From cigarette smoke to stinky garbage, there are all kinds of unwanted odors that can linger in our homes. Just what is the best way to get rid of these smells? There are a few different solutions, which you can explore here.
Eliminate Home Odors
Air fresheners
Air fresheners come in several forms including manual aerosol sprays, plug-in oil warmers and battery-operated automatic spray dispensers. They provide quick results when it comes to covering up or neutralizing smells. The most common place to use air fresheners is in the bathroom, but you can also use them in other rooms. Most air fresheners do contain chemicals and are therefore not ideal for those looking for an organic solution. That said, you can get some organic sprays. Check out this post to compare some of the top air fresheners on the market.
Candles
While regular candles typically won’t have any effect on smells, there are many scented candles on the market that are great for covering up bad smells. Some candles can go one step further however by breaking down odor molecules such as these candles for smokers. For the most part, such candles use natural oils and do not give off the levels of VOCs that some air fresheners do. They’re also a great way to add ambient light as well as improving the smell of a room. Of course, they can be a fire hazard, so you need to be careful where you place them (especially if you have kids or pets). Incense sticks are a similar smell-reducing alternative solution to candles.
Baking soda
A sprinkle of baking soda can neutralize many smells ranging from funky trashcan smells to musty carpet pongs. Baking soda is a PH neutraliser – which means that it gets rid of any excess acids. Since most unpleasant smells are created by acids, baking soda is a fantastic odor eliminator. There are hundreds of other incredible uses for baking soda around the home beyond baking, so if you haven’t got any in your kitchen cupboards, it could be worth investing in some.
Activated charcoal
Like baking soda, activated charcoal can help to neutralize smells rather than covering them up. It does this by absorbing toxins in the air. Some studies have found that it’s even more effective than baking soda. This makes it a great odor eliminator to use around the home. Activated charcoal typically comes in the form of bamboo bags which contain activated bamboo charcoal. These can be placed anywhere from the back of a fridge to the bottom of a trash can. Most activated charcoal bags will be able to absorb smells for up to two years before needing to be replaced, with some lasting even longer.
House plants
Many house plants produce fragrant scents that can cover up smells. However, plants can often do more than this – many are natural air purifiers and will absorb smell-producing toxins in the air. Some of the best odor neutralizing house plants include snake plant, aloe vera, peace lily, spider plant, English Ivy, weeping fig and Boston fern.