Buzz
Instead of masking odors, you can effectively eliminate them. We’ve previously shared how a simple bowl of vinegar can freshen up a room, but this method can be scaled up to deodorize your entire home with a bit more effort: gently simmering vinegar on your stove amplifies its odor-neutralizing capabilities.
If you don’t already stock a large bottle of vinegar, you might want to start once you discover its versatility for cooking, cleaning, and eliminating odors. Our focus here is on odor removal, as many store-bought products only mask smells rather than completely eradicating them, leaving spaces smelling neutral and fresh.
While vinegar’s strong scent can be off-putting—even nauseating to some—its odor vanishes completely once it dissipates, taking other lingering smells with it. Even accidental spills lose their pungency quickly, making vinegar an affordable, simple, and powerful solution for tackling stubborn odors.
If unpleasant odors have turned your home into a less-than-pleasant environment, or if yesterday’s cooking aromas are still lingering, simply pour a cup of white vinegar into a saucepan and let it simmer on your stove. As the vinegar heats, it releases its odor-neutralizing properties into the air, and over time, it can freshen up your entire house. For targeted results, you can carry the steaming pot from room to room. Initially, the vinegar scent will be strong, but it will soon fade, leaving behind a completely neutral and odor-free space.
