One of the world’s worst smells comes from the corpse flower. The rare tropical plant attracts flies with the putrid stench of rotting flesh. Only slightly less gross: a recent mystery odor in my apartment. How could it be? My home typically smells like a mix of night-blooming jasmine, printer toner and locally sourced cortisol. But now the top note was fried fish.
Luckily, I’ve spent much of my career writing about home dilemmas — and have access to sparkling expert advice — so figuring out how to get rid of bad smells in my house was just a matter of talking to the right people. I asked cleaning pros: Could I, say, spray some air freshener and continue watching Andor? A gentle mist of chemicals and Diego Luna to purify my galaxy?
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Bad idea, says Logan Taylor, founder of Dazzle Cleaning Company. “Attempting to cover a bad smell with a good one almost never works,” he warns. The only solution to indoor odors and musty smells: Find, then eliminate. Let’s sniff out common culprits, plus products that banish the funk. But first, open a window.
Related: Secrets to a good-smelling entryway | How to make your house smell good all the time
Culprit 1: The sink
A cartoon toucan named Sam once gave me a great tip. “Follow your nose,” he said. “It always knows!” Does your nose lead to the kitchen sink even though it looks clean? If so, the stink may be in your drain. Time for an enzyme-based cleaner. “Enzymes gobble up whatever is sticking to the drain and pipes causing the smell,” says Taylor.
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Probiotics aren’t just good for your gut health. They can also promote the growth of good bacteria in your drain, which helps break down the buildup left by food, soap and dirt. Taylor likes this Mrs. Meyer’s cleaner because “it works really well and comes in lovely fresh scents.”
Culprit 2: The garbage disposal
As you read this, bits of ancient take-out meals are decomposing in your garbage disposal. Sadly, you’re gonna have to clean it. (Turn off the power first, please!) Robin Murphy, president of home cleaning service Maid Brigade, uses a scouring stone, then after the area dries, she reaches for diatomaceous earth. The pest control standby has a secret superpower: It absorbs lingering smells and moisture.
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How about sloshing buckets of vinegar into the disposal like a deranged Fantasia broomstick? Don’t do that. Calmly prep ice cubes made of distilled white vinegar and sliced up lemon. (Remove the peels — they aren’t great for disposals.) After they’re frozen, turn the disposal back on and grind a few cubes. “This deodorizes, freshens, and helps maintain the blades,” notes Murphy. A super-fast alternative: Plain ice cubes and a splash of lemon juice.
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This pumice stone-like stick is actually made from recycled glass, but it works much the same way, gently buffing lime stains from nearly any porcelain surface. Murphy says it’s a go-to for dealing with disposals: “It gently scrubs build-up around the disposal trash guard and drain ring, both common sources of odors,” she says.
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Murphy says to sprinkle the diatomaceous earth lightly into the disposal’s mouth and drain traps. This bag comes with a little container with an extension nozzle that makes the application easy.
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A clean freak’s best friend, distilled white vinegar can help deodorize, dissolve stains left by hard water and kill some bacteria. Look for a 5% concentration, and plan to dilute it even more for most uses, other than the cubes above.
Culprit 3: The trash can
Trash stinks, but scented trash bags often smell worse. Instead, Murphy suggests popping a reusable activated charcoal odor absorber in the bin. Or, sprinkle unscented clay kitty litter or coffee grounds at the bottom of your trash can, where they will suck up moisture and musty odors. “Coffee grounds are super porous and absorb bad smells,” says Taylor. “The yummy coffee scent is just a bonus!” Let the grounds dry first, then put a tablespoon or two into a mesh bag or old (clean) sock and place at the bottom of your bin.
If the bin still smells deeply offensive, “I’d pop that puppy in the bathtub and give it a full scrub down,” said Taylor. Hot, soapy water followed by baking soda did the trick for my trash can (which reeked of fried Atlantic pollock). But check your particular bin’s care instructions before cleaning — especially for fancy models.
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Tuck one of these little pouches in the bottom of your trash bin or under the lid, says Murphy. They’re impressively effective — just ask the 11,500-plus shoppers who gave them a five-star rating.
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For cleaning purposes, we like baking soda shakers over the small boxes you see in the grocery store. The bottles are resealable, plus they make sprinkling the stuff easy — no clumps!
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Between trash can cleanings, put a used or fresh dryer sheet under the liner as a “light scent buffer,” says Murphy. These are made with essential oils for a lasting, soothing fragrance. Avoid anything too flowery, which can sometimes make food and garbage odors even worse!
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Murphy also likes this plant-based gel to neutralize tough odors. Simply open the jar and place it in your trash area or other problem spots like closets and bathrooms. It’s commercial-grade and has earned the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice label, which means its ingredients meet strict safety criteria for human health and the environment.
Culprit 4: The refrigerator
A common mistake when your fridge stinks is placing an odor absorber (like baking soda) in there and hoping for the best. “If spills, spoiled food, or mold remain, the odor will persist,” says Murphy. You must start by thoroughly cleaning your fridge. After that, a bowl of baking soda, coffee grounds or even plain, dry oatmeal can help keep food smells away.
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Taylor relies on this “awesome” little gadget for keeping his fridge fresh-smelling. “It’s made of activated charcoal, which just sucks bad smells right up,” he says.
He’s not the only fan: More than 6,000 fellow odor fighters have given this five stars on Amazon. “Saved our freezer!” raved one devotee. “Our freezer turned off in the garage but we didn’t notice. No idea how long it had been, but smelled something awful. Once we realized all our buffalo meat and salmon had thawed, we quickly got to work cleaning up the mess. I’ll never forget the smell!! After hours and hours, it still smelled awful. I bought these, and after two days, the smell was gone! Shocking and would highly recommend!”
Culprit 5: The sofa
Sitting surrounded by stench? Yuck — but if you notice bad odors lingering even after addressing all the above areas, your sofa or other upholstered furniture may be to blame. Pets, cigarette smoke and moisture can all cause musty smells in upholstery, but that doesn’t mean you need to kick your couch to the curb.
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Start the cleaning process by vacuuming: Remove the cushions and use a crevice tool to get into every nook and cranny of the frame. Then, vacuum the cushions and pillows themselves, paying special attention to the seams. (For extra odor-fighting power, sprinkle baking soda over the upholstery and let it sit for about 30 minutes before vacuuming.) If you can wash your cushion covers, go for it; otherwise consider a steam cleaner. And don’t underestimate the power of sunlight, which naturally kills bacteria. An hour outside can totally refresh couch cushions. Just don’t leave them in direct sun for too long or the fabric could fade.
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This sleek model took top honors in our guide to the best cordless stick vacuums, thanks to its easy setup, HEPA filter and LCD display. At only 6 pounds, it was one of the lightest vacs we tested, but it had one of the biggest dust cups. Just note it comes with only one attachment, but it serves as both a brush and a crevice tool, and you can purchase additional accessories without breaking the bank.
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Our favorite steam cleaner for upholstery comes recommended by both editors and pros: “I use it to clean all types of fabrics throughout the house — my living room furniture, dining room chairs and carpets,” says MaidPro franchise owner Andrea Ponce.
If you use the cleaning solution that comes with the steamer, test it in a small, hidden spot, advises Ponce, to make sure it doesn’t damage your upholstery.
Culprit 6: The mattress
We hate to break it to you, but if you tend to sleep hot, your sweat may be giving your mattress a musty odor. Accidents and pets can also create a funk that can be hard to remove, especially because you can’t exactly toss your mattress into the washing machine. You can treat it much like upholstery — sprinkle with baking soda, then vacuum, or spot treat if needed (just make sure not to soak the fabric, or you could end up with a mattress that also smells of mildew. It’s a vicious cycle!). If you don’t have an upholstery cleaner, a garment steamer can come in handy for giving your mattress a quick refresh.
For extra deodorizing, lightly spritz the mattress with one part distilled white vinegar to one part water and let air dry. You can mix in a few drops of essential oils to help counteract the vinegary smell, which may be strong at first — but rest assured, will fade. Once your cleaning mission is complete, use a machine-washable mattress cover to protect your investment long-term from stench and stains.
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You’ll need a home for those cleaning potions you mix up, and reusable glass bottles are far friendlier than old plastic spray bottles. These have a silicone sleeve to protect them, and they come in two colors so you don’t confuse your vinegar deodorizer, say, with your countertop cleaner.
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This little set includes all the classics, and it gets nearly 15,000 five-star ratings, with shoppers raving about the oils’ strength and quality. For bedding, stick to the more soothing fragrances, like lavender and eucalyptus, versus zesty or energizing ones, such as peppermint, lemongrass or orange.
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This small-but-mighty gadget is the best handheld steamer for clothes — just ask Zachary Pozniak, a fourth-generation dry cleaner and author of The Laundry Book. “It heats up really quickly, is quite light given that it’s an all-in-one handheld system and there is minimal ‘spitting’ (when the water comes out in large drops, which can cause water rings),” he says.
It also works wonders on mattresses, packing 1,875 watts of steaming power for killing 99.9% of bacteria.
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When we interviewed Airbnb hosts about must-haves for protecting their beds, this Linenspa mattress encasement rose to the top of the list. It’s waterproof and noiseless and comes in seven sizes, from twin to California king. More than 14,700 serene sleepers have given it a five-star rating.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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