If you’ve noticed unpleasant odors lingering in your home, don’t let them fester! Read on to find the best ways to get rid of bad smells and eradicate unwanted aromas anywhere in your home. After all, for every nasty scent you sniff, there’s a way to snuff it.

Find the Source

Does something stink? But you can’t figure out what it is? The cover up mission actually makes the original culprit worse. See, blasting the bathroom with a rose-scented spray is like dousing your body with eau de toilette after two hours of tennis. The key to clean air is tackling the source of the smell, instead of trying to mask it.

“There’s a difference between an air freshener and an odor counteractant,” says Jenny Botero, director of housekeeping operations for the Marriott International hotel chain.

“Odor counteractants do more than mask a smell; they actually get rid of it.” While there are a number of reliable all-purpose counteractants, such as Lysol Disinfectant Spray and baking soda, certain pungent smells call for specific measures.

Pet Stench

Pet stenches are particularly hard to clean. Here are some handy tips to get rid of specific stenches:

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Litter box: Clay-based litter that clumps when wet, such as Scoop Away Plus Crystals ($13.50 for a 25-pound box, at supermarkets) absorbs and prevents nasty odors.
Fur: Brushing and bathing your pet can prevent the buildup of bacteria. Ask your vet about suitable shampoos.
Accidents: Spray Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover ($8 at pet stores) on an area wider than the spot (and under it, if possible) to minimize the bad smell.

Food Aromas

Citrus fragrances, such as Lysol Neutra-Air Citrus spray ($4.50 at supermarkets) or all-natural Citrus Magic Air Freshener ($10.50  citrusmagic.com ), removes food odors very well. Often the best (and easiest) remedy is to open a window or turn on a vent.

“We use exhaust fans that suck everything out,” says Wayne Almquist, a professor at the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, New York.

Bathroom Stink

Nobody likes a stinky bathroom. Here are the best ways to tackle mould and mildew and smelly odours.

Mould and mildew: Zap the bacteria that generates odors with Naturally Yours Mould & Mildew Remover ($5 a quart, 888-801-7347), and dry tiles and caulking when wet. Lysol Disinfectant Spray ($7 at supermarkets) inhibits growth.
Bodily odours: Light candles or matches to kill odors, or use Lysol Disinfectant Spray. Urine can emit an ammonia-like odor, so clean the toilet regularly.

Garbage Smells

Originally designed for pet odors, SeaYu Petrotech Odor Eliminator (from $10, sea-yu.com) also works well for garbage cans and diaper pails. The non-toxic spray binds to odor particles and naturally biodegrades the odor-causing bacteria. To prevent garbage smells from forming, clean and disinfect both indoor and outdoor garbage cans with an all-purpose cleaner at least once a month.

Basement Odors

Basement smells can easily fester, so tackle odors and water damage to prevent extra work.

Musty odors: “Activated charcoal reduces odors,” says Meredith Montague of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. “Pour two cups into an airtight bin, prop your items on a box in the bin so they don’t touch the powder, seal until fresh, then air them out.”
Water damage: Once the source is sealed, ventilate and turn on a dehumidifier, like the Kenmore 50-pint model ($200, sears.com).

Fridge Odors

There’s still nothing better for absorbing fridge odors than baking soda. Try Arm & Hammer’s Fridge-n-Freezer Deodorizer ($1.50 at supermarkets), which has front and back windows lined with a cheesecloth-like fabric to maximize ventilation. Vanilla extract is also an effective remedy – soak a cotton ball in it and leave the cotton ball exposed on a dish until dry Ola App

Dishwasher Stench

If your dishes sit before you start the dishwasher, run a “rinse and hold” cycle until you’re ready to wash. To clean the whole machine, run an empty cycle with two cups of white vinegar (a natural odor absorber and neutralizer) instead of detergent. Remember that your dishwasher is not a garbage disposal – you can prevent odors by rinsing food off before you load.

Fusty Clothing Smells

Banish clothing smells to prevent fusty smells.

Stored clothing: At-home dry-cleaning kits like Dryel ($11 at supermarkets) remove stale odors well.
Sweat/body odor: Wash your clothes to kill body odor in fabrics and avoid the smell from festering.
Shoes: Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row, and stuff them with newspaper, which absorbs moisture and, therefore, smells in between wears. Avoid sprays, which can leave a white residue.

Cigarette Smoke

No one should smoke in your home if you dislike the smell. When hosting an incorrigible guest, rely on cross-ventilation – place a fan in a window, facing out. Ventilation is the best solution for ridding clothes and furniture of the noxious smell, and for immediate relief spritz Arm & Hammer Deodorizing Air Freshener ($2 at supermarkets). Citrus sprays work well, too.

Hopefully you find these tips useful to help get rid of bad smells from your home! Do you have any great tips? We’d love to hear them!