A smelly garage can be caused by oil spillage, rodent invasion, mold, and also poor ventilation. To successfully get rid of the garage stink, you need to identify the source of the smell. Most of the time, it is easy to get rid of the garage smell thorough cleaning. However, sometimes, you might need to work on your ventilation or even do a garage remodel. The worst thing about a stinky garage is the fact that it can spread the smell to other parts of the home.
Causes of Garage Stink and Solutions
1. Musty smell
A musty smell is the most common type of smell in the garage. This type of smell might be caused by dampness and mold in the garage. If you have poor ventilation in the garage, then you will experience a musty smell. The musty smell is caused by pools of water in the garage. If the garage floor has not dried, you will experience a musty smell. In case you have damp cloth in the garage, you might also experience a musty smell. It is not advisable to store clothes in your basement because they tend to absorb dampness.
How to get rid of musty smell in the garage
- Remove any clothes stored in the garage
- Spray white vinegar in different parts of the garage.
- Place bowls of vinegar in the garage.
- Place baking soda bowls in the garage to absorb moisture.
My recommendations for getting rid of musty smells in the garage:
2. Garbage smell
Most people keep their garbage cans in the garage. It is no surprise that the garage stinks. Food waste can be the leading cause of garbage smell. The food stored in the garbage cans tends to decompose after some time, making the garage stink. Sometimes putting the garbage cans outside is not an option because they attract a lot of rodents. Fortunately, using the best garage garbage can will help to avoid the smell of garbage.
How to get rid of garbage smell
- Cleaning the garbage cans with bleach and air-drying them.
- Minimize food waste in the garage since it decomposes
- Tightly close your garbage cans to avoid the spread of the smell.
- Use charcoal chunks and baking soda at the bottom of garbage cans.
My recommendation for getting rid of garbage smells in the garage.
3. Oil and grease smell
Oil smell in the garage can be caused by oil spillage. The oil spillage in the garage can be from your car, or it can be from your tools. Most people keep lawnmowers and other tools, and they spill all over the garage floor. Cans of oil in the garage can also be the cause of the spillage. Controlling oil and grease smell might be difficult because it will happen at some point.
How to get rid of oil and grease smell in the garage
- Use mats beneath your car so that they can trap the oil spillage. Cleaning mats is easier than cleaning the floor.
- Lock the cabinets where you have kept oil and grease.
- Seal your floor so that oil does not stick on the concrete.
4. Smell of Ammonia
The smell of ammonia in the garage can be a sign of different things. If you experience ammonia smell in the garage, there are chances that your dog or cat urinated in the garage. It might also be a sign that rodents have infested your garage. The urine from rodents can also have a strong ammonia smell. In case you have rodents, you will notice other signs like droppings on the garage.
How to get rid of ammonia smell in the garage
- Clean the floor with detergent to get rid of the urine
- Place white vinegar in different parts of the garage to absorb the smell
- Use baking soda in different parts of the garage.
- Seal the floor of the garage to avoid urine from sticking into the garage floor.
5. Smell of Skunk
The smell of skunk in the garage is a sure sign of wildlife invasion. Rodents will make the garage smell like a skunk and especially in the rainy season. It might also be a sign that mice or rats have died in your garage.
When you notice the smell of skunk in your garage, the first step is to determine the source. In case you suspect wildlife invasion, look for droppings and seal all the entries immediately. You need to make sure that you seal the entry points to prevent further invasion.
How to get rid of a smell skunk in the garage
- Clean the floor and spray the garage with skunk concoction. The concoction should be a combination of hydrogen peroxide, detergent, water, and baking soda.
- Use bleach to clean the garage. Bleach has a strong smell, and it will help you to eliminate the smell of skunk in the garage.
- Place bowls of vinegar in the garage, and they will absorb all the smell from the garage.
6. Smell of Gasoline
If your garage has the smell of gasoline, there are chances that your car is the cause. In case you park your car in the garage, there are chances that you will experience the smell of gasoline. However, you need to make sure that your tanks are not leaking. The leakage of oil into the floor of the garage might cause the smell of gasoline.
How to get rid of the smell of gasoline in the garage
- Clean the lawnmowers and inspect for gas leakage.
- Check the gas tanks in your vehicles to make sure there is no leakage.
- Improve ventilation in your garage to eliminate the smell from your car.
- Place bowls of baking soda in strategic parts of your garage.
To understand the source of the smell in your garage, it is essential to inspect your garage. You need to clean your garage at least every month and check for any spillage or rodent invasion. By doing regular cleaning, you can avoid smells and keep your garage clean at all times.
Waterproofing your garage can also avoid the musty smell that is associated with mold. Proper ventilation in the garage is also important to get rid of smells in the garage.
Infographic: How to get rid of the garage odor
