Help! What Absorbs Bad Smells In My Home? — Crystal Clean Vents (2024)

Help! What absorbs bad smells in my home?

A foul odor that won’t go away is one of the most frustrating household problems to have. These scents are hard to ignore and very unpleasant to be around. It’s extremely valid to want to immediately find something that absorbs bad smells, so you can make them go away!

Luckily, if you’re in a predicament and need to get rid of some smelly odors in your house, we can help! Keep reading to learn what absorbs bad smells...

What absorbs bad smells

There are several different substances that can help actually absorb and neutralize odors, versus just covering them up. After all, we don’t want to just mask a foul smell, but truly get rid of it. Here are some household remedies to do that:

#1 - Baking soda

Baking soda is one of the best items you can use to absorb bad smells. You can leave an open box or bowl of baking soda in your refrigerator and sprinkle some in the bottom of your trash cans to neutralize foul odors that tend to develop in these places. You can even pour baking soda directly into a smelly carpet, rug, or upholstery, and then let it sit for several hours to get rid of an unwanted scent. Just make sure you vacuum up or shake off the baking soda afterwards.

#2 - Vinegar

What absorbs bad smells? There’s nothing like vinegar to neutralize foul odors! Though vinegar also has a strong, not-so-appealing scent, this smell will disappear quickly if used to neutralize other odors. You can mix equal parts vinegar and water together to spray on stinky surfaces (such as carpets, upholstery, garbage cans, etc.). Vinegar and water mixtures can also be used to wipe down surfaces in your refrigerator to eliminate bad odors there, too.

Furthermore, it can be really helpful to pour equal parts water and vinegar into a pot on your stove and bring the liquid to a boil. This vapor is what absorbs bad smells that may be in the air in your kitchen.

#3 - Coffee grounds

This may be surprising, but coffee grounds are really great for absorbing undesirable odors. You can set fresh or used coffee grounds in a cup or bowl in your microwave, cupboards, refrigerator, and/or bathroom to neutralize odors. Really, you can use coffee grounds as an odor neutralizer anywhere in your house! Who doesn’t love the smell of coffee, anyway?!

#4 - Citrus

Want to know what absorbs bad smells amazingly well? Citrus! There are several different ways you can utilize citrus fruits to neutralize odors.

First, you can boil slices (including the peels) of oranges and lemons in a pot of water on your stove. The longer you simmer this mixture, the more this delicious, fresh scent will fill your home and get rid of other, less-appealing smells. You can also grind up citrus peels in your garbage disposal to freshen up the scent in your sink drain. Personally, we love to put lemon halves throughout our homes to add even more neutralizing properties (that also smell great) to each room.

#5 - Bread

If you’re wondering “what absorbs bad smells in my refrigerator?” we have a common household item that can help you! It’s bread! If you put a slice or two of bread in your fridge, they will soak up and eliminate any lingering odors that won’t go away otherwise.

#6 - Cat litter

Even if you’re not a cat owner, it may be worth investing in some kitty litter. Cat litter naturally absorbs bad smells because it is designed to kill the bacteria that causes those scents. You can discreetly place small containers of cat litter in rooms in your home that don’t smell the greatest, and soon you will notice that these areas smell much fresher.

#7 - Vanilla extract

Additionally, vanilla extract is a very effective answer to the question “what absorbs bad smells?” Plus, vanilla smells amazing! We recommend adding some vanilla extract droplets to a cotton ball or pad and tucking them into hidden spots throughout your home. This would also work really well to neutralize bad smells in your freezer. Or, you can also rub a small amount of vanilla extract on a lightbulb or two. When you turn these lights on, the vanilla will heat up, and the scent will permeate throughout the room. It’s the best!

#8 - Essential oils

Finally, natural essential oils are also a great way to get rid of unpleasant smells in your home. Eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, and peppermint work really well for this. You can either run a diffuser or even fill a spray bottle with water and a few drops of oil. Either way, essential oils will both eliminate bad scents and replace them with better ones!

Other ways to get rid of foul odors in your home

Additionally, there are other steps you can take to ensure you fully get rid of any bad scents in your home and make sure you help prevent them from coming back. Here are our top tips for a clean smelling home:

• Make sure you take out your trash cans often and regularly clean them of any spills.

• Don’t let food scraps build up in your kitchen sink, drains and garbage disposal.

• Check your home for mold. If the cleaning agents in this article can’t get rid of the mold, it may be best to hire a professional to rid your home of the mold

• Have your home’s air ducts cleaned professionally. There may be debris stuck in your air ducts that you can’t see, but that are actually stinking up your home.

• Keep your refrigerator and freezer tidy. Clean out old food regularly and deep clean your fridge once a month, too. This will help prevent any majorly bad smells from building up in your appliances.

Now you know what absorbs bad smells!

Now that you’ve read this article, you know what absorbs bad smells in your home. If you ever find yourself in a situation where an unpleasant smell just won’t go away, any of these methods should help solve your problem. Additionally, you can implement some of these tips on a more regular basis to help eliminate foul odors before they become noticeable.

If you’d like more home maintenance tips on how to keep the air quality in your home safe, clean, and fresh-smelling, check out this post on our blog.