There are countless of well-meaning air fresheners, candles, and sprays jammed into store shelves.  Many of them are an olfactory delight, with scent names like “Linen and Sky” or “Citrus and Light” in the case of Fabreeze Fabric Refreshers.  Though their intentions may be pure, these chemical-laden spray bottles cannot fully address the source of residential odors.  The sad truth is that in some cases, using an air freshener is as ineffective in solving a smelly problem as sweeping a pile of dirt under your carpets in order to have a spotless floor.  The scent will catch up with you in the end—it’s just a matter of time.

There are several reasons why you might whiff something funky indoors, and most of them have to do with bacteria build-up, decaying organic matter or the most potent of indoor pollutants: tobacco smoke.  

Here are 4 different types of odors and how to eliminate them for good:

Refrigerator Odors

Here is a quick fix for most frig odor problems:

1.        Remove all of your refrigerated food and toss any old, smelly items. 

2.       Use a solution of bleach and water or baking soda and water and wipe all the surfaces, then follow this with a clean rag moisten with only warm water.

3.       Remove trays and drawer and give them a good wash down in the sink. 

4.       Before replacing your food items, make sure that you’ve thoroughly dried all of the surfaces. 

5.       Put a partially opened box of baking soda in somewhere in the frig.

Pet Odors

·         If you notice that your home has a bouquet of wet dog or kitty litter, then you may want to invest in an air purifier rather than fill the air with chemicals that can be harmful to you and your pets.  The IQAir CG MultiGas has been carefully designed to remove odors, particles and gases from the air without compromising your health.

·         Not sure what the best way is to take care of “accidents” in the house?  Here’s a few steps to help you clean them up for good:

1.       Locate the source of the odor—usually this is from an “accident”, which usually means that your going to have to get down low and to the “sniff test” until you locate it.

2.       Blot up any residual moisture with a paper towel.

3.       Use a enzymatic cleaner to break down the proteins left behind by your pet

4.        With a cloth soaked in warm water, scrub the area, and blot dry with a towel.

5.       Apply a liberal amount of baking soda or other carpet powder design for pet odors and set stand for 30 minutes.

6.       Vacuum the area clean.

For older odors or hard to find pet stains, you can use a portable black light to help spot stains, because the light makes the accident fluoresce (glow).

Truth be told, sometimes the best remedy for extensive “accident sites” or odor from the homes previous pets may require you to change the carpeting in your home.

Cooking Odors

·         If cooking pungent smelling vegetables like cabbage or cauliflower, try boiling some cinnamon and cloves in a pan of water.

·         For oven scents, place orange peels or a whole unpeeled lemon on a baking pan and turn your oven on to 300 and bake for 15 minutes.

·         If you accidentally burn something in the oven, sometimes the quickest solution is switching on an air purifier, like one made by IQ Air – or if weather permits, opening a window.

Smoke Odors

Smoke odors are some of the toughest to remedy—especially when clouds of smoke and fumes are constantly being created each time a cigarette, cigar or pipe is lit.

·         Try adding kitty litter to ashtrays—it does help absorb some of the odors.

·         Vinegar is a mild acid that is able to cut through the tar left behind by tobacco smoke.  By mixing a water and vinegar solution and wiping down non-fabric surfaces, you can remove some of the tar buildup in your home.

·         Shampooing an existing carpet that smells of smoke can help alleviate the odor.  You can either rent a carpet steamer and shampoo all of the carpets by yourself, or you can hire a professional company to clean them up for you.

·         Baking soda will help absorb odors when sprinkled on carpets and furniture.  Leave baking soda on over night and vacuum it off in the morning and repeat the process once a week to keep fabrics a little fresher.

·         Curtains, shades chandeliers, light pendants and wall hangings are often an overlooked source of smoke odor.  Washable items should be laundered to remove smells, but window and lamp shades may need to be replaced completely.  Wipe down light pendants and chandeliers with ammonia.

·         Invest in a powerful air purifier like the GC MultiGas made by IQAir or the CT500 by Dynamic Air Quality Solutions.  Air purifiers are one of the best ways to eliminate smoke odors rather than covering them up with fragrances or other temporary fixes.  Even if your home was previously owned by smokers, or if you are an ex-smoker, the GC MultiGas has been designed to remove the odors and fumes that are reemitted by walls and furnishings for years after the smoking has stopped.