4 Tips for Short-Term Odor Removal

When it comes to dealing with unwanted odors, you will find a wide variety of DIY solutions out there. And the truth is that a few of those solutions can be really great for short-term odor relief. Odor removal is often more complicated than just wiping something away or setting out a bowl of vinegar. 

What you will find is that these DIY methods help with odors, but they don’t eradicate them completely. In this guide, we will share some short-term removal options that you can use on your own. Just keep in mind that for harsh odors, such as smoke or pet odors, you will eventually need to use a professional to really get rid of the smell. 

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a unique tool that does a great job of helping to absorb odors in a small space. It won’t be permanent, but it’s still useful for helping with short-term odor removal or spot treating an issue (like a pet accident). 

Baking soda was designed to absorb odors, which is why most people open the soda box and place it in their fridges. While it is a baking ingredient, it is also very useful for odors. Baking soda is one of the few things that actually tries to work on the particles that are causing the odor, which is why it can be effective. 

The soda works against both acidic and basic odor molecules to help absorb the odor from them and remove immediate odor. When you use this, we recommend sprinkling it down, letting it work for 30-60 minutes, and then vacuuming several times. 

You may have to repeat the process from time to time until you bring in professionals for a permanent solution. 

2. Vinegar

Vinegar is another of the most common odor removal tactics for DIY solutions. Much like baking soda, you can’t expect it to handle big odor issues or be permanent. But it can help reduce odors or work in small spaces. You can use this solution until you’re able to hire professional cleaners. 

Vinegar works in its own unique way as well. It is an odor neutralizer and best to use when you have alkaline odors to deal with. Alkaline odors most often come from foods or cooking odors. 

In most cases, for those alkaline odors, they are odors that are in the air from cooking. So you would add some vinegar to a bowl and allow it to neutralize the stink. It will take time to work, but is effective for the right odors. 

3. Oats or Oatmeal

One DIY solution that a lot of people don’t realize is using oats or oatmeal. Again, this will be a short-term or small spot treatment solution. What happens when you add moisture to oats? The oats absorb it. 

Oats have a similar effect with some smells too. Usually, this might work when you have a smell that is related to some sort of moisture spot. Some people might use it where a spill occurred, or where water has been. You might also be able to use it some for pet accidents, but it will be limited here. 

Sprinkle the oats over the trouble spot and allow them to absorb. Then, clean it all up and dry it out. Place oats again and leave them for a while. They will absorb some of the odors and then you can dispose of them. 

Like the other methods shared here, this is best for small spots or problem areas and will not provide permanent results. 

4. Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are the final home remedy we want to mention. Coffee is an odor absorber that will work like things like baking soda or oats. It can help to quickly absorb small or insignificant odors. 

The use of coffee grounds to absorb odors is most common with things like a spill or maybe even when you have rotting or spoiled food odors. You can place some coffee grounds in an open container in the fridge or on the counter to help absorb nearby odors. 

Know When to Call a Professional for Odor Removal

While these DIY solutions are all effective for minor and short-term treatments, what they all have in common is that they won’t work forever and they won’t treat big odor issues. These solutions are best for spot treating and will only go so far. 

When you’re facing something like smoke odors, extensive pet odors, or even gas and fume odors, these solutions likely won’t cut it. And if they do help, it will just be a short-term fix. 

Let ONEighty Solutions Help with Your Odor Removal Needs

Here at ONEighty Solutions, we use a specialized nano-technology cleaning system called BioSweep. It’s specially designed to eliminate odors by attacking the particles and molecules that are causing the odors to begin with. They don’t just clean the area, but remove the source of the odor issue. 

Contact us today if you have major odors that you need help getting rid of!