How to Eliminate House Odors Once and For All
Do you have lingering smells wreaking havoc throughout your home? Are you struggling to figure out how to get rid of them? Foul odors are a pain to locate and can make your home unpleasant and unwelcoming. If this sounds like a problem you are facing but don’t know where to begin, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Follow this guide to eliminate house odors once and for all.
Start by identifying the source of the odor
If you’re noticing an unpleasant odor in your home, you need to first figure out where it’s coming from so that you can take care of the issue. There are a few possibilities, such as mold and mildew, an animal carcass in the chimney or dryer vent, or something rotting in the trash. If you can’t find the source of a bad smell, check places where bad smells are commonly found, such as bathrooms, basements, and behind appliances.
“Sometimes it can be hard to detect where the foul odors are coming from, and they may be hiding in plain sight,” says Nostalgia Candle Company. “Using a black light can help uncover those pesky invisible sources of stink.”
Quick tips to eliminate house odors
You first want to eliminate the smell entirely rather than covering it up with candles or room sprays. Check out these tips for removing unwanted odors from your home.
1. Improve airflow
Once you’ve found the odor’s source, you need to remove it from your home ASAP. Fresh air is the best way to do this, so open your windows and let the bad air out. Creating a cross-breeze is another excellent way to ventilate your house. To create a cross-breeze, open the opposite windows in a room. This will create a wind tunnel, with air entering one side of the room and exiting the other. You can also turn on a fan or the air conditioner to help circulate the air.
2. Clean areas that get smelly regularly with fabric-safe sprays
Stale and unpleasant odors can hide in many surfaces of your home, especially breathable materials like linen, blankets, sofas, curtains, rugs, and pet beds,” says NAVABELLA. “Eliminate these odors by cleaning and deodorizing the areas regularly. Next, safely infuse pleasant aromas into these surfaces with fabric-safe room and linen sprays that can last for weeks or even months.”
3. Use baking soda to absorb odors
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can be used to absorb bad smells from your home. All you need to do is place a bowl of baking soda in the affected room and let it sit for a few hours. The baking soda will absorb the bad smells and leave your home smelling fresh and clean. For a proactive approach, place a few bowls of baking soda around the house to absorb foul odors and replace the bowls weekly consistently.
4. Experiment with coffee grounds
You may not know this, but coffee grounds can help eliminate house odors. Place fresh or used coffee grounds in a bowl or cup in your microwave, fridge, cupboards, or bathroom to neutralize odors. You can really use coffee grounds to get rid of smells anywhere in your home.
5. Try vinegar to neutralize foul smells
Though it has a strong, not-so-appealing scent, this smell will disappear if used to offset other odors. To eliminate foul odors, mix equal parts vinegar and water together and spray it on stinky surfaces, such as carpets, upholstery, and garbage cans. You can also use a vinegar and water mixture to wipe down surfaces in your refrigerator. Furthermore, boiling equal parts water and vinegar in a pot on your stove can help absorb bad smells that may be in the air in your kitchen.
6. Create a homemade cleaning solution
Rugs and upholstery might get the least attention, but they can be the biggest culprits when holding onto bad smells. “Try this quick and easy upholstery and rug deodorizer to clear out bad aromas: add one tablespoon baking soda, ten drops of Lemon essential oil, and five drops each of rosemary and lavender essential oils to a 16 oz glass spray bottle,” Verdant Oils. “Top off with water, shake well and spray rugs or upholstery to freshen and deodorize.”
7. Set up a dehumidifier
If you’re looking for a way to reduce the amount of bacteria and germs in your home, a dehumidifier is a great option. Lowering the humidity in your home makes it less inviting for bacteria and germs to breed.
Simple ways to bring in the good smells
After you’ve eliminated the odors from your house, you can begin adding your favorite scents back into your home. Here are a few ways you can do that.
1. Diffuse essential oils to deodorize your home
Diffusing essential oils in your home is one of the best natural ways to displace bad odors with good smells. “An ultrasonic mist diffuser will emit fine particles of essential oils and water that replace bad odor molecules with healthy ones,” Tammy Myers, certified aromatherapist and owner of CUREoils.com. “By using essential oils, you choose what emotions you intentionally want to trigger and the environment you want to create.”
2. Reed diffusers can provide a constant flow of fragrance
Reed diffusers work particularly well in areas that are used the most, such as living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and entrances. “I find that keeping the same scent throughout the home enhances the experience of the fragrance and leaves lasting memories of a good scent,” says Kirsty Elmer, owner of Delilah Chloe Luxury Home Fragrance
3. Try an electric wax melter
“We suggest using a candle with a scent designed for odor elimination, leaving your home smelling fresh. If you have a no-candle policy or a sensitive nose, you can still enjoy deodorizing with an electric wax melter – the same great experience without the flame,” says Den Candle Co.
4. Try a simmer pot
This easy simmer pot recipe is the perfect way to quickly fill your home with warm, inviting aromas. Simply cut an orange into slices and add to a pot along with a small handful of cloves and cinnamon sticks. Add water to cover the ingredients and simmer on the stove for several hours to release the scent. Depending on the desired scent, many different herbs can be added to simmer pots. Some popular options include fresh rosemary, mint, lavender, sage, and rose petals.
5. Opt for a natural wax candle
“While cleaning carpets, sinks and trash is your number one priority when eliminating house odors, sometimes a quick fix is in order,” says Candlefy. “Whenever time is of short supply, try lighting a scented natural wax candle. Opt for one with maximum scent load to ensure that your big rooms are transformed into a lavender field, a beach stroll, or a hike through mossy woods.”