Bleach is one of the strongest cleaners that can help you eliminate (almost) all stains. However, while using it, you have probably noticed that it smells particularly strong. Moreover, the smell doesn’t go away. So, if you don’t want to tag the room you just cleaned as a “potential danger” to your sense of smell, you might want to eliminate the bleach smell.
Fortunately, there are numerous techniques to get rid of the bleach odor. While not always instant, they are effective in removing bleach odor. So, rest assured – follow these steps to eliminate the stubborn bleach smell. Whether it comes from your hands, the carpet, or any place in the house, there is a method to neutralize it.
Is the smell of bleach toxic?
The smell of bleach is not toxic by itself but can cause several unpleasant effects if inhaled:
- Nausea
- Lung irritation
- Headache
- Cough or shortness of breath
- A burning sensation in the throat, eyes, and nose
If you are not a regular bleach user, these immediate effects will disappear in minutes. However, long-term use of bleach vapors can lead to more hazardous side effects, but let’s not dwell on that now.
Always take precautionary measures when using bleach.
Care should always be taken when using bleach, whether you only need to clean your pillow or your entire rug. Because of the hostile effects caused by inhaling the scent of the bleach, it is best not to inhale them completely. So make sure you maintain air circulation at all times. Use a fan or open a window whenever you plan to use bleach. Ideally, it is recommended to use bleach outdoors, if possible.
How to get rid of the bleach smell in your home?
If you’ve cleaned your home with bleach, immediately open all windows to create a constant airflow. You can create cross ventilation by opening windows in all the house rooms. It is a natural way to cool and easy to get rid of unwanted odors quickly. Maintain air circulation so the smell does not linger too long and cause unwanted effects.
1. Place the fan next to the window.
If merely opening windows does not eliminate the bleach smell and you need an additional way to get rid of the smell quickly, you can choose a fan (or fans). Place the fan at the front of the window, confronting the room. Turning on the fan will increase ventilation and direct more fresh air from the outside into the room.
This approach works great if you have several fans. If you can generate natural cross ventilation and set up fans in front of all open windows, you can eliminate the bleach smell in your home in minutes.
2. Use an air purifier.
It’s incredible how many additional benefits air purifiers have. From an overall improvement in air quality to helping to eliminate unpleasant odors, they work marvels no matter what.
So, the subsequent way of removing the bleach smell in your home is to turn on your air purifier and set it to “Ventilation” or “Purify.” Keep the cleaner on for at least 30 minutes, depending on the room size. When you return, the bleach smell should be gone, and the air would be breathable.
If you only have one air purifier and the smell of bleach persists around the house, you may want to think through cleaning each room separately. This method may take a little longer to purify the air thoroughly, but it is a good option if you’re expecting guests and don’t want your house to smell like bleach.
All you need to do is put an air purifier in a single room, turn it on, and close the door before exiting. When the air in this room becomes fresh, you can move to another room.
Repeat until the whole house is free of the bleach smell. And that’s it. It is not the fastest way to eliminate the smell, but it will work if you can’t choose something else.
3. Disguise the smell of bleach with the aroma of another product.
While this method will not help you eliminate odors in general, it will work against the smell of bleach in particular. If you like a specific cleanser, you can spray it on bleach-smelling surfaces in your home.
However, remember that this technique will only help you cover the smell of the bleach but not get rid of it completely. For instance, you can choose it if you want to stay in a room for a while but cannot stand the smell of bleach.
4. Use scented candles and an indoor odorizer.
Strong-smelling products can be of great help against stubborn bleach odors. You can use an air freshener, deodorant, or even scented candles to cover up the bleach smell and get rid of it over time.
Scented candles and other strong-scented products create a pleasant scent, and you can use them in an “emergency” to mask the smell of bleach. For example, if guests visit you, you can spray any of your favorite room odorizers. It will make the bleach smell unnoticed.
4. Place baking soda or activated charcoal on a plate.
Another functional way of getting rid of unwanted odors (not just bleach) is to use baking soda or activated charcoal, both of which have many uses, and one of them is smell absorption. It’s quite simple. Sprinkle baking soda (or activated charcoal) on a plate and place it in the room. After about 24 hours, the smell will fade away.
Final Words.
The smell of bleach can be easily neutralized if you act quickly. The best way is to prevent its formation in the first place. But if good ventilation is not possible, there are other ways to get rid of it. We hope you’ll consider these tricks useful when you want to clean something with bleach.
