Odors Be Gone! Nine Great Ways to Banish Smells From Your Home
Boy oh boy, life sure comes with a lot of stinky smells.
Dirty socks, spoiled trash, expired food, dirty diapers, sweaty clothes and that bathmat covered in mildew. It’s a daily battle to keep these malodorous scents from assaulting our senses. And not only can bad smells gross you out and be embarrassing, they can also be a real pain in the neck to get rid of. Here are nine solutions that cover just about every stench you might encounter around your house.
(Photo: wikihow.com)
1. Citrus Peels
The kitchen can produce all sorts of unpleasant smells. Of course, they’re usually coming from pungent foods, so here’s a great remedy for neutralizing food-based odors. Preheat your oven to its lowest setting. Place a citrus peel (orange, grapefruit, lemon, etc.) and a half inch of water into a pot and bring it to a simmer on your range. Then place it in your oven and leave the door slightly open. Let it warm in there for 30-45 minutes. By that time any stench you’ve whipped up while cooking your latest culinary masterpiece will be long gone.
(Photo: ehow.com)
2. Vinegar
Not many people know that vinegar can completely refresh a stinky, funky room in just a couple hours. All you have to do is pour three cups of vinegar into a wide bowl and place it in a corner of the room. And in 2-3 hours, the entire room will smell brand new.
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3. Coffee + Dryer Sheets
This is a very effective method to get rid of a nasty smell if the source of the stench is confined to a small area. Place 1-3 dryer sheets on the offending area and then sprinkle coffee grounds on the sheets. Leave this combo there overnight and you’ll wake up to find the smell completely gone.
(Photo: savoryspiceshop.com)
4. Cinnamon
This method will work well with just about any smell you want to eradicate in your home. It’s simple, too. Just place two tablespoons of cinnamon and ½" of water in a pot. And bring it to a simmer. The water will burn off so you have to keep an eye on it and replenish it as it evaporates. Keep this process going until the smell is gone.
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5. Unscented chlorophyll cat litter
Instead of placing an open box of baking soda in your fridge, try some cat litter. Spread one cup of unscented chlorophyll cat litter across a small shallow pan and place it towards the back of your fridge. Cat litter is designed to neutralize some pretty tough odors so it’s quite effective on odors in your fridge.
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6. Tea-tree Oil
Mold can sometimes be a serious health hazard that should be dealt with by a professional. But if it’s a minor case and it’s just the smell that’s bugging you, then tea-tree oil is a great way to rid your house of the stink and keep it from coming back. Mix one full drop of the oil with a cup of water into a spray bottle. Shake it up a bit then spray the moldy area. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes then wipe it down with a dry cloth. This will remove the smell and the stain, and keep the fungus from growing back. Plus you’ll have avoided using harsh chemicals.
(Photo: cbc.ca)
7. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal, like the kind sold at pet stores, is really a powerhouse when it comes to absorbing odors. Place a half a cup of the charcoal onto a 6" by 6" square of cheese cloth, or a similar breathable fabric. Wrap it up and tie the end shut with some thread or a twist tie. You can place these sacks wherever you’d like around the home and and you really will see a significant reduction in unpleasant odors for months.
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8. Vanilla
If you like the smell of vanilla then you should absolutely try this trick. It makes your whole home smell delicious. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Pour two caps of vanilla extract into a small pot or ceramic cup. Put the pot into the stove and let it heat in there for 45 minutes to an hour. By that time your home will be filled with a really fabulous aroma for a long time. Be sure not to use more than two caps of extract though, as too much can make for an overpowering smell.
Related on Yahoo Makers: All-Natural Air Fresheners to DIY
(Photo: colorwheelmeals.com)
9. Enzymic Cleaner
Enzymic cleaners are a very popular odor eliminator. They’re readily available commercially, but you can actually make your own with safe and natural ingredients. The downside is you need to let it sit for three months before you can use it. But you can make it in bulk and have an all-natural environmentally-friendly supply that could last for years.
For this concoction you’ll need: 7 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 ½ cups of sliced lemon, three full orange peels (or five full lemon peels), and a liter of water. Place all the ingredients into a one liter bottle with a lid. Give the bottle a good shake and then unscrew the lid halfway to allow the gases to escape and ensure the bottle doesn’t build up pressure inside and burst (This is an important last step!). After three months the formula will be ready to use. Pour some into a spray bottle and it will be effective on nearly any offending odor, from pet smells to the trash can, and from the laundry basket to the kitchen. It can really work wonders and you can take comfort in knowing it’s non-toxic.
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