If the room smells bad, you may be tempted to just light a candle or sprinkle air freshener around. However, in this way you will only mask the smell. It is necessary to eliminate its cause, that is, get rid of harmful substances and carcinogens that pollute the air, and fill the space with a fresh natural aroma.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: How to remove odors from carpets, furniture, and mattresses
Step 1. Eliminate the unpleasant smell from the carpet
Carpets collect and absorb many different substances that can cause unpleasant odors, such as soil, pet urine, food and drinks. Vacuum your carpets regularly and deodorize every few months. You can buy deodorant carpet powder from a store or make your own.
- Gather the required ingredients and tools. You will need the following: ½ cup (200 grams) borax, ½ cup (130 grams) baking soda, 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) essential oil OR ground cinnamon, 1 bowl, 1 empty cheese dispenser, and 1 vacuum cleaner.
- Measure out ½ cup (200 grams) borax and ½ cup (130 grams) baking soda and add them to a bowl.
- Add 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters, or 20-25 drops) of essential oil OR 1 teaspoon (2.5 grams) of cinnamon to a bowl.
- Mix the ingredients well to avoid lumps.
- Pour the mixture into a cheese dispenser.
- Sprinkle the mixture over the carpet.
- Wait 15-20 minutes, then vacuum the carpet.
- Do not use ground cinnamon for light colored carpets.
Step 2. Process the furniture
Upholstered furniture can absorb a wide variety of unpleasant odor substances, such as sweat or cigarette smoke. To keep the room smelling fresh, it is necessary to clean the furniture from unpleasant odors. There are many ways to do this without harsh chemicals.
- Spray furniture with a homemade odor control spray. To make this spray, take distilled water and add 1 tablespoon (20 grams) of baking soda and 2-3 drops of essential oil to it. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well, then sprinkle it on the furniture.
- Apply a thin layer of baking soda to the furniture. Leave the baking soda overnight, then vacuum the furniture.
- Take a spray bottle and mix equal proportions of vinegar and water in it. Spray the solution onto the furniture so that the surface becomes damp. Wait for it to dry and repeat if necessary.
- Be sure to vacuum your furniture regularly, among other things.
Step 3. Remove the odor from the mattress
Like upholstered furniture, the mattress also absorbs unpleasant odors. To keep the air in your bedroom fresh, treat your mattress with deodorant regularly. You can also use a mattress topper.
- Wash an empty cream bottle or cheese shaker.
- Mix ½ cup (130 grams) of baking soda and 12 drops of essential oils in a washed container.
- Sprinkle the mixture on the mattress (remove everything from it first).
- Wait at least 1 hour for the remedy to take effect.
- Vacuum up the baking soda.
Step 4. Remove pet odors
Like other unpleasant odors, they are also absorbed into furniture, carpets, mattresses, and bedding. A vacuum cleaner, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar are all you need to neutralize these odors.
- Wash your bedding and pillows, and add 1/4 cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar to your regular laundry detergent. You can also purchase a special detergent from the pet store to help remove odors.
- Vacuum the carpet and all nooks and crannies in furniture to remove any fur.
- Sprinkle baking soda on furniture and carpet. Leave the baking soda overnight to absorb odors and vacuum up the next morning. Sprinkle baking soda on your bed in the morning, and vacuum it before bed.
Method 2 of 3: Refresh the room
Step 1. Open windows
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoors. In addition to unpleasant odors, various pollutants negatively affect the environment and your health. Ventilate rooms to remove various toxins and unpleasant odors. Open windows, turn on some fans, and let the fresh breeze and sunshine cleanse your home of harmful substances and unpleasant odors.
Sunlight removes unpleasant odors. If it is not possible to open the windows, move the curtains or blinds apart
Step 2. Use an air purifier
Even after you have removed the source of the unpleasant odor, residues may still be felt. Air purifiers are equipped with filters that absorb such odors. Plus, an air purifier can help you get rid of pollutants in your home, such as harmful gases and chemical toxins.
- Look for an air purifier with HEPA filters.
- Among other things, air purifiers help eliminate allergens and asthma-provoking substances.
Step 3. Leave the duct cleaning to a professional
Over time, dirt, allergens, mold and pet hair accumulate in ventilation pipes and air ducts, causing unpleasant odors and adversely affecting respiratory health. If you want to eliminate this source of unpleasant odors, hire a professional.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no clear evidence that air duct cleaning improves health. However, other experts believe that it helps to get rid of unpleasant odors in the house
Step 4. Purchase indoor plants
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA) investigated ways to reduce indoor air pollution and concluded that shade-loving indoor plants can purify the air in rooms. The organization is currently using various houseplants to purify the air at space stations from harmful chemicals and carcinogens. These natural air purifiers can also be used in ordinary rooms. Place light-free indoor plants in your home to get rid of varnish, paint, glue, carpet, and detergent odors. NASA recommends having 15-18 houseplants for every 170 square meters. The following shade-loving plants work well:
- ivy;
- spiderman;
- scindapsus;
- spathiphyllum;
- three-lane sansevieria;
- philodendron;
- rubber ficus;
- dipsis yellowish;
- sublime nephrolepis;
- aloe.
Method 3 of 3: Use natural products and oils
Step 1. Place a vase of fresh flowers
A bouquet of recently picked flowers will brighten the room and give it a pleasant scent. Get a small bouquet or pick some flowers from your garden. Pour fresh water into a vase, place flowers in it and place them in the room. Soon the room will be filled with a wonderful aroma.
Don't throw the flowers away: wait for them to dry and prepare an aromatic mixture from the petals
Step 2. Prepare an air freshening gel
These gels are non-toxic and easy to prepare. Unlike candles, they do not need to be lit. The gel will freshen the air in your room around the clock until it dries.
- Pour ¾ cup (180 ml) of water or liquid flavoring mixture into a small saucepan and add 1 tablespoon (20 grams) of salt.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat to dissolve the salt completely.
- Add 2 sachets of unflavored gelatin little by little. Stir until the gelatin dissolves.
- Remove the pan from heat. Add ¼ cup (60 ml) water or liquid flavoring mixture and stir.
- Pour the mixture into heat-resistant containers such as glass jars.
- If you used water, add 20 drops of essential oil to each container.
- When the mixture has cooled, cover the jars with the perforated lids.
Step 3. Make a reed sprayer
Such a spray will allow you to freshen the air in the room for months. To do this, put the reed cane in a mixture of essential and base oils. The reeds will absorb the essential oil and impart its scent to the surrounding air. It is an inexpensive and natural atomizer that constantly freshens the air without heating or consuming energy. Instead of buying a rather expensive reed sprayer, you can easily make one yourself.
- Pour ¼ cup (60 ml) of base oil into a glass container.
- Add 20-25 drops of essential oils.
- Place the reed cane in the container.
- After a few hours, remove the reeds, turn them upside down and put them back in the container. Do this several times so that the reeds are absorbed faster by the essential oil.
- Flip the reeds every 2-4 days.
- The following combinations of essential oils are popular: peppermint and wild orange; lavender, lemon and rosemary; cinnamon and wild orange; lavender and eucalyptus; white fir and cypress; grapefruit, lemon and lime; bergamot and patchouli.
Step 4. Make an air freshener from a saucepan of slowly boiling water
This is a great way to freshen up the air in all rooms. Pour water into a saucepan or slow cooker, add herbs, spices and fruits and bring mixture to a low boil. As a result, your home will be saturated with a pleasant scent for several days. To prepare a master mix, which can then be mixed with a wide variety of ingredients, proceed as follows:
- cut orange and lemon into slices;
- Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan or small slow cooker.
- Fill a saucepan or multicooker halfway with water
- put the pan on low heat (or set the slow cooking mode on the multicooker), bring the water to a slow boil and leave it for the whole day;
- periodically check the water level and top up if necessary;
- on holidays, you can add pine needles and cranberries to the water, and in the spring and summer months it is better to use a mixture of lemon, lavender and fresh mint.
Step 5. Try burning incense
It's easy to buy, relatively cheap, and has a lot of variety. Before using incense, make sure you are not hypersensitive to smoke, and do not leave it burning when you leave the house.
Advice
- If you have pets, give them a separate room. Clean your pets and their cages, litter boxes and bowls regularly.
- Do not keep animals in the house, including those that live in cages.
Warnings
- Do not wait for the smell to intensify and become stable.
- If a family member has allergies or asthma, do not use fragrances or air fresheners.