This material comes into contact with range of people and substances while covering seat and furniture padding. The build-up of food, bodily odors and mysterious grime can leave a characteristic stench that is never easily removed.
Fortunately, there are several household remedies to lift away any odors that have found there way within upholstery. By using the below methodologies, you can be sure that the odors found within your upholstery lines furniture or automobile will be a thing of the past.
Upholstery Deodorizing Solutions
1 Sprinkle Baking Soda On
In most cases that involve built up odors within seat upholstery lining, baking soda can work wonders in alleviating the smell. This household powder has been used for decades for it’s unique capability in reducing and absorbing unwelcome odors. To apply, simply sprinkle a healthy quantity of to baking soda atop the affected upholstery and proceed to work some of the powder into the fiber.
2 White Vinegar Mixture
As another helpful household ingredient, white vinegar is fantastic at getting deep into the source of odors to neutralize them on the spot. Mix a solution of one part white vinegar with ten parts warm water within a spray bottle, and proceed to spray down the affected upholstery. Open windows within the space and provide 24-48 hours for the solution to evaporate and lift the smell away. Please note that the white vinegar will continue to smell of its characteristic aroma until it has completely evaporated away.
3 Vodka Spray Down
This alcoholic drink works great doubling as a deodorizing solution for upholstery. Pour some vodka within a clean generic spray bottle and proceed to spray down the affected upholstery until it become sufficiently wet. Open the windows within the space and allow for 203 hours to pass as the alcohol quickly evaporates off and carries the unpleasant aroma away.
4 Lemon Juice
The citric acid within lemons cut through the unwanted odor in nearly any upholstery. Mix a solution of one part lemon juice with eight parts water in a spray bottle and proceed to mist down the affected area. Open the windows within the space and provide one to two days for the lemon juice mixture that neutralize the upholstery stench and evaporate odorlessly away.
5 Enzyme Deodorizing Spray
If you can get your hands on an enzyme deodorizing spray, use it. It is available in pet stores and most large supermarkets and will work small miracles as the active enzymes within the solution literally eat though the odorous residues within the upholstery. Spray down the upholstery and provide 1-2 days for the enzymes to neutralize the odor and dry away.
6 Common Product Deodorizers
The use of household product deodorizes can often do the job on short notice. Any thing ranging from glade to febreeze will be likely to mask and often eliminate the odor that is affecting the upholstery. to apply simply spray down the affected area and open the windows to air dry.
Photo credit: Javier Cohen
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The chemical compound within bleach works well at cutting through the odorous oils within skunk spray. Mix one part bleach with eight parts water within a large 1-5 gallon tub. Proceed to pour the contents over the areas of concrete affected by the skunk spray and allow for it to sit for 5-10 minutes. Once the mixture has soaked in, proceed to spray down the concrete surface with a hose to ensure that all of the bleach related chemicals are removed from the porous surface. You can finalize this process by spraying down the surface of the concrete with a deodorizing spray of white vinegar and water mixed in equal parts within a spray bottle. As a note of precaution, bleach may cause some bleaching of colored concrete. If your colored concrete has been sprayed, it is recommend that you use one of the alternative deodorizing methods outlined below.
This deskunking concoction works by combining several household deodorizers to ensure that the skunk oil has no chance of surviving. Begin by mixing one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and one teaspoon of dish detergent within a container and add two gallons of water. Proceed to pour this foaming mixture over the surface of the concrete making sure that area affected area of the concrete is left untouched. After the solution has had 15 minutes to settle in, spray the surface down with a hose to remove all of the chemicals from the concrete. As a note of precaution, the hydrogen peroxide within this solution can potential have some bleaching effects and this solution is not recommended on colored slabs of concrete.
If you can get your hands on a gallon of enzyme cleaner, it will work to literally eat through odorous skunk spray oil within the concrete flooring. Mix the enzyme cleaner and water in equal parts and pour over the affected area of the concrete at dusk. Allow for the active enzymes within that solution to work their magic over night and the next day until the solution completely evaporates from the concrete.
If you do not have the makings to create a deskunking concoction, then using hydrogen peroxide by itself can do much to neutralize difficult skunk odors within concrete. Mix a solution one one part hydrogen peroxide with five parts water within a large container, and proceed to pour the contents over the locations of the concrete affected by skunk spray oil. Allow 30 minutes for this solution to soak in before spraying the chemical off with a garden hose. Similar to bleach, this solution is can have some bleaching effects and is not recommended for colored concrete slabs.
If the skunk spray is proving impossible to remove from the porous concrete, you may want to consider sealing the stench within the concrete. By purchasing and applying concrete sealer on the outdoor slab, you can be sure that the odor will become a thing of the past. As a note of precaution, sealing concrete is permanent and requires some know-how, so be sure to do your research before applying to your effected concrete slab.
Using motion censor lights will have the effect of making sure that skunks keep a distance from your outdoor patios. When skunks get too close, the flood lights with turn on and will naturally scare the skunks away from the locations near your home. If you are to try this preventative tip, make sure that you place lights in locations to ensure that the patio is fully lit. As well, ensure that the lights are not so powerful as to provoke the wrath of the skunks spray as a perceived threat.
It may sound strange to microwave your musty smelling book, but this can have the effect of killing the mildew spores that are causing the foul odor. The high heat within the microwave create an environment which is unlivable for the odorous mold spore. To put this solution into effect, start by microwaving your book for 15 seconds, and move on to 20, or 30 seconds if no positive effects are experience. As a note of precaution, make sure that your books do not contain any metal before placing it within the microwave as this may led to disastrous results.
Similar to microwaving, the musty smelling book can be placed within the freezer for similar results. The cold environment of the freezer will create a cold environment that the mold spore within the book will not have a chance of surviving. To use this method, place a book within a ziplock bag and place within the freezer for a minimum of 48 hours. Once two days have passed, the bag can be removed from the freezer revealing a fresh smelling book.
This natural oil also contains anti-fungal properties that will be sure to combat the smells within a musty book. Mix a solution of one part tea tree oil with ten parts water within a spray bottle. Proceed to spray within the pages with a light mist while flipping the pages. During this process, make sure that you spray a maximum of 2-3 skirts to avoid water damage. Once the tea tree oil dry the scent of the oil and the existing musty odor will cease to exist.
If you have the time, this solution can be effective at lifting away musty book odors without the need to come into contact. Place several activated charcoal briquettes within an old pair of nylon leggings and place within a small cardboard box. Proceed to add musty books within, and sealing the box closed so no air can come in our out. Finally, allow for the box to sit for 5-7 days before returning to remove the freshened books.
Musty books are best avoided by keeping books within a space where mildew is not likely to develop. Ideally, store your books within and cool, dry location with a moderate light source to avoid developing an unpleasant smell. The worst place that books can be stored are within a warm, wet and dark location similar to a basement.
Often all that is required is a soapy scrub down of the sandals outside with a hose. Using dish detergent, rub down the top side of the sandals ensuring that you have scrubbed within all of the difficult to reach cracks. Follow this by rinsing the sandals down outside with a hose and leaving them to dry within direct sunlight for the day. The soap will have the effect of removing much of the buildup as the open space, fresh air and ultraviolet rays will go to work in killing of the last of the bacteria.
In a similar fashion to white vinegar, rubbing alcohol can work to remove an unwelcome stench from flip flops. Mix a solution of one part rubbing alcohol with five parts water within a large tray and place your flip flops within it face down. The alcohol within the mixture will have the effect of killing any odorous bacteria while loosening any foot residue that may have built up. After 3-4 hour of soaking, place the sandals outside within direct sunlight to air out and dry.
The natural acid within apple cider vinegar works to strip unwanted campfire smoke related residues from the hair follicle and leave it smelling fresh. Mix a small solution of your shampoo and apple cider vinegar within a cup in equal part and bring within your shower. Although this vinegar can have a sharp smell going on, remind yourself that the odor will be gone once your hair dries. As an additional benefit, the apple cider vinegar will also leave your hair with a healthy shine.
Placing your hair up prior to a campfire can have significant impact on avoid the development of campfire odor within one’s hair. If less hair is exposed to the woodsy smoke, less smoke will have the chance of embedding campfire elements within your follicles. This is a 15-30 task that can payoff in the long run.
As an alternative to putting one’s hair up, a hoodie can be flipped up to shield hair from the odorous campfire smoke. This is almost 100% effective in maintaining fresh smelling hair for the following day and requires very little preparation time. In the end, the sweat shirt you’re will likely require a good detergent wash whether you decide to wear the hoody or out.
This detergent can come in use for deodorizing new jeans as it is specifically engineered to to eliminate unpleasant odors. Though many have claimed that it can be challenging to find with in grocery stores, it has yet to receive negative assessments within any product reviews. When using Febreze detergent within your wash cycle, you can further increase it’s effectiveness by setting the washing machine to the hottest water setting allowable by your jean’s fabric.
The chemical mixture within Oxiclean is fantastic at getting deep within clothing fiber to rid your new jeans of chemical odors. Mix Oxiclean with water as directed within a large bowl, and place the jeans within the mixture to soak for 3-4 hours. After this time period has passed you can place the new jeans through a normal detergent wash. Alternatively, Oxiclean can be added to a normal detergent wash to give it an added deodorizing boost.
If you have caught your kitten within the act on one of the cushions from your couch or sofa, gentility remove the cushion to place it outside as soon as possible. Cat urine has a way of making it’s way within the cracks of the couch and underlying furniture frames if it has enough time to soak in. By immediately removing the cushion, you will be preventing this from happening and diverting a larger problem.
If the smell of cat urine is within a piece of your furniture, it is likely that it has taken a direct hit. In such cases, you can use a blacklight to search out the spot. Close the blinds within the room, and run a black light over the affected piece of furniture. Immediately, you should be able to see a subtile grow emanating from that areas where your cat has urinated on the furniture.
On the areas that remain moistened from your cat’s urine spray it is important to press dry the spot to withdraw as much liquid as possible. Using a clean and dry hand towel, press down on these locations until all of the urine fluids have been lifted from the affected locations of the furniture.
Once much of the urine has been lifted from the location, you can proceed to pour small amounts of water onto the affected portions of the furniture to dilute the remaining residues within. After pouring water onto the upholstery and underlying furniture padding, you can proceed to blot dry the location to pull out additional urine resides from the cushioning. For best results, pour water and blot dry a second time to lift additional urine fluids out of the furniture.
Cats are creatures of comfort and often will opt to relieve their bladders in places that are close and comfortable. If the cat litter box is located on the other end of the house, you may wish to consider placing another litter box on the other corner of the household. Doing will ensure that you cat is always within close proximity to the litter box and will have no excuse not to use it. As an additional precaution, avoid placing that the box within a location that can accidentally be blocked off by a door or obstruction. If cats cannot get to their litter box, you can be sure that they will relieve themselves elsewhere.
Rewards always work better than punishments. If your cat successfully uses his litter box, be sure to provide rewards from time to time to increase it’s positive association with the act. This is especially important after the cat has misfired on you furniture as this will incentives this practice and will ensure that your cat does not get within the habit of peeing anywhere that he pleases within the house. If this problem persists, it may make sense to take you cat to the 
It is important that you remember to change bedding for you pet on schedule. Failure to change bedding on the advised basis of you pet can quickly lead to an odor developing within the cage. Once this odor develops, the cage can become increasingly challenging to clean and cause the nearby rooms to begin to smell. In short, be sure to know how often you should change you pet cage and follow it religiously.
It is important to select an area within your home that it not connected to your main living space. It is ideal if this location received some natural light and has close proximity to window that can be opened to provide fresh circulation. Mud rooms exist within many homes, and provide the perfect space for the placement of your pet’s cage.
When all else fails, you can plug in an air freshener within the same room as the pet’s cage. This will help to cover and mask any pet related odors that may develop between bedding changes and cage cleanings. As an added benefit, the room in which you run this freshener will have a pleasant and stimulation scent of your choosing.
At all costs, attempt to clean and deodorize your dog outside. Many people make the mistake of allowing their dog access within their home immediately after being sprayed. Dogs will instinctively run about the home rubbing against the walls, furniture and flooring. During this process, the skunk spray oils are gradually spread on household possessions creating a challenging interior environment to deodorize. If you smell the spray before your dog enter the home via the doggy door, your first step will be to seal the doggy door to keep you puppy outside.
Immediately after the spray make sure that all door s and windows within closed proximity to the spray are closed. Though the smell will undoubtedly still make it’s way within the home, this will help to keep the majority of the spray from entering the home. If you are going out to wash and deodorize your dog, be sure to to exist your home from a door that is not located by the area of the house where the dog was sprayed.
When the above methods have failed to remove the lingering smell of skunk within the household, using an ozone machine within your household is a sure-fire way to remove the difficult odor. Ozone machine can cost up to 500 dollars to rent, but they often are the last line of defense in eliminating skunk odors within households. They work by removing all of the oxygen from the enclosed space to eliminate odors where they sit. As a note of precaution, they can be very dangerous if improperly used, and it is important after use to return oxygen the home by opening all doors and windows for a minimum of an hour before going back within the home.
This handy device can be used in cases where the air conditioner within the household has been affected by the skunk spray. Once skunk spray gets within an air conditioner, it can work to perpetually spread the odor throughout the house for days and weeks following the incident. Placing an ozone bulb within the air conditioner can work to sterilize and freshen the air passing through it. Although the bulbs can cost upwards of 400 dollars, it remains an effective solution for rescuing your air conditioner and returning fresh air within your household.
It may sound silly, but rubbing a stainless steel utensil under cold running water is a tested method that works to remove that smell of garlic from one’s hands. Turning on the faucet, and rubbing for a minimum of 20-30 seconds has a somewhat mysterious molecular reaction that combats the odorous garlic oils. Allow though any stainless steel utensil will work for this home remedy, a stainless steel spoon is recommended because you are less likely to poke yourself while rubbing.
Rubbing an ice cube under cold water will have a similar effect as using a stainless steel utensil. Grab a large cube of ice and rub the interior of you palms and fingers under the faucet. If melting takes place simply continue with a new cube until you have rubbed all affected areas over the course of 60-90 seconds. The cold water will have the effect of tightening your pores within your hand while the water and friction from the ice cube loosens the oils and washes it away.
This solution works in the same fashion that it eliminates and makes sprayed oil from a skunk’s behind. Although opening a can of tomato juice may not be warranted for removing garlic smell from hands, this is nonetheless effective at eliminating garlic oil odor. Splash palms and finger with tomato juice and rub through hands for 10-15 seconds over the sink. Once complete, rinse hands under faucet and enjoy freshened hands for the rest of your day.
Rubbing salt between palms under cold water can have the effect of wiping out garlic odor within one’s hands. Pour 1-2 teaspoon of salt in hands and rub between palms and fingers for a total of 30-60 seconds under a cold faucet. It is important that enough salt is poured prior to washing to avoid the salt be liquid and carried away prematurely.
Many claim that using olive oil to helps diffuse the natural garlic oils and remove the smells from one’s hands. Pour a teaspoon of olive oil in hands and rub between palms and fingers for 30 seconds. After this time has passed, place hands under a cold running faucet and wash with dish detergent to remove both type of oil.
This method may not completely remove the garlic odor from your palms, but many stand by it’s ability to mask the stench within your hands. Select a small bunch of parsley and wad up and rub between palms and fingers for 45-60 seconds. The fiber will work to strip some of the garlic oils while the parsley juices cover up the garlic smell.
As a preventative method, latex gloves can be worn prior to handling garlic cloves. It can be a bit of a hassle to if you regularly find yourself cooking with garlic cloves, however it is 100 percent sure to keep garlic oils off of your hands. Warning: If you are serving to any one who may potentially have latex allergies, you may need to go without using this preventative method.
This product solution works under the same principle used while rubbing a steal utensil under cold water. The increased benefit of rubbing stainless steel within bar form is that it will allow for faster deodorizing due to it’s ability to come in contact with more areas of your palms and fingers.