Contributed by Info Guru Lisa Pratto

We all take pride in our home’s appearance.

We make sure everything is keep neat and tidy, inside and out. But, have you smelled it recently? Really smelled it? Sometimes we don’t even notice our home’s scent and this is when asking an honest friend to help out is required. Here are some key elements that should make you think, “Is there a smell in my house?”

10. Too Much Glade

People love plug-ins, scented candles, potpourris and sprays. They just coat the inside of your nose and do not solve the problem. Plus, just like perfume, it is true that there can be too much of a good thing.

9. Damp

A damp basement or a mildew-y attic both have a distinct aroma. We’ve all smelled it and it doesn’t smell good. The key to remember with this smell in my house is that, quite often, there are underlying problems.

8. Closed Up

After a long winter, everyone likes to throw open the doors and windows on a nice Spring day to let in the fresh air. There is a reason for this. A house that has been closed up tight for months starts to smell stale. If you must keep the windows closed, use a whole-home air filter to keep the stagnant odor at bay.

7. Sports Equipment

Athletic gear, jock straps, and running shoes can all symbolize a zest for life and a healthy lifestyle. Left unattended, however, they can stink up your laundry room. Freshen them up, use an odor eliminator in the room or wash them immediately to eliminate the odor.

6. Dirty Clothes

Let’s face it, with our busy lifestyles, dirty laundry can really pile up and it can stink, especially wet towels. Unfortunately I know this particular smell in my house can only be remedied by me.

5. Diaper Pail

If you have an infant or small child, you know this odor well. You can try to disguise it as much as possible, but the only real cure is to get everything out of that diaper pail and into the trash can in the garage. Of course, then the garage stinks, but that’s another story.

4. The Trash Can

It’s happened more times than I can count. I cook chicken for dinner and then, the next morning, I open the trash can to dump out the coffee grounds and make a fresh pot. Wham! A disgusting rotting chicken smell emanates from the trash. Stinky!

3. Mothballs

Despite their beneficial attributes, mothballs can be super smelly. When people talk about something “smelling like Grandmas house”, this is what they are referring to.

2. Pets

We love our four-legged friends, but they can stink up a house in no time flat, especially wet dogs. It’s not just the big pets; gerbils leave a lingering scent that can make you gag.

1. Litter Box

I think this one wins hands down as the worst scent out there. Obviously, keeping the litter box clean and, um, debris-free is the quickest way to make cat-related things smell better.