Few things are more embarrassing to a homemaker than unpleasant odors in the house. A foul-smelling garbage disposal or ripe garbage pail can make even the loveliest of homes uninviting.
Ironically, most unpleasant odors can be eliminated using a few common household products. Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, rubbing alcohol, and cat litter can do more to freshen the air than a battery of caustic cleaning products — here’s how.
Eliminate the Source
One fundamental element in preventing unpleasant odors from returning is to eliminate the source. Be careful about what you throw into the garbage pail. Empty food cans should be thoroughly rinsed before they are tossed into the trash to remove any residue that could contribute to odors.
Fruit and vegetable peels should be fully ground in the garbage disposal or placed in a compost pile outside the home. Never put wet garbage into household trash, as moisture promotes bacterial growth that leads to foul smells. Freshly unpackaged furniture can also give off an odor that smells like chemicals, and some people opt to deal with smells from new carpets or furniture by letting them air out in their garage or outside before putting them inside.
Increase Ventilation
Another effective means of keeping a house smelling fresh is to have lots of ventilation — fresh air. However, it isn’t enough to just open a window now and then to avoid unnecessary musty odors.
Open closet doors and dresser drawers regularly to allow air circulation. Never place damp clothing into a closet or dresser drawer, as the moisture can create odor-causing mildew. Before you begin to air out your problem areas, I suggest reading up on the steps to properly deodorizing a room with a fan.
Use Cat Litter
Aside from its primary use for our feline friends, cat litter is an especially effective odor-dispeller throughout the house. Its clay composition gives it magnet-like properties when it comes to absorbing foul odors.
Freshen a musty trunk by pouring cat litter into a large, uncovered coffee can. Place the can into the trunk and close the trunk lid. In most cases, the odor will be gone overnight as the cat litter absorbs it.
Cat litter also can eliminate odors in garbage cans. Simply sprinkle a couple of inches of cat litter into the bottom of the can before placing another trash bag in. Replenish the cat litter each time the can is dumped to maintain odor control.
And, believe it or not, cat litter acts as an excellent absorbent for foul odors in the refrigerator — but if cat litter next to food bothers you, substitute baking soda.
Place a small dish or bowl filled with baking soda on one of your refrigerator shelves — it works just as well in the freezer. Baking soda has lots of other odor-eliminating applications throughout the home.
Get Rid of Drain Odor
You can remove odors and buildup from drains using baking soda in combination with table salt, vinegar, and boiling water. This mixture acts as an environmentally friendly drain cleaner and odor eliminator.
Pour one cup of table salt, one cup of baking soda, and one cup of white vinegar down the drain, followed by two quarts of boiling water. I suggest that you do this at bedtime in order to allow the solution to remain in the trap and drain overnight. Perform this routine about once a month for clog-free, fresh-smelling drains.
Use Citrus
Freshen a smelly garbage disposal by grinding sections of oranges, lemons, or grapefruit while flushing the unit with warm water. The citric acid in these fruits helps remove odors.
Another safe method of cleaning the garbage disposal is the use of ice cubes made of vinegar and water. Pour one cup of vinegar into an empty ice cube tray, then fill the balance of the tray with water and freeze. Grind the frozen vinegar cubes in the disposal while running cold water. The vinegar acts as a cleaning agent, while the ice helps sharpen the blades.
Eliminate Pet Odors
One of the least pleasant and most difficult household odors to remedy comes from pet urine. Urine tends to deeply permeate porous materials like carpets and pads. For mild cases, the carpet should be shampooed with an enzyme cleaner formulated to break down urine compounds. Severe cases likely require professional carpet and pad replacement.
Concrete or wood flooring below the soiled carpet and pad should be sterilized with a solution of one cup of bleach diluted in one gallon of hot water to kill odor-causing bacteria. Allow the disinfected floor to fully dry before replacing the carpet.
If urine odors linger after cleaning floors, the area should be sealed with one or two coats of shellac primer to contain any remaining smells. White vinegar works well on concrete floors that have been tainted by urine. Scrub the concrete with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Undiluted denatured alcohol applied with a spray bottle and thoroughly misted over affected concrete is another DIY odor treatment.
If you have pets, you may also be interested in reading about these home and yard improvement projects for pet owners.
Get Rid of Cooking Odors
White vinegar can also eliminate strong cooking odors like garlic, onion, or fish that tend to linger. To deodorize the kitchen, pour white vinegar into a shallow pan and let it simmer on the stove for a few hours. The vinegar will absorb and neutralize cooking smells.
To remove fish, garlic, and onion odors from hands and utensils, wash with lemon juice, followed by soap and water. Cutting boards can be sprinkled with coarse salt and rubbed with half a lemon to freshen.
Prevent Musty Books
Nothing can sour a good novel more than the musty smell that frequently emanates from old classics and used books. To rid books of this odor, first isolate affected books in a paper bag filled with crumpled newspaper for a day or two. The newspaper will absorb some of the musty smell.
Repeat this process several more times using fresh newspaper each time to fully draw out the odor. If a few treatments don’t eliminate all traces, try placing books (hardcover only) in direct sunlight for a few hours to help neutralize odors.
So, Is Ridding Your Home of Unpleasant Odors Worth It?
Of course, it is! With a few simple kitchen staples and regular cleaning practices, you can rid your home of most unpleasant household odors and keep a fresh, clean smell circulating through your living space. While certain extreme odors may require replacing affected materials or calling in professional help, many can be remedied through natural, DIY methods.
You may find this troubleshooting guide useful in tackling your odor problem if your unpleasant aroma seems to be coming from your air conditioning unit. Even more, if your stinky smell happens to be one of these seven things, you may have bigger problems than odor on your hands.
FAQs About Eliminating Odors
What is the best way to remove pet urine odor from carpets?
For mild cases, clean with an enzyme cleaner made for urine. For severe odors, the carpet and pad may need replacement.
How can I get rid of garbage disposal smells?
Grind citrus fruits inside while running water, or freeze vinegar in ice cubes and grind those to clean the blades and pipes.
What’s the best way to eliminate lingering cooking odors?
Simmer white vinegar in an open pan on the stove. Run the kitchen exhaust fan while cooking pungent foods.
How do you get cigarette smoke smells out of a house?
Steam clean carpets, curtains, and upholstery. Wash walls with vinegar and water. Replace HVAC air filters.
What removes musty odors from old books?
Place books in a paper bag filled with crumpled newspaper for a couple of days. Repeat with fresh newspaper until the odor is gone.
