You’ve just finished a garage makeover. You couldn’t be prouder of your new epoxy floors, and every tool and piece of sports equipment is perfectly organized on your new slatwall system. Your garage is almost perfect — almost. There’s a smell that you just can’t seem to get rid of. Find out how you can keep your garage smelling fresh!
Identify the Source
Before you can eliminate the source of the odor, you have to figure out what’s causing it. Investigate garbage cans and floors drains; if you store any chemicals or cleaning solutions in your garage, check that they are safely and securely stored.
Ventilate
Sometimes, all you need is some good old-fashioned circulation. (Especially if the source of the odor has to do with paint fumes, chemicals, mildew, or pet odors.) Leave the garage door open for a full day while you work in the yard, and plug in an additional fan to help air out the space.
Old Paper Products
If you have any old cardboard boxes or paper products in your garage, they’ve been exposed to moisture and are likely musty. Discard them to work toward a cleaner smell.
Check For Leaks
Check to make sure that you don’t have water leaks or other moisture problems that are encouraging mold and mildew to grow. Look at your roof, windows, or pipes, and keep an eye out for flooding.
Mold and Mildew
While you can typically bleach away mildew, you can combine baking soda, a sponge soaked in hot water, and baking soda for a milder solution. Mold cleanup can be more intense than mildew. If the moldy area is over 10 square feet, on the walls, floors, or ceiling, or if your HVAC system has mold in it — or if you have health issues that could be provoked by mold — the EPA recommends hiring a specialist. However, in most cases, you can clean up mold by yourself as long as the space is well-ventilated and your entire body is covered with protective equipment. Don’t mix cleaning products to prevent accidentally creating a toxic product; instead, use1 cup of laundry bleach per 1 gallon of water. After scrubbing, dry surfaces as quickly as possible.
Get the Stink Out
If your garage’s smell isn’t tied to mold or mildew and is just the lingering smell of trash, you can keep the stink out of your garage with a few tricks. Keep the space dry, check for leaks regularly, and install a few extra fans to keep air circulating. Keep out a small bowl of kitty litter, baking soda, white vinegar, or activated charcoal to absorb odors.
Now that your garage is clean and fresh, you can enjoy your renovated space — or, you can start planning for your own garage makeover! If you’re looking for Orlando garage ideas, check out our gallery and give us call at 407-447-8890.