An overflowing trash can or spilled drink are obvious and fairly easy-to-clean sources of odors. However, there can be much less noticeable places in the home that emit smells attracting pests.
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Here’s what to pay attention to.
Pet food
Pet food may not seem very appealing to humans, but your pet likes it – and so do pests.
Whether the food is kept in a poorly sealed bag or left in a bowl all day, insects and rodents can quickly smell it.
“Cockroaches, pantry pests like Indian meal moths, as well as rats and mice, seem unable to resist its enticing scent,” says Ed Dolshunas, pest control expert and vice president of Catchmaster.
The expert advises storing dry pet food in pest-resistant or at least airtight containers as soon as you bring it home.
It is also recommended to wash your pet’s food and water bowls daily and immediately pick up any spilled kibble, writes Real Simple.
Recycling bins
Recycling trash bins can also emit unpleasant odors.
“Recycling bins can start to emit unwanted smells, especially when they are full of cans, jars, and bottles that still have some residue,” explains Michael Ferchak, co-founder of the non-toxic home care brand Public Goods.
To avoid pests, these bins should be washed at least once a week.
The expert also suggests keeping a mineral salt-based odor neutralizing spray nearby – it can help eliminate unpleasant odors right at the source rather than just masking them with fragrance.
Unpleasant smelling plumbing
Kitchen food waste disposals, toilets, and bathroom sinks can emit odors we dislike but that various insects enjoy.
In damp places, fats, food particles, bacteria, and other unpleasant substances accumulate. Over time, a slimy biofilm forms, which can attract drain flies, fruit flies, cockroaches, and other pests, warns Mark Ellefson, founder of Prodigy Sewer and Drain.
For regular maintenance, he recommends using an enzymatic drain cleaner. If flies keep returning, professional pipe cleaning may be necessary.
However, there is another problem – sewer gases that can enter rooms through a dried-out P-trap in rarely used floor drains, guest bathrooms, or basement showers.
If you smell something like rotten eggs, it may mean the sewer system has an open path into the room. Cockroaches and flies can use such an opening as a kind of door into the home.
This problem can be solved very simply and for free: pour about a liter of water into unused drain openings once a month.
If the smell does not disappear, you should contact a specialist to check for damaged seals or ventilation issues.
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Sweet perfumes and lotions
It’s unpleasant to admit, but favorite perfumes and body lotions can also attract unwanted guests – especially bees and wasps.
Scented candles can have a similar effect.
“The sweet scent of perfume resembles the smell of nectar and ripe fruits that these insects naturally feed on,” explains Jeff Schumacher, pest control expert and owner of All-Safe Pest and Termite.
If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, the expert advises avoiding very sweet-smelling products. You should also wipe off any residue that may have gotten on clothes, sofas, or countertops.
Grease buildup in the kitchen
Grease splattered while cooking on the stove can travel much farther than it seems. It coats surrounding surfaces and sticks to the stove itself.
This is one of the easily overlooked problems because the grease layer builds up gradually and is often not immediately visible.
“Even people who are used to cleaning while cooking often forget various hard-to-reach stove corners,” says Allan Bosselis, pest control expert and operations manager at Bed Bug Exterminator.
Over time, this can attract flies, cockroaches, ants, and even rodents.
Therefore, experts advise thoroughly wiping the stove after each cooking session, including all corners and hard-to-reach spots. Also, don’t forget shelves, the range hood, and other nearby surfaces.
Ripe fruits
Bananas, plums, tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables continue to ripen after being picked. During this process, odors are released that especially attract fruit flies, ants, and even wasps.
Under certain circumstances, ripe fruits can also interest rodents.
“If you keep overripe fruit on the countertop, store it in an airtight container. An even better choice is to eat it when it’s just ripe or freeze it at its peak ripeness to use later,” advises E. Dolshunas.
The expert has one more tip – wash fruits as soon as you bring them home from the store.
According to him, fruits and vegetables may have insects or their tiny eggs on them, which can hatch under suitable conditions.
Sponges and scrubbers
Although we don’t see it with the naked eye, kitchen sponges and scrubbers can be much dirtier than we think.
“When a sponge remains damp, food particles accumulate in it, making it a perfect place for bacteria to multiply and for odors to develop that you might not even notice, but pests definitely can smell,” explains M. Ferchak.
He recommends putting the sponge in the dishwasher every few days and washing it through a full cycle.
Heat helps kill bacteria, reduces unpleasant odors, and allows you to use the same sponge longer instead of constantly throwing it away and replacing it with a new one.
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