Do you have a stink that you can’t shake? A bad smell in your home can affect your quality of life—and it can even be a sign of a deeper problem. Odors could mean mold, mildew, bacteria, allergens, and other environmental pollutants.

Rather than covering the smell with toxic chemicals and fragrances, attack stinks at the source using natural solutions. A fresh, dry, safe, odor-free home is as easy as 8 simple steps.

1. HomeRev Odor Bag 

We’ve listed this odor bag first because it truly is the most natural and effective solution for purifying the air. These bags prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria growth by absorbing moisture and humidity. They also soak in particles, allergens, and pollutants that could be causing a lingering smell.

We love these bags because they can be placed anywhere in your home—from your bedroom to your kitchen, inside your shoes and gym bag to the bottom of the trashcan. Anywhere there’s stink, these bags can find a home. We especially love using these bags in the bathroom, where steam can cause mildew smells that seem impossible to get rid of otherwise.

The best part of these bags is that they are 100% natural. They are recyclable and earth-friendly, and they rejuvenate in the sunlight—so they’re always ready to take on more icky smells. Plus, they start removing odors in less than a day.

2. Baking Soda 

Baking soda is the classic stench removal solution, used for decades in a variety of fashions. Baking soda “soaks in” odor-causing particles, which keeps nearby smells to a minimum. Put some baking soda in your cat’s litter box to help minimize urine stench. Sprinkle some on your furniture or mattress to draw out deep-rooted smells (then vacuum up the baking soda an hour later).

Many people use baking soda in the refrigerator, but it can go bad quickly in this kind of environment. For fridge smells, we recommend using a fridge filter, like the Frigidaire Pure Air Refrigerator Filter. Learn more about cleaning your fridge here.

3. White Vinegar

As you read in our Top 5 Natural Cleaning Solutions, white vinegar is an amazing, natural cleaner. It’s great for neutralizing smells and sanitizing the room. To defuse airborne odors, pour a cup of white vinegar in a bowl and place it in the corner of the room. At first, you will smell the vinegar, but it will slowly start to dissipate—along with all the other smells. You can also dilute white vinegar in water and use it as a cleaner on most surfaces.

You can even spray a mixture of water and white vinegar on dry-clean-only clothing, like blazers and sports coats, to keep them smelling fresh in between washes. Spritz water and white vinegar in a gym bag to immediately get rid of the smell of sweat. The possibilities with white vinegar are endless! (However, be careful about using vinegar on porous and basic surfaces like marble, which can be damaged by the acidity of the vinegar.)

4. Houseplants

Along with the 7 key benefits of houseplants, keeping plants in your home can actually help clean your air and eliminate odors. Houseplants take in carbon dioxide and allergens and in turn release fresh, clean oxygen for you to breathe.

Furthermore, plants can stabilize the humidity of a room, which improves air quality, increases health, and helps prevent the growth of mildew, mold, and bacteria (aka the key causes of lingering stink). The best choices are succulents, which are great for air quality, and fragrant herbs, like rosemary, lavender, basil, and mint—which all have other household uses as well.

5. Essential Oils

Placing a few drops of essential oil into a diffuser or bowl of water introduces beneficial particles into the air while removing odor-causing pollutants and toxins. Any essential oil will do the trick, but we personally love lemon or eucalyptus for the pleasant aroma and sanitizing effects. Be sure to use an odor bag or baking soda to help remove moisture diffused into the air with essential oils, though.

6. Silica Gel Packs

Another option to remove humidity is a gel pack. Silica gel packs can help absorb excess moisture in small spaces, which can help prevent the buildup of odor. Learn more about the benefits of silica gel packs here.

7. Air Filters

Keeping your air filters and purifiers fresh ensures they are removing harmful particles that could be smelling up your home. Find out when to replace your air filters for a fresh, clean environment.

8. Open Windows

Placing stinky items outside will allow the sun and air to dry up odor particles. If an entire room smells, opening a window (in good weather) can introduce fresh, natural air that will get your home smelling beautiful again.

Whether you’re hosting a party or want to purify your air for the health and safety of your family, natural methods are the safest and most effective method to remove odor-causing particles. Learn more about our favorite method, the HomeRev Odor Bag, to get pure, clean, fresh air in just a few hours!