Getting rid of smell

**Newsnerd68** · 10-25-2004, 07:24 PM

How can you get rid of that closed-up, leftover cooking, wet dog, dirty laundry, just plain I-live-in-my-house-and-it-isn't-the-most-sterile-place smell?

Any tips?

**Guest1** · 10-25-2004, 07:29 PM

Candles??

You can also leave dishes of white vinegar in out-of-the-way spots...

or leave charcoal in old socks stuffed under sofas or behind shelves....

a lighted match will remove odors too.....

HTH

**PrairieRose** · 10-25-2004, 07:36 PM

Oust spray works great too, it's not the frugalest of solutions but it works.

**kimmee** · 10-25-2004, 08:43 PM

Baking powder on the carpet before you vacuum, rinse the walls down with vinegar. for day to day I use natural oil incense (not the grocery store stuff) cuz it permeates and leaves its smell - we like gardenia and plumeria and patchouli. (this is one thing I have become a master of because of my "small" collection of odor "friendly" pets - 9 cats, 5 weasles, 2 parakeets.

**SewCrafty** · 10-25-2004, 08:45 PM

The fastest way is to boil vinegar. Birng a pan of vinegar to a boil and then turn it down to simmer. Let it simmer for 15-30 minutes so it permeates the whole house. The odor of vinegar will be strong but dissapates really fast once you turn it off.

Now when you are done, don't waste that vinegar, you can slowly pour some down all your drains and freshen them too.

Good luck.

**Ellise** · 10-25-2004, 09:53 PM

I burn candles, boil cinnamon sticks on the stove, baking soda on carpets, wash walls with clorax then rinse with Essential oils, Use charcoal socks under sinks, Add vinegar to my dishwasher, and ds's footbal gear as well as baking soda for extra whitening. I also use essential oils on old wash clothes and toss in the dryer to keep clothes smelling lavendar fresh

**Newsnerd68** · 10-26-2004, 12:17 AM

Thanks for all the tips and DUH! I never thought about plain old washing down the walls!
It will probably work wonders.

Great ideas!

**SewCrafty** · 10-26-2004, 09:22 AM

Don't forget to wash your curtains, throws, furniture slipcovers and any chair pads you have too. Anything made out of fabric, they can hold in lots of smells! For draperies that need to be dry cleaned, I use that one that you can use in your dryer, works great if you don't let things get too bad. I can't remember the name of it though?

**Sinclairwife** · 10-26-2004, 04:24 PM

I do love candles but they can be expensive, especially the nicer
brands. Oil/Gel plug-ins are expensive & I was suckered recently into a battery operated fan that uses oil but it DID NOT work for me.
I bet some of you have some amazing ideas I'd love to hear about - I love things that smell good! Here are some ideas I do...

**I buy large bags of store brand coffee beans & have them in a little basket in the kitchen. The kitchen smells of fresh coffee for a long time. I also use them sprinkled around a candle holder on
my dining room table - for looks as well as aroma.

**I use fabric softener sheets inside my vacuum cleaner bag, in shoes, under my car seats, & in bins of blankets that aren't used often.

**Make my own bottles of spray using a few drops of scented oil mixed with water & store in a glass spray bottle.
That freshens my linens, curtains & etc.

**Lemon Peel down the garbage disposal will give that a citrus smell when it starts to reek.

**Vanilla Beans are good unger car seats and under the couch/bed.

**Sprinkle Good smelling carpet powder on the floor/carpet next time you clean the floors, it will not only suck up dirt but will make the area smell great.

**Milhos** · 10-26-2004, 05:03 PM

Do yourself a favor and invest in a bottle of Febreez. I dog sat three dogs and the candles only worked when they're lit. Out of desperation I bought a bottle of this stuff and what a difference! After everyone was in bed (and the dogs were gone - I locked mine in the kitchen for the night), I sprayed the carpets and the couches. The next morning AAHHHH... You'd never know about the "accidents" or what we refer to as the "Wet Dog Incident".