also add potpourri directly to the vacuum bag and get the same result.

Although home odors are common, they are not something that you want to overlook. Odors are always caused by some underlying problem. When food goes rotten and is no longer safe to eat, it puts of an odor designed to deter others from eating that piece of food. You get the smell of gas in your home when there is a leak in your gas line and there is danger in the house. Make sure that you take the way that your home smells seriously, because having an odor free house isn't just a nice thing, it is a way of ensuring that everything in your home is in good working order and that you are living in a safe environment.