Refreshing Our Homes

The smells caused by illness, infection, incontinence and many forms of treatment can quickly accumulate in our homes, and can permeate and linger.  These smells are complicated to manage each day, but can evoke particularly painful emotions after a loved one has died at home.

To alleviate these complications more easily, caregivers (and friends and helpers of caregivers) should consider:

·        As You Begin

o       Apply a thin layer of Vicks ® Vapo Rub ® inside your lower nostrils and under your nostrils to counteract odors as you work.  At the end of the day some odors may remain in your nose despite this, these odors will subside within several hours.

o       Wear old clothes that can be washed repeatedly or discarded if the smell is too pervasive. 

o       Wear gloves to protect hands from abrasive cleaning agents, objects that can cause injury, and clinging odors.

·        Ventilation

o       For most of us, the days after the loss of a family member are difficult and hectic.  Ensuring open ventilation is one of the most immediate and least-time consuming measures you can take to ease unpleasant smells in the home.  Open the windows for as long as possible; you may find that you must keep them open for days, or in extreme cases, weeks.

o       Install new filters in the air ducts (heating, air conditioning), preferably filter strips with activated charcoal or silica gel that will absorb the particles in the air and greatly reduce odors.  Promptly dispose of old filters.

·        Cleaning

o       Launder lines and towels as quickly as you can.  Try to avoid mixing them in the laundry basket with other items. Laundry may need to be washed twice, using bleach if possible in the first wash.

o       Launder clothes (including robes and pajamas) as quickly as possible, even if you plan to eventually pack them up and give them to local charities.

o       Clean kitchens/bathrooms with bleach.  Do not mix bleach and ammonia products as that will release toxic fumes.

o       Odors on furniture and small areas of carpeting may be neutralized with a pet deodorizer. 

o       When cleaning carpets, remember that odors permeate down to the floor padding, so both sides of the carpet and the padding should be cleaned. 

o       Odors also remain in walls.  Usually, these odors can be eliminated by washing the walls. If odors linger, a fresh coat of paint may be required. Using a primer will seal in any lingering odors.

o       When cleaning is complete, have someone who was not involved in the cleaning walk through the home to note if odors persist. 

·        Professional Cleaning

o       While this can be the most costly option, it is frequently the most effective.  Professionals who clean up after fires and floods are very familiar with how to eliminate locked-in odors; these professionals may also thoroughly clean the air ducts.

·        Removal

o       There are extreme cases where stains and odors are so locked into furniture, bedding, drapes, and carpeting that repeated attempts at cleaning do not help (and where it may not be cost-effective to call in professional cleaners).  In these cases, removal and replacement may be the only option.  This can also be the hardest option, particularly if it involves a cherished quilt, or a beloved couch. 

Most family caregivers understand that long after we’ve cleansed our homes of a smell, it may linger in our memory and be easily triggered.  Sometimes, these memories bring us joy (the memory of a loved one’s perfume); at other times, the mere smell of bleach or other cleaning products can trigger difficult memories.  The power of smell to permeate our memories and emotions cannot be underestimated.