Transforming Your Space: What Absorbs Bad Smells in Rooms

Evelyn Long

Jan 20, 2025

A candle burning to eliminate bad smells on a table close to a woman seated on a couch with a small white dog

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Walking into a room and being hit by an unpleasant odor can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Bad smells affect how comfortable and inviting your space feels. Fortunately, by using targeted solutions, it’s possible to eliminate odors to enhance indoor air quality.

What Causes Bad Smells in Your House?

Bad smells in your home are often the result of everyday activities and environmental factors. Here are the most common culprits:

Assorted fruits and foods on snow-covered grass.

Food Waste

The average American spends close to $788 on food that goes uneaten — the equivalent of 72 billion meals that could go to people in need. The biggest contributors to food waste include eating practices and consumer buying behavior often instigated by lucrative retail promotions.

Forgotten leftovers, overflowing trash and spoiled pantry items release foul-smelling gases like sulfur as they decay. The decomposition rate accelerates in warm climates, resulting in more pungent smells. Even small spills left on countertops or refrigerators can emit odors over time.

Pets

Pets bring joy but can also leave behind stubborn odors. Fur, dander and body fluids like saliva and urine create lingering odors that cling to porous surfaces, furniture, carpets and even walls. Sixty-six percent of U.S. households own pets (with 65 million families being dog parents), making this a widespread issue.

Fortunately, regular cleaning using pet-specific enzymatic cleaner can help keep pet-related smells at bay. Also, consider investing in an air purifier to eliminate odor-carrying particles you can’t see.

Smoke

Cigarette or cooking smoke lingers in fabrics, surfaces and ventilation systems, turning it into a long-term nuisance. Third-hand smoke — tobacco residue that clings to surfaces — can remain in homes for months, becoming a constant source of unpleasant odors. Chemicals in the smoke, like nicotine, are a significant health hazard to inhabitants, especially children and animals.

Smoke coming out of a chimney on top of a house.

HVAC Systems

HVAC systems promote proper air circulation throughout your home. However, dirty filters and neglected vents redistribute stale air, spreading odors indoors. Experts emphasize replacing HVAC filters every 3-12 months (depending on the model) to prevent this issue.

Moisture Problems

Dampness in basements, bathrooms or under sinks is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew growth. Mold spores release a musty odor that not only smells bad but also diminishes air quality, which triggers allergies and other respiratory issues. 

What Absorbs Bad Smells in a Room?

Indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. Odors, allergens and toxins contribute to poor air quality, causing more than three million deaths yearly. Here’s what absorbs bad smells in room spaces:

1. Baking Soda: Nature’s Deodorizer

Baking soda has been used for decades as an effective odor neutralizer. This natural cleanser effectively absorbs odor molecules in the air and on surfaces. This versatile deodorizer is also non-toxic, making it safe for pets and kids.

The method of application depends on your needs. If it’s an enclosed space like the closet, microwave or refrigerator, put some baking soda in a vented jar, leave it for up to a month, then refresh it. To eliminate smells from surfaces like pillows and mattresses, sprinkle a generous amount and let it sit for at least one hour before vacuuming. If the odor arises from pet urine, spray the mattress with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and water before applying baking soda.

2. Charcoal: A Powerful Absorbent

Did you know? Activated charcoal can absorb over 1,000 times its weight in odor-causing particles.

Activated charcoal, often used in water and air filters, is an excellent odor absorber. Its highly porous structure traps odor molecules, which is why it’s widely used in products like dehumidifiers and shoe deodorizers.

3. Essential Oils for a Fresh Boost

A dog laying on a table next to a diffuser.

Essential oils mask odors and can kill bacteria or fungi that contribute to smells. Oils like tea tree and eucalyptus have strong antimicrobial properties, particularly effective in damp or musty rooms. If you have pets, use animal-friendly oils like myrrh and lavender.

Invest in an innovative humidifier like Earnest Living’s Essential Oil Diffuser, which has misting humidifier capabilities. This will rid your home of the worst odors, including pets and cigarette smoke.

Get it at $39.99 on Amazon

4. Air Purifiers: Upgrade Your Air Quality

Modern air purifiers are equipped with advanced filtration systems designed to combat odors. Devices with HEPA and carbon filters can remove over 99% of airborne particles, including VOCs (volatile organic compounds) responsible for many household smells.

Get it at $105.99 on Amazon

5. Odor-Absorbing Gels and Sprays

Unlike traditional air fresheners, odor-absorbing gels and sprays contain active ingredients like cyclodextrin, which trap odor molecules instead of masking them. Enzyme-based odor eliminator sprays are particularly effective against pet accidents as they break down organic matter at the molecular level.

Get this neutralizer gel beads at $24.95 on Amazon

A stick of burning incense next to a lit white candle.

6. Non-Toxic Candles

While burning ordinary candles introduces numerous toxins, non-toxic versions are sustainable for the environment. For a cleaner burn, opt for products made with natural ingredients like soy wax or stearin (a white compound derived from vegetable fat and oil).

While it might be tempting to pick fragrance-infused candles for maximum results, you should know they emit more VOCs than their non-fragrant counterparts.

Get the Homesick New Home jar candle for $30 on Amazon

7. White Vinegar: A Classic Fix

White vinegar is one of the cheapest and most effective deodorizers available. Its acidic properties neutralize alkaline odors like ammonia. However, be mindful when removing smells from electronic objects, as the acidic content may corrode components.

What Absorbs Bad Smells in Room Quickly?

When speed is of the essence, consider these quick fixes:

  • Coffee grounds: The nitrogen in coffee grounds helps neutralize sulfur-based odors. Place them in small bowls around the house for an instant refresh.
  • Citrus slices: Lemon and orange scents effectively mask strong odors.
A person's hands in a white sink filled halfway with slices of yellow lemon in water.

Invest in Your Air Quality

Improving air quality is the best way to eliminate odors permanently. Homes with better air quality enhance overall well-being, including mental clarity and sleep quality. 

Foul odors in your home don’t have to linger. You can enjoy fresher, healthier air by implementing targeted solutions to absorb bad smells in rooms.

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