How to Absorb Bad Odors in a Room
Bad odors in the home have many causes, from the stale smell of old carpeting and shut-up rooms to the foul odors produced by spoiled food and cigarette smoke. Commercial room deodorizers only cover the smell; they don't remove it. It's vital to pinpoint the cause of the odor to eliminate it and prevent it from returning. Treating the odor at its source allows you to get rid of it entirely by using a treatment that targets the specific cause instead of just the immediate smell. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Mesh bag
- Activated charcoal
- Cat litter
- Baking soda
- Bowls
- Citrus-based cleaner or deodorizer
- Vinegar
- Vacuum
Instructions
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Locate the cause of the odor in the room. Odors often emanate from sink drains, garbage pails, refrigerators and carpeting.
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Fill a mesh bag with activated charcoal, clean cat litter or baking soda. Hang the bag in closets or pantries if odors are coming from these enclosed spaces. The material in the bag absorbs the bad odor. Replace the bag every two to four weeks, as necessary.
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Place an open box of baking soda inside refrigerators, freezers or under the sink if the odor is coming from these areas. Replace the box monthly or when the soda begins to harden.
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Wash garbage pails if they are producing the foul smell. Use a citrus-based cleaner or deodorizing spray to combat the odor. Place a 1-inch layer of clean cat litter in the bottom of the pail before replacing the garbage bag. The litter absorbs any new odors.
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Fill bowls with white distilled vinegar and place one bowl in each corner of the room if stale cigarette smoke is the cause of the odor. Replace the vinegar every two to three days until all the smoke smell is absorbed and eliminated.
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Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down a smelly sink drain, followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to set for 10 minutes, then flush with hot water. The bubbling action of the vinegar and soda flushes any residue causing the odor and refreshes the drain's smell.
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Sprinkle baking soda over smelly carpeting. Leave the soda to set for 10 to 20 minutes, then vacuum it up. The soda absorbs the bad odors. Empty the vacuum bag afterward.
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