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The Era, Thursday, December 1, 2016
Renovations • Roofing • Landscaping • Decorating • Bedrooms • Bathrooms • Windows • Doors • Flooring • And More!
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Removing odours from your home
Clements Arleen writes, “...I thoroughly enjoy reading your column – more so now that I recently became a homeowner. My partner and I bought quite the fixer-upper…the previous homeowners smoked inside and barely cleaned, so it’s been pretty overwhelming. Taking it one room at time, and one step at a time – we’re also on a pretty tight budget, so [we’re] trying to do things cost effectively...” Perhaps one of the most challenging things about purchasing a resale home is dealing with the many odours that can be inherited from the previous owner. From pet urine to cigarette or cigar smoke, smells that permeate our homes can be an overwhelming task to try to eliminate, particularly because as we spend increasing amounts of time in the space, we become accustomed to and eventually begin to lose sensitivity to the smells. Since cigarette smoke sticks to surfaces as it dissipates, you will have to treat the home like its been damaged in a fire. If possible, deal with all the affected rooms all at once. Depending on your tolerance level, it could be an expensive and time-consuming endeavour, but doing a clean and purge right from the get-go is an important step to eliminating the issue altogether. Assuming it’s in the budget, remove and dispose of any soft
on unfinished basement floors. Make sure to remove vent and cold air return covers, cleaning them with soap and water before replacing them. Paint them the wall colour to make them blend into the room. Pay attention to wood stairs, handrails and pickets, which will require a thorough washing. Purchase a few gallons of white paint in an eggshell finish and repaint all closet interiors. Use white regardless of the room colour so that you need not repaint the closets if you change the room colour in the future. Smoke will have affected the cabinetry throughout the house, so go the extra step to either paint cabinetry or at minimum wash all doors and interior shelves with a vinegar and water solution, rinsing with water afterwards. Remove and replace any paper or vinyl shelf liners. Clean all glass, windows and mirrors with vinegar and rinse them with water afterwards. Don’t neglect light fixtures and ceiling fans - taking fixtures down will give you an opportunity to clear them of dust and the pesky dead-bug build up that occurs over time. Use odour-eliminating cleaners and ventilate the home as much as possible, opening windows during the day and running fans where necessary. Consider purchasing an air purifier at your local big box store to aid in the process. These devices are an excellent way to remove dust, pollen, dander and other allergens from the air. Cheers! Janice
Janice Clements is a certified interior decorator, a certified AutoCAD designer and a member of CDECA. Visit Janice on the web at www.clementsinteriors.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CLEMENTSINTERIORS
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materials that were left behind by the previous homeowner. Drapery fabrics, broadlooms, under pad, window blinds or any other window coverings absorb and hold onto odours that can be extremely off-putting to homeowners and visitors alike. Install a new broadloom in a neutral colour so that over time you can adjust and change the room and it’s surroundings without needing to remove the broadloom. Carpet is its own source of gases, so there will be an odour associated with it for a period of time. As is evident by needing to remove the carpet after a smoker has moved out, know that even new broadlooms trap and hold onto dust and smells that might be potential allergens to some. If you would rather avoid the odour issues associated with carpeting, consider installing a hard floor like hardwood, laminate or tile. If you’re not ready for a larger investment, roll vinyl or vinyl tiles can provide a beautiful aesthetic while being easy on the knees and back and budget. Go the extra step and clean or replace all floor vent covers. If you won’t be spending money on new flooring, have carpets professionally cleaned or rent a commercial carpet cleaner that you can use yourself. Be sure to follow the instructions the supplier provides in order to get maximum benefit from the cleaner. Painting will be a critical step in eliminating odour. Wear a mask for safety, remove any wallpaper, give all surfaces a light sand and use an oil primer in order to seal the surface. An odour eliminating product like KILZ helps block the odour and protect surfaces against future damage. You may find it helpful to paint several coats on the ceilings, walls, trim and doors and
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