How to Get Rid of Bad Smells (2023)

Subhead

15+ Natural Remedies for Bad Odors in the Home

There are many ways to maskbad odorsin your home, but how do you truly get rid of them? Here’show to get rid of bad household smells once and forall!

WhyCan WeSmell?

Neuroscientists say humans can distinguish 10,000 scents, though we don’t have names for a lot of them.

Our sense of smell—the olfactory sense—brings depth and emotional richness to daily life. Think about the feelings and memories that flow when you catch a whiff of fresh-cut grass or lilacs in bloom, bury your face in a sun-dried bed sheet just off the line, or enter the kitchen just as a cinnamon-rich apple pie emerges from the oven.

Our olfactory system also alerts us to potential dangers: spoiled food, rot and decay, and harmful molds. Most American homes contain a variety of sprays, plug-ins, stick-ons, scented candles, and other products designed to mask or remove bad odors. However, many people suffer allergic reactions to the fragrances in some of these products, andsome air fresheners even containtoxins.

Yet a few inexpensive household essentials you probably have on hand already—vinegar, salt, coffee, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide—will neutralize most noxious odors around your home and in yourvehicles.

How to Get Rid of Bad Smells in theHome

Freshen Stale, SmellyAir:

• To perfume the air indoors naturally, cut a lemon in half and set the cut halves in an inconspicuousplace.
• Rub a bit of vanilla on a light bulb and the bulb’s warmth will scent theair.
• During periods of nice weather, just open the windows! Let fresh air blow through and push out badsmells.

Neutralize Odors in the Kitchen andBathroom:

• Most folks know that keeping an open box of plain baking soda in the refrigerator will neutralize bad odors. Sprinkle some into the bottom of the trash can and into the trash bag itself for similarresults.
• Half a cup of baking soda in two quarts of water and a soft cloth or brush also work well for cleaning the fridge, as well as scrubbing down and freshening the tub, tiles, sinks, drains, trash cans, and toilet bowls. For stronger disinfecting properties, scrub with a strong vinegarsolution.
• Fresh or leftover coffee grounds will also absorb unpleasant odors in a fridge, microwave, orcupboard.

• Boil two parts water with one part vinegar in a microwave-safe container to remove bad smells from your microwave. The vinegar smell itself dissipatesquickly.
• Add half a cup of vinegar to a quart of water and allow to simmer on the stove for a few minutes. This will remove smell of burnt food and many other odors from your kitchen (and burned-on food from your stainless steelpots).
• Soak a piece of stale bread in vinegar and set it overnight in a lunchbox or wastebasket to remove built-up foododors.
• Grind leftover citrus rinds in your garbage disposal to sweeten it. Or dump half a cup of salt down the drain and turn on the disposal. This loosens caked-on food and helps neutralizeodor.

Get Rid of Smells in Fabrics andCarpets:

• You can get most smells out of carpets, rugs, and upholstery (including vehicle interiors) by sprinkling liberally with baking soda. Leave the baking soda in place for several hours, then vacuum or shake itout.
• Urine or vomit on carpets and upholstery can be trickier to remove. If you can get at it immediately, blot first with a towel, then spray the area with a 3-parts cold water/1-part vinegar solution and blot (but don’t rub). Repeat several times if needed, until the smell disappears. The vinegar odor will dissipate in a fewhours.
• Coffee groundswill sweeten the air inside your car or its trunk. For use in the car, place the grounds in a covered plastic container with holes punched in thelid.

• Old-timers swear by this method for removing set-in odors and stains from carpets and upholstery. It works especially well on pet urine and skunk smells. You might want to test for color-fastness by soaking a small, inconspicuous area with the solution and leaving it for 24 hours before you treat the area with the stain.
  1. Put on a pair of rubber or latexgloves.
  2. Gently mix a quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, a quarter-cup of baking soda, and a teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a plastic container. Don’t mix far in advance or store in a closedcontainer.
  3. Pour or spray the solution directly onto affected areas and allow to sit for 24 hours before blotting excess liquid. Allow to airdry.

Clean Up aSkunkedPet:

• Veterinarians also recommend the above recipe for bathing a pet that’s been skunked. After making the solution, massage it into the animal’s fur, then let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Rinse with warmwater.
• See more home remedies for pets!

Deal With Mold andMildew:

• If you suspect a mold problem in your home, don’t rely on simply scrubbing down the area with bleach or masking the odor with air fresheners. Some mold damage may require professional removal services. Beyond their unpleasant odors, molds and mildews can present special indoor health hazards beyond the scope of this post to describe. Some people are sensitive to certain kinds of indoor molds.

Need more advice? Here’s how to get rid of body odorand home remedies for pets.

Did we miss any of your favorite tried-and-true solutions? Let us know in thecomments!

ADVERTISEMENT

@Recommendation.Title

$@Recommendation.Price

BUY NOW