You Won’t Believe What’s Causing Drama Behind Closed Doors in New Jersey

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According to a recent survey, 58% of people who live with a partner, roommate, or family member admit they’ve fought over bad smells in their home, according to the nypost.com.

Yep, more than half of us have gone nose-to-nose over what’s basically invisible warfare. And honestly who can blame us?

The Usual Suspects The top culprits? You probably guessed them: garbage, pets, and maybe sweat, to. In my house, it's the dogs. Our pups smell from being wet outside and let's face it, they get smelly.

That overflowing trash can that someone swore they’d “take out in the morning” (but didn’t)? Instant tension.

What Smells?

The lovable dog who smells like a wet mop after a walk in the rain? Adorable, but… pungent. And the sneakers sitting by the door that could practically walk themselves? A household hazard.

Even cooking, something that usually brings people together, can turn divisive fast. You may think your garlic shrimp masterpiece smells heavenly, but if that aroma lingers for three days, your partner might be less than impressed. Exactly, it's the food smells that linger that make us angry.  (We’ve all opened the fridge the next morning and thought, “Oh no, it’s still here.”)

The Science of Scent… and Spats

There’s actually a reason smells can stir up strong emotions. Our sense of smell is closely linked to memory and emotion, so a bad odor can instantly trigger frustration or stress. When that smell sticks around, so does the mood. Add in a partner (my husband, by the way) who claims they can’t smell anything (“What smell? It’s fine!”), and you’ve got a recipe for a full-blown argument.

The Nose Knows

Let’s face it: nobody wants to live in a house that smells like a mix of wet dog and last week’s leftovers. The trick is teamwork and tackling odors before they become arguments. It sounds so easy, but it's not always that easy. (ha ha) Take turns taking out the trash, share pet cleanup duties, and maybe crack a window during your next cooking adventure.

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And if all else fails, invest in a good candle (or three). Because while love may be blind… it’s definitely not nose-blind.

Smells happen. But if you can laugh about them instead of fighting over them, your home and your relationship will be a lot fresher for it.