Home Smells?

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How to Get Rid of Stink

No matter how clean you keep your house, there can be all kinds of odors that develop. Especially when you factor in lovely pet smells, overflowing trash cans in several rooms, cooking and food aromas, smelly laundry and stinky shoes or boots! Although some odors require real elbow grease and patience to eradicate (like, you know, when your pup decides your carpet is the bathroom), there are many ways to easily freshen up your home's air on a regular basis.

Unlike tile and hardwood floors, plush carpets — and all soft surfaces — trap and hold onto odors, even after you've tackled food spills and pet messes. To remove them, sprinkle baking soda on the entire carpet. Gently work it into the pile in the problem areas with a brush and let sit for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or two before vacuuming. Be sure to clean your vacuums dust cup and filter beforehand or put in a clean bag for the best suction and pickup. This same method works for pet beds and mattresses.

Indoor plants clean the air while instantly beautifying your home. Many plants, including Jasmine, Eucalyptus and Gardenias, offer pleasant fragrances too. Just make sure you're prepared to care for them.

An interesting and adult only tip, deodorize your stinkiest rooms by placing a mixture of 3-parts water, 10 drops of citrus oil, and 1-part vodka in a decorative bowl. This is especially effective in rooms with strong foot or body odors like mudrooms and laundry rooms.

If you notice a smell coming from your microwave even after you’ve cleaned it, microwave a couple of tablespoons of vanilla extract in a mug for thirty seconds. Everyone will wonder if you’ve been baking — though, you run the risk of disappointing them when there aren’t any cookies to snack on.

Also, cut up citrus fruit. As you cut them up, you’ll release the fragrant oils and freshen up the kitchen and you can throw those slices into a glass of water for a true spa experience.

And there you have it. These helpful odor remedies will leave your house smelling yummy and spark compliments from visitors!