How to Remove Odor from Household Items

Table of Contents:

Removing the Odor
Additional Tips and Advice
Sources

Christina said, “How do you remove the odour off of things in general that you have left downstairs in the cellar because there wasn’t enough space when we moved in? Most things in the cellar are in plastic storage boxes.”

Every now and then, things need deodorizing. Thankfully there are some natural deodorizers that most households either already have or can easily get for cheap. Read through the steps below and follow the instructions to deodorize your knickknacks or other household items.

Removing the Odor

You Will Need:

A cloth
A vacuum with a brush attachment
A bag or container
Baking soda
Borax
White vinegar

Steps to Remove the Odor:

If the item can be wiped with a camp cloth or rubbed with a vacuum brush, put it in a bag. Pour either baking soda or borax into the bag, and shake the bag to cover the smelly item with the powder. Let the item stay in the sealed bag with the powder overnight, then brush off or wipe off the powder the next day.¹
If the item cannot be wiped with a damp cloth or rubbed with a vacuum brush, get a container that is large enough to hold the item, as well as a bowl, and can be sealed. Pour either baking soda,² borax,¹ or some white vinegar into the bowl and set it in the container. Put the smelly item in the container next to the bowl. Seal the container and leave it overnight.²
If the odor is not removed after the first time using one of the above methods, repeat the process with a fresh batch of deodorizer as many times as needed for the odor to be removed.

Additional Tips and Advice

Keep in mind that when using a very fine powder, such as baking soda, you might not be able to remove all of it from the surface. If there is a lot of texture or crevices on the surface of the item, or even if the item is fabric, you may want to stick with the method that does not require it to touch the powder.
We have found that Arm & Hammer brand baking soda works better for removing odors than some other baking soda brands.
Borax might work better than baking soda for musty odors.¹
Coffee grounds can be used instead of baking soda, however, keep in mind that they could stain certain items and also will leave a coffee smell on the item.