Methods to Absorb Smells
- Baking soda may qualify as the most versatile odor absorber around. A plastic container full of baking soda with holes punched in the lid absorbs rotten smells in the refrigerator. Clothes and other smaller items that retain a stench are cured when placed in a bag of baking powder, shaken and left alone for several days. This method is particularly useful with smoke-damaged goods. Baking soda also works wonders on smelly shoes when sprinkled liberally inside them and left overnight. Dump the baking soda before you wear the shoes to avoid making white puffs of powder with each step.
- It may leave sooty black stains on all it touches, but charcoal is an excellent odor absorber. It is used in water filters to strain out bad flavors, and you can use it in your home for bad smells. Left in the refrigerator or freezer for a few days, a few briquettes will absorb unseemly odors. Place them on a plate to minimize the cleanup of black smudges. Put some in a container with holes punched in the lid to absorb odors in other enclosed spaces, such as a car trunk.
- Coffee aficionados know never to leave their beans unsealed in the refrigerator. That is because coffee beans eagerly absorb the smell of things around them. Take advantage of this by placing fresh-ground coffee in a dish to absorb odors in a room or your refrigerator. The grounds are also effective at removing smoky smells when placed in a bag with the smoky item and left overnight. Repeat the process as needed.
- Vinegar is particularly useful to cut down on cooking odors when you prepare fish or other particularly strong-scented items. Place a bowl of vinegar on the counter next to the stove and it will absorb your cooking smells. Use a spray bottle to mist stinky items with vinegar and let them air dry. The smell will evaporate with the vinegar, though the sour smell of vinegar will take a few more days to dissipate.