How to Eliminate Odors With Vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar is safer and cheaper than using commercial products and has many advantages. Vinegar is biodegradable, relatively nontoxic and safe to handle, plus it has a pleasant clean smell.

1. Use a teaspoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of vinegar and 1 pint of water. Mix together. When the liquid stops foaming, pour it into a spray bottle. Mist the air. For a more aromatic air freshener, add ¼ ounce of sage, rosemary or mint. Allow the solution to sit in a warm place for about a week. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle. You may use cider vinegar, but do not spray it on fabric or porous material as it could stain.

2. A bowl or dish of white vinegar left out in a freshly painted room will absorb the odor. You can also use vinegar to clean any surfaces you intend to paint to reduce the chance of peeling or cracking.

3. Some of the best tasting foods produce the worst odors while cooking. Fish and fried foods can be especially odorous. White vinegar can quickly solve that problem. Boil a teaspoon of white vinegar in ½ pint of water to remove unpleasant cooking odors.

4. To remove the smell of animal urine, simply blot up the area with a cotton cloth and wash with warm water. Apply mixture of equal parts cool water and white vinegar. Allow the solution to stand for 30 seconds to a minute and then blot the area. Allow it to dry naturally.

5. Ridding the air of stale smoke or perfumes is quite easy with a simple mixture. Visitors that smoke or wear strong perfumes can leave a residual odor, even if they are not smoking in your home. A mixture or 1 teaspoon of vinegar to a pint of water, kept in a hand sprayer can quickly neutralize the odor after you guest has left.

6. Sometimes a person gets sick and doesn’t quite make it to the restroom in time. Its gross but it also happens, especially if you have children. Clean the area with an equal parts vinegar and water mixture. Place a bowl or dish of water in the area and leave it overnight. If this occurs in a car, follow the same guidelines but leave the bowl in with the windows up and the doors closed overnight.