A cooler that provides cool air in summers is considered to be one of the most popular and affordable appliances in Indian homes. Due to low electricity consumption and better cooling, it still remains the first choice of millions of families. However, a common problem emanating from coolers during prolonged use bothers people—the “fishy smell” or rotten smell that spreads throughout the room.
According to experts, this problem mostly arises due to not regular cleaning of cooler water, accumulation of dirt in the pads and use of the same water for a long time. When water stagnates, bacteria and fungus start growing in it, causing a strong and unpleasant smell. This smell is not only uncomfortable, but can also have a mild impact on health, especially for people with allergies or respiratory problems.
In such a situation, instead of buying expensive chemical cleaners in the market, this problem can be got rid of by adopting some easy and home remedies. The most effective and cheapest solution among these is the use of alum and baking soda.
Experts say that alum has natural anti-bacterial properties, which help in eliminating harmful bacteria present in water. At the same time, baking soda has the ability to absorb odors and reduces the odor to a great extent. By using both of these, the water in the cooler can be kept clean and fresh.
According to the home remedy, fill the cooler tank with clean water and add a small piece of alum in it. Apart from this, adding one to two spoons of baking soda reduces the growth of bacteria in water and the bad smell gradually starts going away. Experts recommend that it is also very important to change the water every two to three days and clean the tank.
Along with this, regular cleaning of the grass (pads) of the cooler is also considered necessary. Old and dirty pads are the biggest cause of bad smell. Drying or changing them in the sun from time to time improves the performance of the cooler.
In the summer season, when a cooler becomes a necessity for almost every home, then its proper care becomes very important. Experts believe that by adopting a little caution and home remedies, not only can the life of the cooler be increased, but the environment of the house can also be kept fresh and healthy.
