Just moved in, how to get rid of smells in the new house

[PennyLany]

Just moved into our new home, needs deep cleaning and we are on it but can still smell things from previous owners (for example in the kitchen), can't quite describe what sort of smells these are. I assume this is normal as another family was living and cooking etc there and it will take a while. Are there ways to eliminate smells quickly? Currently we are:

• cleaning every surface, especially the kitchen (which was left quite dirty so it's taking a while!)
• opening windows
• we will remove carpets and clean wooden floors underneath
• wash/clean walls and repaint everything

Check out the filter of the extractor fan in kitchen - probably will need a wash.
Soapy water wash of kitchen ceiling.
wash down cupboards inside and out …
Buy soda crystals and zoflora and use liberally in ramekin dishes.

@Mum5net thank you! yes we need to wash walls and ceilings before repainting I think. I have tried to clean the extractor fan filters and are much better but they are still not 100% clean. Have so far used: washing up liquid, strong white paste that is supposed to clean everything, CIF. They have helped but some grime is still there, I find that sponges tend to crumble when I rub them against the filters, was thinking of soaking them in bicarbonate?

I just put some perfume on the radiators, the warming up is smelling nice

My filters go in the dish washer.
You sound like you are doing all the right things.
Zoflora (white linen is my preference) on a daily basis is also good.
Often replacing with fresh cooking smells is a good way if home has lain empty and unaired for a period of time..
Check out sink drains, shower trays and wash hand basins and use soda crystals there, too.
No harm wither washing the insides of all your windows.
Also check out YouTube and TikTok for further ideas.
If you have retained curtains, see if you can wash them in wash machine.

Have fun in your new home. Great to be there before Xmas.

How do you use Zoflora, is it to be diluted and put in a spray bottle or just pour it down the drains?

For immediate impact, I dilute a little in a ramekin and leave in each kitchen cupboard, the fridge, wardrobes, bathroom shelves.
(Then i replace daily with fresh.)
With a spray bottle I also spray the soft furnishings if it won't stain them.
Then I set off room to room doing a deep clean.

If the house has been empty for a bit the waste water in the u bend on the sinks and showers can dry out and smell quite musty. So worth just washing them all through with hot water.

Both! I use diluted in water to wipe surfaces and skirting boards, and as a straight disinfectant down the drains.

Yes soak them in bicarb.

Nancy Birtwhistle is great at this kind of stuff.

If you have pets be careful of zoflora. Disinfectant is poisonous to many animals.

I swear by Elbow Grease spray from Poundland, amazing in kitchens at getting rid of grease as well as everything else. I'd keep cleaning, giving everything a good wipe down should clear the smells, but it may be in the carpets too

Washing things down with white vinegar helps massively..also bicarbonate sprinkled about, used as a paste, etc. Sugar soap is good for prepping walls before painting. I also like sprinkling essential oils around and putting some in with the mop water, be careful of pets though as lots of oils are poisonous (and it can stain things). White vinegar is the neat performing though. It gets rid of urine smell, black mould, it's great.

I second elbow grease, that stuff is amazing. Try soaking your filter in hot water and biological washing powder/liquid for half an hour then scubbing with a brush. It works brilliantly for my oven racks (I bought a large seed tray)

Thanks all! Yes I definitely want to try with vinegar and bicarbonate now, will probably get a spray bottle so can make my own solution. Carpets will be ripped off soon so hopefully that will also help.
It's mainly the kitchen that smells though so I want to try and really get rid of that!