The biggest mistake people make when trying to combat “weird house smell” is beelining straight for the air fresheners. Think of your house as you would your body. If you applied deodorant every day to your armpits instead of washing them, you would just be stinky and then some. You need to eliminate odor producing sources so that your scents and candles can shine.
Despite air fresheners advertising their “odor-eliminating” abilities, they only sit on top of bacterias and molds that produce smelly smells. Ditch the plastic waste, synthetic chemicals, and false advertisements for a sustainable, affordable, odor-eliminating product that almost everyone already has in their home.
White Vinegar.
Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Mist it on your couches, carpets, pillows, mattresses, and the inside of your garbage cans. Don’t soak fabrics, just give them a nice light misting. Don’t be afraid of the sour vinegar smell lingering. It will fade! Let the mixture sit for a minute or two so it can do its magic. Then, wipe off your items with a towel or cloth. Let your items dry completely.
If your sink or shower drain is stinking up your space, pour about ½ – 1 cup of baking soda down the pipe. Follow it up with 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Cover the drain and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then, flush it all out with boiling water or very hot tap water.
You can even use vinegar mixture as your all-purpose cleaner. Add citrus and herbs to your mixture if you want to add scent. Avoid hardwood floors, natural stones (granite, marble, limestone), waxed surfaces, and electronic screens as it can cause abrasions to those finishes. Never mix vinegar with bleach.
If there’s a garbage smell or strange atmospheric odor lingering in your house, simmer half a cup of vinegar and water on your stovetop in an open pot for about an hour. You can add orange slices, pine needles, sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary to the simmer pot to add a fresh, homey scent. Make sure to monitor the water level, and add more water as needed.
Sustainable changes in your home and in your life can be better for your health and for your wallet. Stay tuned for more Sustainable Living Tips & Tricks from MUD’s monthly newsletter!
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