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Keeping one's home smelling great is an impressive feat; between odorous garbage disposals, funky foods in the fridge and, of course, our beloved furry friends, there are a lot of stenches to combat! And with so many supposed remedies on the market, it can be difficult to know what's actually effective. Plus, making it obvious that you're trying to mask off-putting smells is never a good look.
So we asked cleaning and fragrance pros for advice. Their tips — which include upgrading your cleaning products, diffusing essential oils and never, ever underestimating the power of baking soda — are easy, practical and way less conspicuous than lighting a candle and hoping for the best. But most importantly, they'll help ensure visitors aren't left wondering, "What stinks?!"
More scent stories:
"Hidden" tricks for a good-smelling home
1. Wash your floors
You may not associate your floors with a fabulously fragranced house, but regular cleaning with a quality mop can go a long way in battling unwanted stench. "Washing your floors at least once a week is a great way to tackle germs, eliminate odors and rejuvenate your space," says Jessica Samson, a former professional cleaner with The Maids.
Carpets, in particular, can hold on to odors, so if they're small enough that you can drag them out of your house, air them out in the sun every so often. And consider giving them a deep cleaning once a month, suggests Samson.
Unlike many mop-and-bucket systems, our top-tested mop has two water chambers — one for clean and one for dirty — so you can ensure you’re using the fresh stuff without constantly dumping and refilling a bucket. That means you can mop with just water, but for a fragrance boost, splash in a scented cleaning solution.
The string-style mop head is super absorbent, and you can spin the wringer with a tap of the foot pedal, so you don’t need to manually strain the mop. Read more about why it's a winner in our senior home writer's O-Cedar RinseClean review.
If your carpet needs more than a spot treatment, a steam cleaner can really come in handy. These machines combine heat with water and cleaning solutions for a more aggressive approach to dirt, and the Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam series is a Yahoo editor favorite. In fact, we named it one of the best carpet cleaners for 2025.
"The HydroSteam was incredibly easy to control and maneuver, and everything came up in a matter of a few passes. It's truly mesmerizing!" raved Home & Garden Writer Kristin Granero, who tested this wet/dry vac.
2. Address your kitchen appliances
Many funky situations start in spots where water, dirt or old food collect — like your garbage disposal, dishwasher and fridge. Instead of just masking the odor with a fragrant dish soap or room spray, tackle the source with a specialty cleaner and/or odor absorber. Of course, make sure to check your appliance's manual before using any cleaning products to prevent damage or voiding the warranty.
If the odors creeping out of your kitchen sink are enough to make you lose your appetite, it's these No. 1 bestsellers to the rescue.
Formulated with a pleasant citrus scent, the tablets release a foam when wet to help flush out stench-inducing residue from the pipes; just pop in one or two a couple times per month to keep things fresh.
After each dishwasher cycle, take a quick peek in the unit; if you see any loose food particles, remove them and wipe things down. Otherwise, you should aim to clean your dishwasher once a week by removing and cleaning the filter, and wiping down the door edges and seals.
For a deeper clean, you can try using Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets. These little babies can get rid of limescale and mineral buildup, and they're easy to use: Just toss one in the detergent tray and run a normal dish cycle.
We recently interviewed Logan Taylor, founder of Dazzle Cleaning Company, about how to get rid of lingering odors throughout the house, and he called out this “awesome” little gadget for keeping his fridge fresh-smelling. “It's made of activated charcoal, which just sucks bad smells right up," he says.
Before popping one in your fridge, make sure to tackle any spills or mold and toss spoiled food. Otherwise, you'll likely still be dealing with a stench.
3. Go big on baking soda
Samson points out that baking soda is a natural odor absorber, making it an effective deodorizer. To create a sprayable solution, "Combine one cup of water, one cup of white vinegar and two teaspoons of baking soda," she says. "It’s safe if you have pets — and you can spray it on almost anything!"
Additionally, Tanu Grewal, chief cleaning officer at Pinalen, Cloralen and Ensueño Laundry, recommends using baking soda for deodorizing mattresses: "Sprinkle a thin layer and let it sit for at least four to six hours." Then vacuum it up.
Michelle Spitzer, cleaning expert and owner of MaidPro Naples, Florida, recommends keeping "baking soda open inside the refrigerator to absorb any odors."
Baking soda shakers are also convenient for sprinkling onto mattresses, as well as into laundry and trash cans, or around sinks and bathtubs as a way to deodorize while providing a cleaning boost.
You can skip the sprinkle by purchasing products, like these garbage bags, with a layer of baking soda protection built in.
The brand also offers baking soda versions with fragrances, such as Citrus Twist, for another layer of defense — especially helpful when it comes to trash cans that contain food that could be rotten.
A little bit of baking soda can go a long way when it comes to neutralizing kitty litter. This deodorizer was purchased by more than 60,000 shoppers in the past month alone to conceal their pets' private business.
4. Discreetly diffuse essential oils
"Tea tree, lemongrass and eucalyptus — either combined with water and used as a spray or in a diffuser — are among oils that are antibacterial and can help deodorize bad smells in the air," explains Katie Derrick, scent expert and founder of home-fragrance company Fern and Petal. Experts also recommend bamboo as another scent that's bright, yet not overwhelming.
To keep things unobtrusive, look for a small essential oil diffuser you can tuck in a corner. Or consider a sculptural diffuser that reads more like a decorative object (there are many out there!) than an odor-blasting gizmo.
If you're in the market for a diffuser itself, this one is worth a look, as it's more compact and discreet than many others we've tried. It's unique in that it can be charged with a USB cord, and because it’s wireless and waterless (you insert a bottle of essential oil directly into a pod that fits in the device), it's travel-friendly.
We’d consider this one good for small spaces. It would make a great desk, nightstand or car companion — and because there’s no water, you don’t have to worry about it spilling!
Related: The best essential oil diffusers will make your home smell like a luxury spa
Give your home the five-star treatment — literally — courtesy of this hotel-worthy scent.
"Talk about putting on the ritz!" says Senior Home Editor Jessica Dodell-Feder. "This 10-milliliter bottle of aromatic oil features notes of lemon, bergamot, jasmine, amber and musk, all inspired by the ultimate luxury hotel, the Ritz-Carlton."
This kit includes some of Derrick's favorite fragrances, plus orange, lavender and refreshing peppermint. A whopping 15,00 shoppers gave it a five-star rating, raving about the oils' strength and quality.
5. Embrace your inner DIYer
Karina Toner, operations manager of Washington, D.C.-based cleaning company Spekless, turns to scent boosters you can create yourself, like simmer pots, saying they "release aromatic steam when heated, can mask and neutralize kitchen odors by creating a pleasant, warm fragrance that permeates the room." To make one, she says to combine water, citrus peels (such as lemon or orange), a few cinnamon sticks and a handful of cloves or rosemary in a small pot. Let it simmer on low heat for 1–2 hours, refilling water as needed. "This natural fragrance will make the kitchen smell cozy and inviting."
Toner offers this alternative tip: "Use a slow cooker to keep the simmer pot going for longer periods safely." We already love this appliance for making comfort foods like soups and stews — now it can improve your kitchen's aroma!
Herb bundles are another natural option. For a more modern take on potpourri, place these bouquets in a vase or pitcher rather than the usual fresh flowers. Shoppers called out their lovely, light fragrance — and because they're already dried, you don't need to worry about them wilting.
You don't have to be Martha Stewart to make this easy home update: Simply trim these liners to fit your drawers, and you'll be treated to a pleasant scent when you reach for a shirt in the morning.
With two fragrances to choose from, Fresh Linen and Neroli & Bergamot, you'll be able to switch things up from room to room.
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