How to Get Odors Out of Fabrics and Furniture Naturally

Pets, perfumes, cigarettes and our own bodies often leave unwanted odors on our clothes, carpets, upholstery and bed sheets. Unfortunately, many synthesized or chemical odor eliminators leave behind even stronger odors as well as possibly harmful residues. Several simple, common products generally found in the home, including vinegar and baking soda, may be the natural and economical answers to your odor problem. Always test fabrics in an unseen area for colorfastness before applying any type of odor eliminator to a larger area.

Baking soda
Vacuum
Water
Rags or paper towels
Vinegar
Spray bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Sprinkle baking soda on smelly upholstered furniture and carpets. Let sit for 10 minutes. Vacuum thoroughly.
- 2
  Dilute odorous stains in carpets such as pet or baby urine stains with water. Blot up the excess urine with rags or paper towels. Sprinkle white distilled vinegar over the stain. Let sit for a few minutes. Blot up with a clean towel and let dry. Repeat, if necessary, on stubborn stains.
- 3
  Add a half cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar to the washer's final rinse cycle to eliminate odors on sheets, towels and other washable fabrics.
- 4
  Spray white distilled vinegar directly on especially odorous fabrics. Although vinegar has a strong scent of its own, it eliminates the odors and leaves no scent behind after it dries.
- 5
  Fill the tub with about two inches of very hot water. Add about four cups of vinegar. Hang delicate and washer-sensitive clothing in the bathroom and close the door, allowing the vinegar-laden steam about six hours to eliminate odors trapped in the fabric. This technique works well to remove cigarette smoke odors.
- 6
  Absorb overall room odors with about four tablespoons of baking soda or one cup of vinegar in an open dish. Remove the dish and discard the contents when odors have been eliminated.

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