Simple Cleaning Tips to Remove Bad Odours in Your Home

How to Remove Odours from Your Home

September 15, 2025

No matter how clean a home looks, bad odours will still make it feel dirty. Bad smells can linger in carpets, fabrics, and hidden areas, making them even more difficult to clean. Mould, mildew, bacteria, and allergens often bring foul smells with them, too.

Thankfully, most home odours can be removed using common items you probably already have. Let's look at some common sources of bad smells that might be found in your home, and then look at how to get rid of odours in a house with everyday household items.

Common Causes of Household Odours

Most household odours are caused by normal, everyday occurrences that can build up over time. Even with regular cleaning, these smells can linger and spread if not dealt with quickly and properly.

Pets and Litter Boxes

We love our furry friends, but bad smells from their litter boxes, accidents around the house, and wet hair can easily linger.

Garbage and Waste

Garbage, compost, and recycling bins are also major contributors. Even when emptied regularly, residue and moisture left behind can create bad smells.

Fabrics and Upholstery

Fabrics like carpets, upholstery, and curtains absorb smells, especially smoke from cigarettes, fireplaces, and cooking, and without cleaning, and those odours can linger for weeks.

Kitchen Cooking Odours

Kitchens are one of the most common sources of household odours. Grease buildup on stovetops, range hoods, and countertops can trap strong smells, especially when preparing pungent foods like fish, garlic, or onions.

Mould and Mildew Odours

Damp bathrooms, basements, and kitchens with poor ventilation can make easy breeding grounds for mould and mildew. These are perhaps the worst types of odours because, in addition to smelling awful, inhaling mould and mildew spores can be hazardous to your health.

Natural DIY Solutions to Get Rid of Bad Odours

Thankfully, there are some easy solutions that can help you get rid of those bad odours. Let's look at a few easy ways to remove odours in a house.

Ventilation and Recirculation of Air

Ventilation is key, which is why windows and doors should be opened daily to let in fresh air and release stale odours. Running ceiling fans can help move air throughout the home, while exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms push moisture and smells outside. An air purifier with a HEPA filter can also make a big difference by trapping particles, allergens, and lingering odours that fresh air can't do.

Baking soda

Baking soda also works great at absorbing smells. A small, open box should be placed in refrigerators, freezers, and closets. You can also sprinkle it onto carpets, let it sit, and vacuum it up. A little bit in the washing machine will give you fresher clothes and towels.

Vinegar

Vinegar can be used to clear out smells in several ways. A little bit of white vinegar down the drain can clear away any buildup that's causing bad smells. It can also be placed in an empty dishwasher or washing machine to remove lingering odours. Mix a little bit with some water to help clean sinks, drains, and counters.

Charcoal Odour Absorbers

Charcoal, especially activated charcoal, is a game-changer when it comes to getting out foul odours. It's typically available in jars or small fabric bags. They can be placed in closets, basements, bathrooms, and cars to clear out lingering odours. It works even better than baking soda for stubborn odours, although it's less common in homes.

Essential Oils

A few drops of essential oil in a diffuser will make your home smell great. Mixed with water, it becomes the perfect natural spray for curtains and upholstery. Mixed with baking soda, it can deodorize rugs and carpets.

Houseplants

If you're looking for a natural, low-maintenance way to freshen up rooms that adds to the décor instead of distracting, consider a houseplant. Peace lilies, spider plants, and Boston ferns look great and help filter air. Mint, rosemary, basil, and other herbs also double as natural deodorizers.

Room-by-Room Tips to Keep Odours Away

Different rooms will naturally require different solutions, so here's a step-by-step guide to help make sure every room in your home smells amazing.

Kitchen: Make sure your refrigerator and range hoods are cleaned regularly. If you have a garbage disposal, it should be deodorized at least once per week. Trash bins should be washed regularly, too, as those odours can linger a long time.

Bathroom: Toilets and sinks should be scrubbed at least once a week, but potentially more often if you have frequent guests or many people living under the same roof. Bathmats and shower curtains are prone to mould and mildew, so they should be cleaned regularly. Moisture absorbers should be used as often as possible, too. Check the sink and shower drains for clogs regularly.

Living Room/Carpets: These should be vacuumed frequently (especially if you have pets, when you may want to do it every day). Throws and covers can house questionable scents and should be washed often, too. A thorough deep clean should also be conducted when possible.

Bedrooms: Bedding should be washed at least once per week, or more often if odours are present. Mattresses should be freshened frequently, too. All closets should have some form of odour absorption, like baking soda, activated charcoal, or essential oils combined with the other two.

Laundry Room/Basement: Washing machines should be checked for odours regularly and cleaned by running vinegar on an empty cycle when necessary. You'll also want to check for leaks, as damp spots can lead to mildew or mould. If you have a dehumidifier, this is a great place to let it run regularly.

Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh

When it comes to odours, it's always a good idea to identify and remove the source, instead of simply masking it with a spray scent like Febreze or other aerosolized air fresheners.

You don't need to break the bank or reserve room in your home for an armful of cleaners, either, as simple items most people already have lying around can often get rid of odours in a house quickly and effectively.

By following our handy DIY guide on how to remove household odours, you can make sure that your family, friends, and guests will love walking through the door and smelling nice, clean air, instead of mumbling to themselves about how bad the litter box in the bathroom has become.

Freshen Your Home with Luxoclean

If you aren't a fan of DIY cleaning, don't have time, or have stubborn odours that you can't seem to get out on your own, consider calling a professional cleaning company like Luxoclean. Our cleaning experts can remove any foul scents or unpleasant odours at businesses, homes, apartments, and more in Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, and the surrounding areas. Schedule your next cleaning appointment with Luxoclean today!