Have you ever forgotten to take the trash out before vacation? You come back to your <\/span>home in Denver<\/span><\/a> or your <\/span>apartment in Dallas<\/span><\/a>, just to find your home is ridden with a very unappealing smell. Even when you get rid of the garbage, the room smell can linger for days.<\/span><\/p>\n While it\u2019s tempting to spray down the home with commercial air fresheners, these contain chemicals that are harmful to human health. Over 20 percent of the general U.S. population have <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> having adverse health effects from air fresheners.<\/span><\/p>\n To help you get rid of common household smells in a safe way, we\u2019ve created a guide on how to deodorize a room with natural air filters. It includes a natural DIY room deodorizer recipe and eight hacks for getting rid of specific home odors, replacing the room smell with clean air. Read through to find what household items and cleaning supplies you can use to rid these unpleasant smells.<\/span><\/p>\n First things first \u2013 before tackling the wrong area in hopes to eliminate odors, identify the source of the smell in order to keep it from persisting. While the source can be as simple as a kitchen trash bin or rotting produce in a refrigerator, Candi Hanchey with <\/span>Rock Creek Power-Vac<\/span><\/a> in <\/span>Twin Falls<\/span><\/a> shares that, \u201cunpleasant odors can be coming from dirty air ducts.\u201d She adds that, \u201cdebris and dust accumulate inside the ductwork and your HVAC system continues to circulate these contaminants throughout the home.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n To create a natural air freshener<\/a> that isn\u2019t harmful to your health, you only need four items. Make this spray and use it as an air filter when bad smells come into your apartment.<\/p>\n Step 1: Add 30-40 drops of your preferred essential oil with the baking soda. Stir until it\u2019s completely mixed together.<\/p>\n Step 2: Pour this baking soda and essential oil combination into a spray bottle.<\/p>\n Step 3: Add the three cups of water to the bottle. Shake to mix.<\/p>\n Step 4: Spray the area in the light misting setting.<\/p>\n You can personalize this natural DIY home deodorizer with any scent. Each essential oil has its own unique properties, so be sure to pick one that fits the space you\u2019re using the cleaner in. For example, an orange essential oil works better in the kitchen than lavender, which is a scent that promotes slumber, making it better suited for the bedroom.<\/p>\n [contextly_auto_sidebar]<\/p>\n Many room deodorizing recipes, including the one above, call for baking soda. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate has a low pH level. Most bad odors have a high pH level, meaning they\u2019re acidic. By adding baking soda to the environment, you\u2019re neutralizing the area, causing the lingering odors to fade, improving the air quality and leaving your house smelling fresh.<\/p>\n When making this DIY room deodorizer, you can choose your preferred natural scent to use to eliminate odors while making the room smell good without the chemical smell that a commercial air freshener spray, plug-in air fresheners or scented candles may have. If you aren\u2019t sure what will smell best, here are some essential oil suggestions for each room.<\/p>\n However, not all candles or fresheners are harsh and toxic. Jennifer Kniland with <\/span>The California Candle<\/span><\/a> recommends trying a \u201chigh-quality coconut or beeswax candle, which gives you a cleaner burner compared to paraffin candles while naturally purifying your space.\u201d Jennifer adds, \u201cWhat\u2019s amazing about beeswax is that it actually releases negative ions that help neutralize pollutants, while coconut wax gives you this beautiful, strong scent with a long-lasting bur.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The living room is an area you\u2019ll be hosting people, as well as relaxing. Depending on the tone you\u2019re trying to set for the entire room, a few drops of vanilla or cinnamon essential oil could be a good fit for deodorizing a room.<\/p>\n Vanilla is known to improve relaxation and create a tranquil environment. If you want to relax after a long day in your sparkling-clean living room, vanilla is the right choice for you. For those who are having friends over for a book club or social event, cinnamon might be a better fit. The scent of cinnamon sticks boosts memory and increases alertness.<\/p>\n Make the kitchen a productive place by using citrus or peppermint essential oil when scenting your DIY deodorizer. If you have a long afternoon of meal prepping ahead, citrus is known to boost energy and improve your mood.<\/p>\n For the non-chefs who can get frustrated in the kitchen, a peppermint scent will alleviate stress and reduce irritability while removing unpleasant odors. It also helps remove the foul smells of leftover food.<\/p>\n A restful space, the bedroom can benefit from lavender or chamomile essential oils. These calming scents both reduce anxiety. Lavender also promotes relaxation, which can help you fall asleep. Chamomile can improve your mood, great for those who wake up on the wrong side of the bed.<\/p>\n If you have a laundry room, playroom or any other room to deodorize, you might consider tea tree or eucalyptus oils. These natural smells each have their own unique properties. Tea tree oil has antifungal benefits and is an immune booster. Eucalyptus essential oil is cleansing and known to lift moods. Both serve as an effective air freshener to remove lingering smells and improve indoor air quality.<\/p>\n Whether your home is new to you or you\u2019ve lived in it for multiple years, you\u2019ve probably come across one of these common household smells. We explain why they happen and how to rid them from your home. In addition, we suggest an essential oil that you can use to alleviate stagnant air and remove any funky smells.<\/p>\n Stale air is a smell that\u2019s hard to describe, but easy to identify. It\u2019s usually caused when the indoor air begins to feel stuffy or humid due to a lack of fresh air. If the weather is nice, Cari Hahn with <\/span>Clutch and Kindle<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Indianapolis<\/span><\/a>-based fragrance company shares, \u201cStart by opening the windows to let in fresh air.\u201d In doing so, you can start to remove these musty smells and follow-up with using \u201cnon-toxic, phthalate-free home fragrance oils to neutralize unwanted odors.\u201d However, if it\u2019s too hot or too cold out, letting in outdoor air isn\u2019t an option.<\/span><\/p>\n In that case, you can create your own stale air deodorizer by cutting lemons in half and placing them throughout the home as natural air fresheners. Another quick solution is to rub a little vanilla essential oil on the outside of your light bulbs. Be sure to do this when the light is off. Once you turn the light on, it will heat up and start smelling sweet.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re moving into a new apartment<\/a> with carpet, you spilled something on your rug or your pet left behind pet urine, this absorbent flooring is prone to smell.<\/p>\n To get rid of carpet smells, such as cigarette smoke, baking soda is your friend. Sprinkle baking soda on the entire carpet and let it sit for a few hours. Then, vacuum it up. The baking soda should absorb odors, leaving the carpet free of bad smells.<\/p>\n It\u2019s best to do this when you\u2019re out of the house for a period of time. While baking soda doesn\u2019t have any chemicals to neutralize odors, it can leave a mess if people in your house walk through it.<\/p>\n If you have area rugs, you can treat them with baking soda and then hang them up outside. The fresh air will do wonders for removing odors. While the rugs are outside, mop down your hardwood floors to ensure there are no lingering odors.<\/p>\n Does your fridge smell even after you clean out your leftovers? This is because the plastic in the refrigerator absorbs odors. Even if you\u2019ve scrubbed out every crumb, spill and mildew growth using hot water, the plastic might still stink.<\/p>\n To prevent or mute this foul odor, try putting a box of baking soda in the fridge. Baking soda will absorb these smells and leave your fridge smelling clean after just a couple of days.<\/p>\n Another alternative to this is leaving coffee grounds in a container in your fridge. Similar to baking soda, coffee grounds also act as odor absorbers, leaving your fridge smelling like a freshly brewed cup of joe.<\/p>\n If you go to wash dishes and notice there\u2019s an odor coming from your drain, it could be your garbage disposal. It\u2019s easy for food to get caught in hard-to-reach places, preventing it from being washed down the drain.<\/p>\n Some people put citrus peels down their garbage disposal to absorb odors, but this doesn\u2019t clean the food that\u2019s causing these bad smells. To clean, place a handful of ice in your sink drain. Then, pour a cup of salt on top. Run the water and turn on the garbage disposal. The ice and salt will slowly drain into the garbage disposal, cleaning it and sharpening the blades.<\/p>\n Mold<\/a> and mildew can leave a musty smell in your home. If you have serious mold growth, it\u2019s important to have a professional take care of it. Mold spores are known to cause many respiratory issues.<\/p>\n If the smell of mold persists, you can use an odor absorber to dull the scent. Baking soda, charcoal and kitty litter are all items that can soak up any moisture in the air and get rid of the foul odors. Place one of these in a bowl near the bad smells. to act as an air freshener Be sure it\u2019s out of reach of small children or pets.<\/p>\n Your washing machine<\/a> makes your sweaty clothes fresh and clean, but what do you do when it begins to have a mildewy or sour scent? Washers are prone to a build-up of soap, dirt or hair. Over time, this can turn into a breeding ground for an unnatural moldy stink.<\/p>\n To clean, begin by getting rid of any debris that\u2019s caught in the gasket, or rubber liner, of your washing machine. Wipe this rim down with a mixture of vinegar and tea tree essential oil. This is an antifungal formula that will clean off any leftover dirt.<\/p>\n Using this same mixture, measure two cups of white vinegar and 20 drops of tea tree essential oil into the liquid tray. Run it on a hot cycle or cleaning cycle. When done, wipe the interior with a damp cloth; a microfiber cloth works best.<\/p>\n You can prevent some of this build-up by leaving the lid open after each wash cycle. This will allow your washer to dry out completely. It\u2019s also helpful to use the correct amount of detergent for your dirty laundry. Creating too many suds can result in leftover residue that attracts dirt.<\/p>\n We love our pets, but their pet dander, pet hair, pet urine and other odors can add up to some really bad smells. To freshen up their spaces, and, in turn, your rooms, clean their beds and favorite cushions by throwing them in the wash each week. For stubborn smells, you can sprinkle baking soda to help absorb and remove odors.<\/p>\n Regardless of which litter you choose, litter boxes tend to smell sooner rather than later. Always make sure to change the litter as directed. You also can set a box of baking soda in the room where the litter box is to absorb odors. Just make sure it\u2019s out of the reach of your cats.<\/p>\n If your clothes or your pet has been skunked, the attacker will leave a pungent smell that can last for weeks. This stink can easily be transferred to the house.<\/p>\n For houses that smell like skunk inside (but not outside), open all the windows for proper ventilation and turn on the fan. Heat up a tray of white vinegar on the stove on low heat. This should overpower the skunk smell.<\/p>\nIdentify the source of the odor<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to make a basic DIY room deodorizer with a spray bottle<\/h2>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/diy-natural-room-deodorizer.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIngredients:<\/h3>\n
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Instructions<\/h3>\n
Why does baking soda work to deodorize a room?<\/h2>\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/why-does-baking-soda-work.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTurn essential oils into air fresheners for each room or use handcrafted, non-toxic candles<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Living room<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/essential-oil-living-room.jpg\")
<\/p>\nKitchen<\/h3>\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/essential-oil-kitchen.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBedroom<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/essential-oil-bedroom.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOther rooms<\/h3>\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/essential-oil-other-room.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8 common household smells and how to rid them<\/h2>\n
1. Stale air<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/stale-air-eliminator.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Carpet smells<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/carpet-stench-cleaner.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Fridge odors<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/funky-fridge-extinguisher.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Garbage disposal stink<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/garbage-disposal-cleaner.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Mold or mildew<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mildew-smell-absorber.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. Washing machine smells<\/h3>\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/washing-machine-cleanse.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Pet smells<\/h3>\n
8. Skunk stench<\/h3>\n
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/stinky-skunk-sterilizer.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/how-to-deodorize-a-room-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n