Lingering household odors can be frustrating to get rid of, but they don't have to be! You don't even have to buy a lot of expensive cleaning products either. Here are a few simple tips for getting rid of those pesky household odors in a snap, leaving you with more time to do the things you would rather be doing.

* You can use lemon juice to get rid of odors like fish, onion, garlic and spaghetti sauce from hands, cooking utensils and pans. You can even use lemon juice on a wet dish rag to wipe your counter tops and cutting blocks down to remove any lingering odors.

* Grinding up any citrus peel while running hot water into your garbage disposal will remove any lingering odors wafting up from it.

* Keeping a box of baking soda in your refrigerator and in your freezer will absorb any odors from your appliances, leaving them smelling clean and fresh. You can also place a box of baking soda in your bathrooms behind the toilet to remove any odors that might arise there.

* You can toss a tablespoon of baking soda onto any nasty spill in your refrigerator or freezer to absorb some of the mess and cut any odors the spill itself might cause. You can also do this in your bathroom or on any smooth surface.

* Use a cup of vinegar in your washing machine when doing a load of laundry to remove any odors from clothing and from the washing machine itself. You can also boil about a half a cup of vinegar with two cups of water on your stovetop to remove pesky, lingering odors in your kitchen.

* Placing a cotton ball soaked in pure vanilla extract in a small saucer and placing it anywhere in your home or even your car will eliminate odors and freshen the air, giving it a sweetened scent.

* You can remove almost any odor from your home by boiling cinnamon and cloves in about two cups of water. This will not only eliminate lingering odors, but freshen the air in your home as well.

* Placing a few drops of tea tree oil in any room of your house or even in your car will eliminate lingering odors and freshen the air. You can also use tea tree oil in your dish water or laundry to cut lingering odors that are difficult to remove.


Using these tips will help keep your home and car smelling clean and fresh no matter what the lingering odor might be, without the use of harsh cleaning products that can discolor or leave an odor of their own. By using items you already have in your home, you are not only being frugal, but cutting your cleaning time in half.