Deodorize Clothing with VodkaA great way to deodorize clothes is to place some vodka in a spray bottle and mist them with it. Hang them to dry and you'll notice all the smells are gone. The vodka kills bacteria and odor, but won't leave an alcohol scent behind. This is great for clothes that you just brought out from storage.
Salt to Remove Fish Smell from HandsYour hands can get stinky after cleaning or washing fish. Before washing your hands with soap, use salt first. Wet your hands with water, put salt on your hands and scrub it in. Then you can wash with water and soap again.
Use Dryer Sheets for Shoe OdorI used my dryer sheets in my shoes and my kids' shoes. This removed the odor from the shoes. You can also put a dryer sheet in your stored shoes to absorbed odors. This simple tip works well.
Many Uses For Rose WaterRose water costs very little and I have found a few useful ways to use it. Mainly I was using it as a natural air freshener. I bought some empty spray bottles in the Pound Shop and filled a bottle with pure Rose Water. Because I dislike to spray chemicals around myself and my cat.
Cleaning Stinky Ice Cube TraysFill them 1/2 way with tap water. Then use an old dish soap container with bleach in the bottle. Squirt bleach into the ice trays that have water. Let set for a half hour. Then empty and rinse 3-4 times, let dry in drainer, then fill with clean water and freeze. Clean again in a month.
Essential Oil Air FreshenerIf you want a room to smell super duper fresh but don't want a big ugly air freshener hanging from your wall, just add a few drops of an essential oil into the bottom of a bottle or jar around your house.
Cat Litter Room FreshenerI have a handsome tabby cat called Mr. Smith and he's a mostly indoor cat therefore he has a litter tray in the bathroom. There's only one small problem and that is Tom cats tend to have a stronger smelling urine.
Tea Bags for Smelly ShoesIf you ever have a pair of shoes that don't smell very good then I have an easy solution for you! Just take some tea bags and place them in your shoes while not in use, in a day or two your shoes won't have any bad smell!
Essential Oils to Freshen the BathroomEvery time you change your toilet tissue roll in your bathroom, add a few drops (or more than a few if your bathroom is large) of essential oil to the middle of it and it will keep the room smelling lovely.
Get Rid of Bad Odor in SneakersPut your smelly sneakers in the washing machine with a half a cup of vinegar and some laundry detergent. Fill the washer with water and allow sneakers to soak for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes wash as usual. The sneakers will come out odor free and smelling as good as new.
Sachets from Perfume Sample in MagazinesI love the magazines with perfume samples. I make little sachets out of them by transferring the lovely scent onto small squares of tissue. I then put those scented squares into a crocheted bag. After scrunching the sachet, it smells so nice. I like keeping the samples of perfumes for as long as possible ;)
Charcoal to Absorb Foul OdorsAside from using charcoal for grilling fishes, meat, corn, charcoal also can be used as foul odor absorber. If there is a foul odor inside your living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or even inside your fridge, you can use charcoal to absorb the odor.
Removing Smoke Odors Cars and HomesVinegar, baking soda, airing things out all have some merit in removing smoke odor, but if the odor is bad this will only put a small dent in it.
Microwave Soap for Easy Smell RemovalHave you ever fried fish and then the entire house smelled like a seafood restaurant? Easy fix. Buy a bar of soap, but not any kind of lotion soap. I prefer the smell of original Lever 2000. Put the bar of soap on a microwavable glass plate, put in microwave for 1 minute to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.
Using Lemon as an Odor RemoverLemon extract, fresh lemon wedges, and lemon juice are all fragrant odor removers. I have used lemon juice on my countertops after using garlic and onions, fish, or any smell that you do not want lingering.
Keep Lunch Bag Free of GermsI pack a lunch bag 3 days a week. I hate the smell of a lunch bag when I empty it at the end of the day. I squirt it with Purell liquid, and wipe it well with a paper towel. It always smells fresh and clean and free of germs.
Vinegar to Freshen up a Musty RoomI keep a bowl of white vinegar on my stove to keep cooking odors down. When a closet or room starts to smell musty or stale, I put a bowl of white vinegar on a shelf for a few days. This usually takes care of just about any smell. It was especially good when my son was a teenager.
Avon Bath Powder for Refreshing Your Mattress30 years ago, I started sprinkling Avon bath powder on my rugs to keep them fresh. After a few minutes, I vacuumed it up. I use it on top of my mattress cover rubbing in the powder before putting on the sheets. There is now a spray for on your covers, couch, etc. However, it left a wet film. The powder doesn't.
Vinegar to Remove Burned Cooking SmellsI recently burned a pot of beans badly. My solution takes a long time, but it gets your house clean and removes the smell from all the small things that add up to that pervasive smell that seems to be everywhere (because it is).
Locating Sulfur Smell in a Master BedroomI had this issue just after moving into a new rental. The alarm system's backup battery can go bad after being constantly charged over many years and it can rupture slightly, emitting a small amount of sulfuric acid, which really stinks!
Removing Scents from Your HomeI am chemical sensitive to perfumes, cigarettes, gasoline, etc. Sometimes we have guests come over with high perfume scents and when they leave the scent does not.
Cat Litter to Deodorize Stinky SneakersPour some cat litter, scented or unscented, into a pair of heavy socks or sock slippers and close it with a rubber band. Drop the litter filled socks into the pair of shoes or sneakers. Litter was created to reduce and remove some heavy duty odors, so it's perfect for this!
Scented Powder as Vacuum FreshenerI received more scented powders as gifts than I could use. I dump some on the floor and vacuum it up. Now the vacuum bag smells nice all the time. Note: I have a HEPA bag so it does not generate too much dust when I vacuum; I wouldn't do this if you have an asthma sufferer in the house.
Warm Leather to Remove Smoke OdorI put the leather item into the oven at the lowest setting for about an hour and a half. I opened the doors several times along the way to let the newly-evaporated tobacco tars and oils escape.
Recycled Incense BurnerIf you use deodorizing gel beads and your beads have dried up beyond normal use, you can then re-purpose that jar as an incense holder so that a stick of burning incense remains upright or at a slight angle.
Homemade FebrezeFebreze can cost up to 8.00 a bottle. Try this homemade fabric refresher. It works great on pet smells too. Just use an empty spray bottle, add a cup of water, 1 tsp baking soda, and one tablespoon of fabric softener. Shake well. Spray clothes, furniture, and carpets. It works wonders. I love the stuff.
Central Air FresheningIf you've got a central air heating/cooling unit, you've got a great way to freshen up the whole house with one solid or bead type air freshener unit.
Removing Odors from a CouchMy wife and I recently bought a nice sectional, but I think it was sitting in the furniture warehouse for too long. It had this weird odor that wasn't too bad, but you could tell there was some kind of lingering smell that wasn't to our liking.
Citrus Peels for Garbage Disposal OdorsTo avoid odor or make odor go away, put lemon, lime, or orange peels and grind in the disposal with hot water. You will notice the odors will go away.
Removing Cooking Grease Smell from ClothesMy husband's work clothes always reek of old nasty cooking oil. I wash them in solution of dish washing detergent, lemon scented ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, in hot water.
Ammonia for Removing OdorsPutting a bowl of straight ammonia in a corner of a room will clear the room of any bad odors, and you don't smell the ammonia.
Homemade "Before You Go" Toilet Odor EliminatorThe best way to keep odors at bay is to stop them before they happen! Here is an easy and inexpensive do it yourself version of the costly and popular Poo-Pourri Before You Go spray.
Removing Cigarette Smoke Odor from FurnitureAfter cleaning the cabinet with vinegar and keeping a pan of charcoal in the cabinet for a couple of days, it still smelled like smoke. I sprayed it inside and out with orange scented furniture polish, then wiped it down. Now it smells like oranges!
Spray Room Freshener Inside Garbage Can LidKeep your kitchen trash can fresh and sweet every time you open the lid! Just squirt your favorite room freshener inside the lid and enjoy for days, even between bag replacements!
Pickle Jar Incense BurnerI was on the patio and I wanted to burn some incense. I found this pickle jar and put the incense stick upside down in the pickle jar and fastened the wood part with a clothepin.
White Vinegar for DeodorizingBest and cheapest deodorizer is white vinegar. It also kills germs. This is all we use in our house. It doesn't mask odors, it removes them.
Remove Odors with Ground CoffeeMy daughter had accidentally unplugged a chest freezer and I didn't find it until about 2 weeks later. The whole thing was filled with nasty rotten meat.
Removing Pet Urine Odor from FloorsI just ran into this problem a few days ago. Our sweet kitty managed to ruin a room in our house with his urine! I tried to steam clean it out, but to no avail! No matter what I put on it - enzyme cleaner, deodorizer - it would not work.
Removing Urine Smell from ClothesTo remove the smell of urine from clothes I washed them in a load with half a gallon of vinegar and then washed as normal.
DIY Reed DiffuserThese reed diffusers can be quite expensive, but I found a way to do them for just a few dollars and you get the same effect. For maximum scent, make sure the skewers stick out several inches from the top of your container.
Fragrant Dryer Sheets for ShoesDryer sheets are a great way to deodorize stinky shoes. Here is this tip in action.
Removing Pressure Cooker Gasket OdorTo remove odors from a pressure cooker gasket, simply "fold" the gasket to make it smaller, and put it in a pot. Cover with water and sprinkle with about a tablespoon baking soda. (The worse the odor, the more baking soda you will want to use.)
Cleaning Up Cat Urine and Its "Aroma"I am stymied by all the requests for "help" in eradicating cat urine stains and their "aroma". As any loyal ThriftyFun reader should know by the number of times this solution has appeared, the "only" that works is straight white vinegar in a spray bottle!
Coffee in Your Drawers for Moldy OdorsAfter our family returned to the Pacific Northwest from an extended working vacation, our home smelled of mold. I found myself washing all of the clothes in my drawers and called my mother for advice. She told me to put coffee grounds (not instant), in small cups or bowls inside of each drawer.
How to Reduce Paint OdorsThere are a few items you can use that greatly help to mask or neutralize the smell of fresh paint. You also need to have good ventilation during, and for at least a couple of days after painting for health safety sake.
Reducing the Odor from Food Scraps in TrashSave your cereal boxes or cake mix boxes and use them to scrape your food off your plates in when cleaning kitchen or doing dishes. That way if your trash starts to stink before you can get it outside to the trash, all you have to do is remove the box, and take it out.
Use Old Loose Tea for Smelly Garbage CanWe tend to buy more tea, rather than use up what we have, but we can't give it away because the package is already open. So instead of throwing it out, pour some of the dry loose tea inside your smelly garbage can.
Vinegar for Cigarette Smoke OdorsTo rid your house of cigarette smoke smells, place little bowls of vinegar through out the house. It works!
Cinnamon Oil for DeodorizingUse cinnamon oil to freshen up shoes, hands and feet. Just dab some on a tissue and get to wiping. Doesn't take much and smells great! Add 1-2 drops to soapy hands and wash as normal when wanting to freshen up hands or feet.
Odoban for Musty OdorsI use "OdoBan" in my final rinse. It makes towels, (and all my laundry) smell fresh wonderful. For stubborn musty odors in clothing, I turn off the washer, and let the final rinse soak for thirty minutes or so.
Salt and Lemon Juice for Carpet OdorAdd sea salt and lemon juice to water, and spray on carpets. It kills any insects and odor. Sprinkle fine sea salt. It absorbs moisture, odor, and insects from carpets.
Vanilla Extract Room FreshenerRecently I wanted to freshen up my home and had no air freshener on hand. Instead I took a small pot and placed some water in it, added a few drops of vanilla and some ground ginger.
Simmer Fruit Peels For Holiday Home FragranceNear the the holidays, I find myself buying more apples and oranges than usual. I love the aroma of baked apple pie or the smell of oranges. Whenever I peel an apple or orange, I throw the peel into a pan of water on the stove.
Deodorizing Plastic Food ContainersWhen a strong food odor remains in a plastic food container, wash it well with soap and water. Then, place it and its lid outside in a protected area for a few days.
Fight Foot Odor With CoffeeThis was one of the most interesting experiments I ever did before with my shoes and boots. I got curious one day. I kept buying foot powder that was too expensive and would cause allergic reactions to my skin, even if I'm wearing socks.
Use Black Light To Find Set-In StainsI know my dog had an accident in a bedroom, but I couldn't find where the stain was since it blended in to the carpet so well. A black lightbulb in a lamp allowed me to see where the stain was so I could make sure I was cleaning the right spot.
Deodorize With Perfume or CologneWhen I get a bottle of cologne that is not to my liking, I spray the linens with. When company is coming for a special added touch to the bathroom, I spray the sides of the roll of toilet paper.
Potpourri Packing Peanuts Scent JarIf you take a potpourri pot or a small jar and fill it with packing peanuts, then spray your favorite perfume on it, it will hold the scent and keep the room fresh. You can also use potpourri spray for this.
Baking Soda in My RefrigeratorI always keep a fresh box of opened baking soda in my refrigerator. I try to remember to change it out every two months. If I get a sudden odor from a bag of cut-up onion or something like that, I put a slice of bread on each shelf in the refrigerator.
Prevent Food Odors from Developing in Your RefrigeratorOne of the best ways to deal with odors in your refrigerator is to prevent them from happening. Here are a few tips to keep your refrigerator smelling fresh:
Baking Soda for Smelly MicrowaveFor years I have kept a small opened box of Arm and Hammer baking soda in my microwave oven. I completely remove the top of the box before putting it in the microwave.
Vanilla Extract for Fish OdorWhen we were first married, an ice storm hit our area while we were away. We returned home to find our new freezer full of spoiled shrimp and venison. The smell was horrible! I tried everything to get the odor out, but nothing worked.
Dryer Sheets For Garbage OdorI put a scented fabric softener sheet under every trash bag and inside of the bag, too, for the trashcans in my house. It seems to really help not only the trashcans by absorbing odors, but seems to freshen the air in the room, too!
Removing Odors From JarsI've really gotten into washing out and reusing jars and containers instead of buying brand plastic products. Sometimes the best jars have really tough odors, like pickle and olive jars.
Tea Bag SachetHang a spiced tea bag in your closet or put one in your bureau drawers for an inexpensive, sweet-smelling sachet.
Perfume as Room FreshenerGet too many perfumes for your birthday? Was that last "blind buy" a nightmare? Use your unwanted fragrances as room fresheners. Perfume is much more concentrated than room deodorizers, so a little squirt will do.
Use Excess Cologne as Air FreshenerI had several bottles of body splash and cologne that I didn't care for (gifts from well meaning friends). Instead of throwing them out, I use them as bathroom air freshener and stinky shoe deodorizer.
Fabric Freshener for Room DeodorizerA frugal friend told me about this. Mix half Suavetel (fabric softener) and half water in a spray bottle and shake it a little. It makes a wonderful room freshener! It's lots more economical than the marketed kind.
Spray Garbage Liner With Spray FragranceAn inexpensive way to keep a room smelling fresh is to spray the plastic garbage liner in your waste basket with a room or body spray. The scent will linger for a long time!
Remove Garlic and Onion Odors from HandsTo get the garlic smell off your hands just rub them against your stainless steel sink. It takes the smell right away!
Removing Cigarette Odor from Small ItemsI had a bag of yarn that had a horrible cigarette odor given to me. I had heard if the odor couldn't be removed by other means, to freeze the item. I didn't have enough space inside my freezer, so decided I would set the it out in the snow on my deck.
Air Freshener Using Crock PotYou can easily make your own air freshener by using your small crock pot. Fill with water and add some of the following:
Reuse Room DeodorizersI have decided to put a couple of those stick-up room deodorizers on the walls where our puppy lives, and my mother just told me a great way to reuse them instead of buying replacements when they dry out.
Removing Musty Odor From ClothesI had a brand new bedspread, that picked up a musty smell from an RV we had used. I tried everything, to get the odor out. Of course I could not use bleach on this fabric.
Vanilla Extract as Odor RemoverI recently inherited a piece of furniture that had unfortunately been in a fire; nothing was wrong with the dresser other than the smell of smoke. My colleague told me to try this, and it worked wonders at eating the odor!
Charcoal to Fight OdorsInstead of buying baking soda to absorb odors in your refrigerator and freezer, try charcoal! I put a couple of pieces in each.
Removing Mothball OdorTo remove mothball odor from an old trunk use cheap coffee. Just put it in a nylon that you tie or just sprinkle into the trunk. I did this to a 1800 trunk that even smelled up glassware. It really works.
Dryer Sheet in Waste Basket to Keep it FreshIn my area, we have to throw food and regular trash in the same trash bag. I use a store brand dryer sheet (they are much less expensive), in the bottom of the kitchen trash basket.
Using Coffee Grounds to Remove OdorsHere's a great way to use coffee grounds once you have made coffee. Dump your used coffee grounds into a container and keep, open, in the refrigerator. The used grounds make your fridge smell like coffee and absorbs all the unwanted odors at the same time.
Other Uses for Kitty LitterIf you have a stinky pair of gym shoes you would like to deodorize, try cat litter. Put some fresh litter into a couple of old socks (about a half cup in each), tie the tops, and tuck them inside the offending shoes.
Heated Cinnamon and Water for Room FreshenerI love to use a little cinnamon in water boiling on the stove to make my house smell a little homey. Sometimes when someone calls for a unexpected visit to make my house smell like cookies are baking, I just put cinnamon in a pot with water and put it on the stove to boil.
Homemade Air FreshenerI was always uncomfortable using the bathroom fresheners knowing that they are chemical. I take a laundry spray bottle, fill it with water and about 20 drops of essential oil which I buy in the health food store.
Controlling Seafood Smells In GarbageWhen having shrimp or fish, to deal with the smell of peelings, shells, bones, or cleanings afterward put the peeled shells or bones in a plastic bag and seal before throwing in your garbage. This will help to control the smell until you can take the garbage outside.
Use Unlit Incense to Scent a RoomA nicer way to fragrance a room and much safer than those horrid chemical plug-ins is this handy tip. Open a packet of incense sticks and pop a few into a little vase. Decorate it if you wish.
Make Your Own Sachet With Essential OilsInstead of buying potpourri to use in sachets for drawers, use fragranced sewn or knitted ornaments, etc. Just put a few drops of essential oil of your choice onto some cotton or wool, and place or sew it inside the item.
Removing Odors From BooksMy wife and I buy a lot of used books. The problem is, often the books have been in storage, or in a smoker's home (no offense to any smokers), or in other conditions that have left behind odors.
Use Perfume to Freshen Your HomeI like new perfumes, some guys follow the trendy colognes. Regardless before the bottle is empty, I am onto a new fragrance. There is usually a good bit left in the bottle and I don't want to throw it out!
Remedy for Moist, Stinky ShoesTo get moisture or stink out of shoes, fill two old socks with baking soda and knot at the ends. Shove deep into the shoes and let them sit overnight.
Removing Skunk Smell from HouseWe called the Erie police! We thought our dog had been sprayed by pepper spray! We thought someone had intruded our back yard and the intruder sprayed the dog! The smell smelled like burning chemicals so we knew no better! Now we do.
Skunk Odor Recipe Works for Pet StainsA recipe for cutting through skunk odor is great for cutting through pet stains as well. It's a mixture of peroxide, baking soda, and dish detergent. I mix a small bottle of peroxide, half a cup of baking soda, and a couple squirts of Dawn.
Fresh Mint for Air FreshenerI use fresh mint from my overgrown mint patch for air freshener. I gather a small handful and crush it up a bit, put a couple of bread ties or rubber band around it and hang it from the light fixture of the ceiling fan. I also put one hanging in front of the box fan.
Getting Rid of Bleach SmellIf you are using a cleaning agent (called White King or Demostos as used in Australia) containing a chlorine base (chemical name Sodium Hypochlorite), use white vinegar on your hands and the smell will disappear.
Baking Soda and Vinegar for Fish OdorsWhile vacationing at our home in Baja, a bag of fish guts leaked into the carpet of our Suburban. We tried to clean it with carpet cleaners but the still the odor was terrible.
Deodorizing a Cooler or Ice ChestIf you have a portable cooler that has the odor of rotten meat, you can open it and clean it. Leave open to the sun for at least a couple of days with the opening facing as much of the sun as possible.
Stop Using Fabric Softener to Prevent Musty TowelsIn response to the folks out there with musty towels. We've tried a lot of approaches and only one actually worked. The first thing we did was get rid of the liquid fabric softener. We then cleaned the washing machine by brush, using bleach and water.
Renew Renuzit With Sea Salt And Lavender OilI bought a couple of Renuzit push up air fresheners for my bathroom and when they dried out, I renewed them by pouring some sea salt in the bottoms of the containers and adding several drops of lavender oil onto the sea salt. I gave the containers a slight shake to incorporate and it became an air freshener all over again that lasts for over a week!
Newspaper Deodorizer For Musty Books and DrawersNewspaper is also a way to restore musty smelling books or drawers of bureaus bought at yard sales, or that have been stored in a barn or basement. For books, put crumpled newspaper in the bottom of a paper bag, put book inside, add crumpled paper loosely all around it, and above it.
Use Car Air Fresheners In The GarageI have a great tip for keeping a fresher smell in the garage. Use one of the air fresheners that you can hang in your car. These have a strong perfume to them and work better hanging in the garage. Our cat also lives in our garage and this keeps his area smelling great too.
Allow Jar Candles To Melt When Using OvenI placed a half used scented candle in a jar on my stove for show. That evening when I was making dinner and using the oven, I had forgotten to take the candle from the stove. Oh, the smell was wonderful!
Use Coke for Removing Smoke OdorsSeveral years back we had a fire in our home and the pros came in to help us with the clean up. Everything smelled like smoke, even our clothes.
Removing Smells from JarsThis is an old 1940's trick passed down to me by my mum and her mum before her.
Removing Plastic Taste and Odor From Sports BottlesCyclists' water bottles often come with a pungent plastic taste/odor. To eliminate this; fill bottle 2/3 with vinegar (clear) and 1/3 water; cover/close and let set for 24 hours. Rinse with clean water.
