Eliminate bad smells in your home - for good!
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you choose to make a purchase through a link I provide, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than walking into your home and being greeted by a lingering, unpleasant odor. Whether it's a funky fridge, musty carpet, or a mysteriously stinky sink, bad smells don’t just appear. They’re trying to tell you something. And no, spraying air freshener or lighting a scented candle isn’t the solution. That only masks the smell. If you want to eliminate bad odors in your home permanently, you have to find the source and neutralize it.
In this ultimate guide, I’m breaking down the most common odor hotspots in your home, and telling you exactly how to clean them, so those nasty smells stay gone for good. Let’s get your home smelling fresh and clean, the right way.
1. Kitchen Sink & Garbage Disposal
Why it smells: Food particles, grease, and bacteria build up in your sink drain and garbage disposal over time, causing that sour, rotten smell.
How to fix it:
Deodorize the Disposal: Grind up lemon or orange peels with ice cubes to clean and freshen blades. You can also make ice cubes with vinegar and use these to clean and freshen the blades.
Use Enzyme Cleaners: For persistent odors, use enzyme-based drain cleaners that break down organic matter naturally. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day has a great probiotic enzyme cleaner for drains.
Use Cleaning Tablets: These are what I use every couple of weeks.
Clean Under the Splash Guard: This is key! Most people don’t realize how much built up gunk there is under there. Some sinks you can remove the splash guard to clean. This brush makes it easy for splash guards that can’t be removed.
Use natural deodorizer: Lightly sprinkle Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth into the disposal and drain trap - this is a natural deodorizer and kills drain flies.
What not to do:
Combine baking soda and vinegar - these two items counteract each other and only make a cool chemical reaction but don’t actually clean anything when combined.
Leave food sitting in the sink or disposal - always rinse and always run the disposal to ensure that food is getting down the drain
2. Trash Can (and Trash Compactor)
Why it smells: Residue from leaky trash bags, food waste, and bacteria festering in the base.
How to fix it:
Clean Monthly: Scrub with dish soap, hot water, and a splash of white vinegar.
Deodorize: Place kitty litter, a dryer sheet, or odor eliminating gel at the bottom before lining with a new bag.
Charcoal Magic: Use activated charcoal pouches inside the lid for constant odor control.
3. Mattress
Why it smells: Sweat, skin cells, and moisture can make your mattress a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
How to fix it:
Vacuum Regularly: Use a HEPA vacuum with an upholstery attachment.
Baking Soda Treatment: Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda, let sit for at least 30 minutes, then vacuum thoroughly.
Sun Exposure: When possible, air your mattress out in the sun to naturally kill bacteria and freshen it.
4. Carpet & Rugs
Why it smells: Spills, pet accidents, and trapped moisture contribute to odors in carpets.
How to fix it:
Deep Clean Every 3-6 Months: Use a carpet cleaner or hire a pro.
DIY Deodorizer: Mix 1 cup baking soda with 10 drops of essential oil (optional), sprinkle on carpet, leave for an hour, then vacuum.
Natural Deodorizer: Buy a natural deodorizer and sprinkle on carpet, leave for an hour, then vacuum.
Spot Treat: Use white vinegar and water (1:1 ratio) on odor-prone areas, or use an enzyme cleaner for all spills to ensure nothing is left behind to begin to smell.
5. Sofa & Upholstery
Why it smells: Sweat, pets, food spills, and dust all settle into your furniture.
How to fix it:
Vacuum Weekly: Use upholstery tools to remove surface debris. Be sure to remove cushions and use crevice tool to get into nooks and crannies.
Baking Soda Freshen-Up: Sprinkle, wait, and vacuum - just like with your mattress.
Fabric Spray: Use a natural enzyme spray that targets odors instead of covering them up.
Washing: If you can remove and wash your covers, do that. If you can’t, steam cleaning is a great alternative.
Sun Exposure: When possible, air your mattress out in the sun to naturally kill bacteria and freshen it.
6. Refrigerator
Why it smells: Expired and spilled food, mold, and moisture buildup.
How to fix it:
Declutter Weekly: Toss expired items and wipe down shelves with a vinegar-water solution.
Deodorize Naturally: Keep an open box of baking soda or use what I love, activated charcoal, inside.
Don’t Forget the Drip Tray: If you have one, clean the defrost tray under the fridge - t’s a hidden odor bomb!
7. Washing Machine
Why it smells: Mold and mildew thrive in damp, dark places like front-loading washers.
How to fix it:
Monthly Maintenance Cycle: Run a hot cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar. Run another cycle with a cleaning tablet. This ensures full cleaning of the drum, hoses, and other internal compartments.
Wipe Seals & Drums: Don’t forget the rubber gasket - clean it weekly and wipe out whenever you see excessive moisture. If mold has already built up, remove it easily with a mold removal gel.
Leave the Door Open: Let it dry out between washes. Use this handy tool to keep the door cracked the perfect amount to maximize air flow.
8. Diaper Pail
Why it smells: It’s a diaper pail. Enough said.
How to fix it:
Daily Deodorizer: Add a sprinkle of baking soda or a deodorizing pod as necessary..
Scrub Down: Clean inside with warm, soapy water and vinegar.
Line Smart: Use scented liners or double-bag to trap odors better.
Poop Bags: When the used diaper is #2, use a poop bag first, then throw it in the diaper pail. These bags are amazing for travel as well when you don’t have access to a diaper pail and have to use the regular trash can.
9. Bathroom Sink Drain
Why it smells: Hair, beard trimmings, soap scum, and toothpaste form a smelly sludge in your bathroom sink drain.
How to fix it:
Drain Foam: This cleaner works wonders.
Boiling Water Flush: Pour boiling water down the drain once a week to keep things fresh.
10. Toilet (Even if it Looks Clean)
Why it smells: Urine splashes, mold in the bowl, or unseen grime behind the toilet base.
How to fix it:
Clean Behind & Around: Don’t forget the floor and base.
Use a Toilet Bomb: Drop in a mix of baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils for odor-fighting power, or buy this pre-made bomb.
Deodorize the Bowl: Use these discs in the tank help reduce odor buildup.
Enzyme Cleaners: Like I always recommend, enzyme cleaners actually clean and eliminate the odor, they don’t just mask it.
Toilet Tank Cleaner Tablet: Be sure to use one without bleach, as bleach can break down the tank components and cause serious issues.
Bonus Tip: Control Humidity
Moisture is the enemy of a fresh-smelling home. Use a dehumidifier in damp areas, especially basements, to prevent mold and musty odors. Add charcoal deodorizers in closets and laundry rooms for extra protection.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Mask the Smell - Eliminate It!
Covering up odors with air fresheners and sprays may work temporarily, but it doesn't solve the real problem. Real odor control starts with finding and eliminating the source. Regular maintenance and natural deodorizing methods like baking soda, activated charcoal, vinegar, and enzyme cleaners are your best friends in the fight for a fresh-smelling home.
Remember: If your house smells clean, it probably is clean. And if it doesn’t, it’s time to find out why.
Want More Cleaning Recs?
Ready to clean the rest of your house? These are my cleaning product recommendations for your home, the best floor cleaner, the best mold removers, and the best vacuums.
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