North American winter means closed windows and stuffy rooms. However we still have smelly garbage, funky sport bags, and not-so-nice odors (I am not a smoker – but wowzers – doesn’t smoke smell hit you hard?!). How to get ride of household odors? Here are a few easy tips to reduce or eliminate the common odors in your home…
How To Get Rid Of Household Odors
- Empty garbage cans, compost bins, recycling bins to get rid of household odors. These three are the trinity of odor culprits in my house. Maybe something dripped down the bag? Maybe last night’s fish is still swimming in the air? Maybe a certain toddler put a cupcake in the recycling bin (that was my yesterday). Emptying out the cans and bins on a regular basis will reduce and eliminate household odors.
- Take out your lunch bags! This is a nightly call I make to my kids. I have found school lunch boomerang back (uneaten) more than once so I know not to let leftover food sit unnoticed in lunch bags.
- Those dirty diapers. Whether you are using disposable diapers or cloth…diapers can be a big source of smell. Be sure to change dirty diapers upon first smell…and dispose/wash diapers accordingly.
- Clean the air. Febreze Air Purifiers are specially designed to powerfully clean the air, eliminate odors and add freshening with Febreze™ scent. Febreze Air Purifiers are available at Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Loblaws.
- Empty pet boxes, tanks, and beds. Kitty litter box, fish tank, dog bed. Tame pet odor by cleaning pet supplies and be sure to use safe pet-friendly products.
- Clean out the fridge. Alot like #1 on this list, doing a seasonal big clean of the fridge will help reduce and eliminate common household odors.
- Cigarette smoke…stop smoking. Enough said on that one.
- Simmer a natural air freshener – like this DIY I created: Orange and Cloves
I love the Orange and Cloves air freshner. We used to hang up oranges with cloves stuck in them at Christmas to add a lovely smell to the house.
I’ve never heard of this before. It must smell so wonderful!
I usually burn candles. It’s not usually the stuff in my house that smells, it’s my kids LOL.
I have a Scentsy addiction. I love all the great scents you can choose from. I use Febreeze to freshen up my fabrics.
Definitely like the last idea and the natural (organic) way of purifying the air. I will have to give it a try.
Great ideas! I love doing orange or apple and a dash of cinnamon on my stove
I can’t use much because of my bird but i enjoy lovely smells!
I never knew about the Orange and Cloves air freshner. That’s a great idea! I’ll have to try that out sometime soon. Thanks for sharing.
Smelling diapers are the worst. I try to get rid of them as soon as possible. I also add a touch of Febreze
I have to try orange and cloves on the stove! Brilliant! Thank you!
The Orange and Cloves air freshener sounds like a fun idea to help cozy up the house – I will try that – thank you :).
I love DIY air fresheners. I’ll definitely have to give that a try soon.
We are big fans of Febreeze or any of the plug in air fresheners. With 4 dogs and 3 cats, we have to keep on top of a good smelling house!
I use Febreze. I use candles. I’ve got my eye on the Febreze air purifier too… I’m still thinking on it.
A fresh scent is so comforting isn’t it?…
wow that’s a lot to keep on top of!
It smelled amazing.
You could also try cinnamon sticks just simmered.
Do try – it was super easy and worked really well.
I used to shoot a spray of Febreze into the diaper pail before I put in a new bag.
🙂
I’d love to get your “recipe” for apple and cinnamon.
🙂
I like to use a scent warmer and change up the scents according to the season!
Household odors are common here because I have a stinky husband and multiple pets. It can be hard to keep up with. I have done oranges in boiling water. Smells so good.
I love your idea of boiling the orange peels and cloves! I am definitely going to try this out over the weekend. We always have oranges in the house! Thanks! 🙂
Great bit of advice especially the fridge. Clean that out once a month.
These are all great ideas to clear out odors!! There is nothing worse then being able to smell something and not identify it.
Oh the natural purifier is a great way to cleanse the air! I use sage smoke and it helps too! I am definitely going to try the orange and cloves very soon! We eat a lot of oranges. Thank you!
Orange and cloves sounds lovely. I must try it to help with the wet doggy smell.
These are great tips for cleaning the house of smelly things. I love the idea of orange and cloves. I often use febreeze or candles.
I’ll have to try the orange and cloves. However, baking soda works well, too. Just open a box in different rooms and let it sit. I put it in my closets, too.
That sounds like a lovely scent combination, perfect for warming up the house! Thanks for sharing.
I love the Orange and Cloves air freshner.Thanks for sharing this,going to try it tomorrow.
Definitely cleaning up and getting rid of things that leave smells is key. I use different air purifiers at home and like your orange and clover idea too.
I Love boiling oranges!!!! They make my house smell pretty fabulous
We have been using essential oils for odors lately. I love the idea of cloves though!
I like that DIY air freshener. It’s a great idea. I’ll have to try it.