How To Get Rid Of Bad Smells In Your Home

Homes tend to harbour all sorts of unpleasant odours—cat litter, microwaved food, fly traps made from vinegar and sometimes, you come across unpleasant smells that are harder to find and deodorize. Here are some common methods to get rid of stale smells in the house.

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Freshen Stale, Smelly Air:

To deodorize indoors air naturally, cut a few lemons in half and set the cut halves in different rooms.
Rub some of the vanilla on a light bulb and the bulb’s warmth will scent the air.
During periods of beautiful weather, just open up the windows! Allowing fresh air to blow through and push out bad smells.

Neutralize Odors in the Kitchen and Bathroom:

Most people know that keeping an open box of plain baking soda in the refrigerator will neutralize bad odours. Sprinkle some baking soda on the trash can bottom and into the trash bag itself for the same outcomes.
Soak a soft cloth in half a cup of baking soda dissolved in two cups of water or use a brush with the mixture for cleaning the fridge. Scrubbing the tub, sinks, tiles, drains, trash cans, and toilet bowls work as well in deterring stale smells. For better disinfecting properties, scrub with a vinegar solution.
Fresh coffee grounds can also absorb unpleasant odours in a fridge, microwave, or cupboard.
Boil two cups of water with a cup of vinegar in a microwave-safe container for removing bad odours in your microwave. The vinegar smell itself vanishes quickly.
Mix a cup of water with half a cup of vinegar and allow to simmer on the stove for a few minutes. This will remove the smell of burnt food and many other odours from your kitchen (and burned-on cooking stains off of your stainless steel pots.)
Soak a slice of bread in vinegar and set it overnight in a lunchbox or wastebasket to remove built-up food odours.
Grind some leftover citrus rinds in your garbage disposal to soothe it up. You can also empty half a cup of salt down the drain and turn on the disposal. This loosens caked-on food and helps neutralize odour.

Get Rid of Smells in old Fabrics and Carpets:

If you are wondering about how to get rid of wet carpet smells, caused by reasons such as food spills or even humidity consider sprinkling your carpet or rug with baking soda. Let the baking soda sit on them for a few hours, then vacuum or shake it strongly.
Pet urine or vomit on carpets can be trickier to deal with. If you can tackle it instantly, dry it first with a towel, then spray it with 3 cups of cold water, a cup of vinegar solution and dry evenly without rubbing. Repeat this procedure several times until the smell disappears. The vinegar odour will vanish in a few hours.
Old folks swear by this method for removing set-in odours and stains from carpets. It works exceptionally well on pet urine and skunk smells. You might want to test for colour-fastness by soaking a small, concealed area with the solution and leaving it for a day before you treat the stains.
- Wear a pair of latex or rubber gloves.
- Mix a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide, a teaspoon of liquid soap and a quarter-cup of baking soda in a plastic container.
- Spray or pour the solution directly onto affected areas and allow to sit for 24 hours before blotting excess liquid. Allow to air dry.

And if none of the above seizes to work you can always get yourself an air freshener. These devices are proven to give satisfying results and require no effort at all! Air purifiers are known to not only prevent sick building syndrome, but also get rid of smells at home.