How to Get Rid of Every Gross Smell in Your Home
TL;DR
Wirecutter cleaning expert Caroline Mullen joins hosts Christine Cyr Clisset and Kyra Blackwell to solve listener-submitted odor problems, consistently recommending source removal and ventilation over masking scents with air fresheners.
🍳 Kitchen Odors 4 insights
Ventilation outperforms gadgets for cooking smells
Opening windows to create cross-breezes removes cooking odors and VOCs more effectively than portable range hoods or air purifiers, which offer only minimal odor reduction.
Severe freezer rot often requires appliance disposal
When meat rots in a freezer for weeks, the smell permanently saturates the insulation, making it necessary to discard the appliance rather than attempt cleaning.
Relocate trash cans near heat sources
If a built-in trash can sits above a heating register, moving it is the only permanent solution; otherwise, frequent cleaning of both the can and cabinet is essential.
Use shelf-stable disinfectants for fridges
Deep clean refrigerators with a shelf-stable bleach product like Clorox Cleanup with Bleach, as homemade bleach solutions degrade too quickly to effectively kill odor-causing bacteria.
🐈 Pet Smells 3 insights
Switch to high-quality clumping litter
Dr. Elsie's cat litter forms tight clumps that trap odors effectively, and removing waste immediately to outdoor trash works better than storing it in indoor bins.
Nose blindness affects worried owners less
People concerned about pet odors usually maintain clean homes, while those who don't worry about smells are typically the ones with noticeable stenches.
Wash pet bedding weekly like sheets
Machine-wash pet beds and machine-washable rugs weekly, vacuum dander regularly with a robot vacuum, and avoid scented deodorizers which mask odors and can be toxic to cats.
👕 Laundry and Synthetic Fabrics 1 insight
Wash workout clothes in cold water immediately
Prevent odor buildup in synthetic fabrics by washing them immediately in cold water—never hot, which bakes in smells—turning items inside out and using high-quality detergent.
Bottom Line
Eliminate odors by cleaning the source and increasing ventilation rather than masking smells with candles or air fresheners.
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