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Odor Removing Secrets

a Care2 favorite by Annie B. Bond
Odor Removing Secrets
84 comments

By Annie B. Bond

Have you ever wanted to get the smell of perfume out of something and not been able to get rid of it? Cat pee? The new smell in a car?

I’ve figured out how to remove most odors using kitchen cupboard ingredients, all except mothballs, and even chemical experts say the only way to rid something of the smell of moth balls is the sun. Keep these odor tips to tack on your laundry room wall:

Perfume – Soak or spray with white distilled vinegar (in both instances let set for a few hours before rinsing, or for spraying just let the smell dissipate)

Chemical Smell in Fabric -Soak overnight in 1 cup of baking soda before washing as usual.

Soot —Washing soda (wash area with 1 gallon to water to ¼ cup washing soda; let set for an hour or so before rinsing).

PVC/Plastic – Set plastic shower curtains, etc., in the sun, or wash with soap flakes and water once a week (about ¼ cup to 1 gallon warm water). Alternatively, set the plastic item in the sun as often as possible.

Biological Odors
Many biological odors contain both alkaline and acidic components, hence the alternating of baking soda and vinegar. When in doubt for any biological odor, follow directions for “Pet Pee,” below.

Pet Pee – Vinegar and Baking soda, alternating. (Place white distilled vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it straight onto the pee assuming the area can handle moisture; let kit set for an hour or so before rinsing. Follow by sprinkling the area with baking soda. Mist the baking soda with water. Let it set for a few hours before vacuuming. Keep alternating until the odor is gone.)

Perspiration — Baking soda. (Scrub a thick baking soda paste into the perspiration on the fabric; let set for an hour before laundering as usual. For personal hygiene, powder baking soda under your arms, making it slightly moist beforehand to help is stick if needed.)

Vomit – Vinegar and baking soda, alternating (follow directions for “Pet Pee”).

More on Household Hints (227 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3248 articles available)

84 comments

84 comments

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84 comments add your comment
Cindy S.

I use this to get rid of pet smell http://freshnodorfree.com/zeolite/pet-smell/ It must not be good for the cats or you to be exposed to the urine soaked area and urea fumes in the air.

I believe they also have a product that gets rid of skunk odor and other strong odors like smoke and rotten fish.

One of the best things about it is you can refresh it and use the same one again and again.

Rosemary M.

Citrus is supposed to discourage cats & dogs, so spraying an area w/a solution of citrus essential oils & water is recommended to keep them away from an area, indoors or out.

Steve Gomer

* Kari Dyrdahl says
* Aug 19, 2009 8:14 AM

Tomatoe juice works great to get tha Skunk smell off dogs. Be sure to rinse well or you might end up with a Punk Pooch!

you left out how to get skunk smell out of your home. once the dog gets sprayed, he(or she ) will track it into the house. you must then go out and buy bags of charcoal(such as you would use for bbqing) and open them,placing in each room for a couple days. do not (repeat) do not use this coal for cooking afterwards, discard after absorbing skunk smells.

Leonie J.

please help me how to get away cabinet(clothes) odor?

Raymond O.

sprinkle Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) into your shoes and leave overnight this will neutralise any smells then empty out before wearing!

Kari Dyrdahl

Tomatoe juice works great to get tha Skunk smell off dogs. Be sure to rinse well or you might end up with a Punk Pooch!

wizzy wizard

oh poo poo stink

Myke Salmon

I've found chooped up raw onion is Very Good for getting rid of lots of smells - You have to just leave it in / on / near the smelly thing /object for a few days at the most - be generous if it "really whooofs" - Works for getting rid of smells from cars and fridges too

Donald P.

I was wondering if any1 else had problems with strange odors from window air conditioners? I have taken the filter out soaked it cleaned it everything I can think of, but odor seems to be coming from the vents where the cold air comes from, It is a strange smell dense potient almost moldy smell. HELP

Marie Levy

Any ideas that will work for skunk perfume? Inside the house and on people?

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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