How to Get Rid of Odors in Your Home

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Is there a lingering smell in your home you just can’t seem to shake?

Whether it's last night’s dinner, a pet accident, cigarette smoke or a mysterious musty odor coming from the basement, getting rid of a bad smell starts with figuring out where it’s coming from.

Candles, sprays and plug-ins might make a room smell different for a while. But if you want to get rid of an odor for good, you need to remove its source.

To get rid of an odor, first identify and remove what’s causing it. Clean contaminated surfaces and fabrics, ventilate the room, and use an appropriate odor neutralizer or absorber if needed. Persistent odors often come from porous materials such as carpet, upholstery, mattresses or drywall and may require deeper cleaning.

Here at COIT, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners tackle tough odors. In this guide, we’ll explain how to find the source of a bad smell, remove common household odors and know when a deeper professional cleaning may be needed.

Why Does My House Smell? Find the Source First

If your house still smells after you’ve cleaned it, there may be an odor source you haven’t found yet.

Odors can settle into carpet, upholstery and other porous materials. Moisture can hide behind walls or beneath flooring. Food and grease can build up inside appliances. Even an unused drain can become a source of unpleasant smells.

Start by thinking about what the odor smells like and where it is strongest.

Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can choose a cleaning method that addresses the cause instead of trying to cover the smell.

How to Get Rid of Odors (Step-by-Step)

Whether you’re dealing with one room or your entire house, follow these steps in order.

1. Remove the Source

Start with the obvious culprits: take out garbage, discard spoiled food, clean up pet accidents and remove anything wet or contaminated.

If the smell returns after cleaning, look deeper: check beneath rugs and furniture, inside appliances, around drains, behind toilets and anywhere moisture could collect.

2. Air Out the Room

Open windows and doors when outdoor conditions allow. Creating cross-ventilation helps move stale indoor air outside.

Fans can help move air through the space. For cooking odors, use an exhaust fan that vents outdoors while cooking and for a short period afterward.

Ventilation helps remove airborne odors, but it won’t remove contamination trapped in carpet, upholstery or other materials.

3. Clean Hard Surfaces

Odor-producing residue can collect on floors, counters, walls, cabinets, appliances and other surfaces.

Choose a cleaner suited to the material and type of contamination. Pay extra attention to areas near cooking, smoking, pets, garbage and water damage.

Never mix household cleaning chemicals unless their labels specifically instruct you to do so.

4. Clean Soft and Porous Surfaces

Curtains, carpets, rugs, throw pillows, mattresses and upholstered furniture can all absorb smells.

Wash machine-safe fabrics according to their care instructions. Vacuum carpets and upholstery thoroughly. When odors have penetrated deep into carpet fibers, padding or furniture, surface cleaning may not be enough.

5. Control Moisture

If the odor smells musty or earthy, look for moisture before reaching for a deodorizer.

Check for leaks, condensation, damp carpet, wet drywall and poorly ventilated areas. A dehumidifier can help manage excess humidity, but you still need to correct the source of unwanted moisture.

6. Use an Odor Absorber or Neutralizer

After removing and cleaning the source, products such as baking soda or activated charcoal may help with remaining odors.

The right treatment depends on what caused the smell and what material is affected. Pet urine, smoke and moisture-related odors, for example, require different approaches.

7. See Whether the Smell Returns

Give the room time to dry and reassess it later. If the smell disappears briefly and then returns, contamination may remain in carpet padding, upholstery, drywall or another porous material. That’s a sign that deeper cleaning or professional odor removal may be necessary.

How to Get Rid of Different Types of Odors

There isn’t one deodorizing method that works for every smell. Treating the source directly is usually more effective than using the same product throughout the house.

How to Get Rid of Musty and Mildew Odors

A musty smell often points to excess moisture, so deodorizing should not be your first step.

Look for:

• Plumbing or roof leaks
• Damp carpet or carpet padding
• Condensation around windows or pipes
• Wet drywall
• Poor bathroom or basement ventilation
• Fabrics or cardboard stored while damp

Dry wet materials as quickly as possible. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance recommends drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold growth. The EPA also recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%.

Once the moisture source has been corrected, clean or remove affected materials as appropriate. If you see extensive mold, have significant water damage or cannot determine where the moisture is coming from, professional help may be appropriate.

How to Get Rid of Pet Urine and Pet Odors

Pet odors can penetrate far below the surface of carpet and upholstery.

Start by locating every affected area. For urine, use a cleaning product designed for pet contamination and follow its instructions carefully. Enzymatic cleaners are commonly used because they target organic residue rather than adding fragrance over it.

If urine has soaked through carpet into the padding or subfloor, cleaning the visible carpet fibers may not remove the entire odor source.

Wash pet bedding regularly and vacuum areas where pets spend the most time to reduce fur, dander and other odor-producing debris.

How to Get Rid of Cigarette and Smoke Odors

Smoke residue is especially difficult because it can settle onto walls, ceilings and furniture while also penetrating carpet, upholstery, mattresses and other porous materials.

Start by ventilating the space. Then clean washable hard surfaces and launder removable fabrics according to their care instructions. Carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture may require deep cleaning.

There is good evidence for why smoke smells sometimes seem to disappear and then return.

In a 2020 field study of 38 smoke-contaminated apartments, nicotine in household dust dropped 60% immediately after cleaning but later rebounded to within 26% of its original level. Researchers pointed to untreated reservoirs such as carpet, upholstery, mattresses, walls and books as sources that could continue releasing contamination.

This “reservoir” effect is one reason stubborn smoke odors may require more than surface cleaning.

How to Get Rid of Cooking and Grease Odors

Start your exhaust fan before cooking and keep it running while you cook. Open windows when appropriate.

If cooking smells linger long after the meal is finished, grease and food particles may have settled onto nearby surfaces.

Clean:

• The stovetop and backsplash
• Range hood and filters
• Cabinet fronts
• Nearby walls
• Microwave and oven
• Curtains and washable fabrics
• Upholstered furniture near an open kitchen

Don’t forget the range hood filter. A grease-covered filter will not perform as effectively and can become an odor source itself.

How to Get Rid of Garbage and Food Odors

Take out garbage and compost first, then clean the container rather than immediately replacing the bag.

Check beneath the liner and around the lid for spills or residue. In the kitchen, inspect the refrigerator, microwave, oven, pantry and areas underneath appliances for forgotten food.

Refrigerators deserve special attention because spills and spoiled food can create persistent odors. Remove the source, clean shelves and drawers, and check whether food liquids have reached hidden areas.

How to Get Rid of Drain and Sewer Odors

If the odor is concentrated near a sink, shower or floor drain, the problem may be coming from the plumbing rather than the room itself.

Rarely used drains can develop odors when the water inside the P-trap evaporates. Running water into the drain may restore the water barrier.

Persistent sewer-like or rotten-egg odors deserve more attention. If you cannot identify the source, the smell is strong or you feel unwell, leave the affected area and contact an appropriate professional rather than trying to cover the odor.

How to Get Rid of Laundry and Washing Machine Odors

If freshly washed clothing smells musty, the washing machine itself could be part of the problem.

Check and clean:

• Door seals and gaskets
• Detergent dispensers
• The drum
• Filters accessible according to the manufacturer’s instructions

Remove wet laundry promptly and let it dry completely. Leaving damp clothes sitting in the washer or hamper creates ideal conditions for stale and musty odors.

For workout clothes, towels and other fabrics that hold body odor, follow the garment care instructions and pretreat persistent odors with a laundry product suited to the fabric.

How to Get Odors Out of Carpet, Upholstery and Fabrics

Soft surfaces deserve special attention because they can hold onto the substances creating an odor long after the air itself has cleared.

Carpet is a good example. A pet accident may soak through the carpet fibers and reach the backing, padding or even the subfloor. Smoke residue can settle into carpet and upholstery. Moisture can become trapped beneath flooring.

For washable fabrics, laundering is often the first step.

For carpet and upholstery:

1. Remove any solid or liquid contamination first.
2. Vacuum loose debris when appropriate.
3. Use a cleaning method designed for both the material and odor source.
4. Allow the material to dry fully.
5. Reassess the odor after drying.

Avoid oversaturating carpet or upholstery during DIY cleaning. Adding excess moisture can create a new odor problem if the material does not dry properly.

If the smell returns after the surface is clean and dry, contamination may exist deeper in the material.

What Actually Gets Rid of Odors?

The key is matching the treatment to the source. Putting baking soda in a room with a plumbing problem won’t repair the drain, an air purifier won’t remove pet urine from carpet padding, and ventilation won’t clean smoke residue from a sofa.

Why Does the Smell Keep Coming Back?

This is one of the most frustrating odor problems: you clean the room, it smells better and then the odor slowly returns. Often, the problem is an untreated odor reservoir.

Carpet, padding, mattresses, upholstery, drywall, wood and other porous materials can absorb contamination. Cleaning the air or exposed surface may temporarily reduce the smell without removing everything beneath it.

The smoke-contamination research mentioned earlier offers a good example. Despite an immediate 60% reduction in nicotine found in household dust after cleaning, contamination later rebounded substantially as untreated reservoirs continued to contribute to the environment.

The same basic principle is useful when troubleshooting other persistent odors. If a smell repeatedly returns to the same area, stop adding deodorizer and start looking for a deeper source.

Why Air Fresheners Don’t Fix the Source of an Odor

There is an important difference between making a room smell different and removing the cause of a smell.

An air freshener adds fragrance. An odor absorber captures certain odor-producing compounds. A cleaner removes contamination from a surface. Ventilation replaces indoor air. None of these approaches are interchangeable.

One nationally representative U.S. survey found that 34.7% of adults reported one or more adverse health effects associated with fragranced consumer products. Within the same survey, 17.4% reported health problems associated specifically with air fresheners or deodorizers.

Rather than adding more fragrance to a room, focus first on removing the odor source, cleaning affected materials and improving ventilation. A clean home does not need to smell strongly scented to be clean.

How to Deodorize Your House Room by Room

Once you understand the source of an odor, these room-specific checks can help you find problem areas.

Bedroom

Wash bedding regularly and check mattresses, carpets and curtains for trapped odors. Make sure damp clothing and towels aren’t sitting in hampers for long periods.

If a mattress smells, vacuum it and use only cleaning methods recommended for its materials. Let it dry completely before replacing bedding.

Bathroom

Clean sinks, toilets and showers regularly. Check drains, bath mats, shower curtains and hidden areas around toilets for odor sources.

Run the bathroom exhaust fan during and after showers to reduce moisture buildup.

Kitchen

Empty garbage and compost regularly. Clean the refrigerator, microwave, oven, stovetop and range hood.

Pay attention to grease buildup and food spills in less obvious places, including underneath appliances and inside garbage containers. 

Living Room (Pet Central)

Vacuum rugs, carpet and upholstered furniture. Wash removable cushion covers according to their care labels and clean pet bedding regularly.

If you find pet urine, use a product intended for organic pet contamination rather than covering the smell with fragrance.

Laundry Room

Clean the washing machine, including seals and detergent dispensers, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Remove damp laundry promptly and use ventilation or a dehumidifier if excess moisture is a recurring problem.

Basement or Attic

Musty odors deserve investigation.

Check for leaks, condensation, damp materials and signs of mold or mildew. Keep moisture-sensitive belongings away from damp floors and store fabrics and cardboard appropriately.

 Some Bad Smells Aren’t Cleaning Problems

Most household odors have harmless causes, while others can signal a problem that needs more than cleaning.

Pay attention to:

• Persistent rotten-egg or sewer-like odors
• Gas odors
• Burning or electrical smells
• Strong unexplained chemical odors
• Significant mold or mustiness following water damage
• Smoke and soot following a fire

The EPA notes that smell alone is not a reliable measure of indoor air quality. Some harmless substances have strong odors, while dangerous pollutants such as carbon monoxide are odorless.

If an odor suggests a gas leak, electrical problem, fire, sewage issue or another immediate hazard, leave the affected area when appropriate and contact the relevant emergency service or qualified professional.

When to Call the Pros

Some odors disappear once you remove the source and thoroughly clean the area. Others have penetrated materials that are difficult to treat with ordinary household cleaning.

Consider professional cleaning when:

• Pet odors keep returning after treatment
• Smoke has penetrated carpet, upholstery or other porous materials
• Carpet or furniture still smells after it has been cleaned and fully dried
• An odor followed fire or water damage
• Musty odors persist after the moisture source has been addressed
• You cannot locate the source of a persistent odor

At COIT, we’ve spent decades helping homeowners tackle stubborn odors associated with pet accidents, smoke, fire and water damage, carpet, upholstery and other surfaces.

We use non-toxic, non-flammable and ozone-safe deodorizers to help address odors at the source.

Want a fresh start? Find a COIT location near you.

FAQs: How to Get Rid of Odors

What absorbs smells in a room?

Baking soda and activated charcoal can help with some household odors. The best solution still depends on the source. Odor absorbers will not fix problems such as pet urine inside carpet padding, moisture behind a wall or a plumbing issue.

What’s the fastest way to get rid of an odor?

Remove the source first. Then ventilate the room, clean contaminated hard surfaces and wash or clean odor-holding fabrics. If the odor is coming from garbage, spoiled food or another removable source, this process can make a noticeable difference quickly.

Why does my house smell even though it’s clean?

A clean-looking house can still have odors trapped in carpet, upholstery, mattresses, curtains or other porous materials. Hidden moisture, drains, HVAC issues and residue inside appliances can also cause smells that ordinary surface cleaning misses.

How do you permanently remove an odor?

Permanent odor removal depends on eliminating the material or contamination producing the smell. That could mean cleaning grease from kitchen surfaces, treating pet urine in carpet, correcting a moisture problem or deep-cleaning smoke-contaminated upholstery. Covering the odor with fragrance does not remove its source.

Does baking soda remove odors?

Baking soda can help neutralize certain odors and works well for some enclosed spaces and washable or vacuumable surfaces. It is less useful when contamination has penetrated deeply into carpet, upholstery, drywall or other porous materials.

Does vinegar remove odors?

White vinegar can help with some household cleaning and deodorizing tasks, but it is not a universal odor remover and should not be used on every surface. Check manufacturer care instructions before applying vinegar to flooring, stone, upholstery or other materials.

Do air purifiers remove smells?

Air purifiers equipped with activated carbon may help reduce certain airborne gases and odors. HEPA filtration primarily targets particles rather than gaseous odor compounds. An air purifier will not remove an odor source trapped in carpet, furniture or another material.

How long does it take to deodorize a room?

It depends on the source and severity of the odor. Temporary cooking odors may improve after ventilation and cleaning, while smoke, pet urine, mold-related odors and contamination inside porous materials can take much longer to address.

How do I deodorize a house naturally?

Start with the methods that do not add fragrance: remove the odor source, ventilate, wash fabrics, clean contaminated surfaces and control excess moisture. Baking soda and activated charcoal may help with certain remaining odors.

Can I deodorize a room without opening windows?

Yes. If opening windows isn’t practical, use mechanical ventilation where available, run appropriate exhaust fans, clean the odor source and consider an air purifier with activated carbon for airborne odors. A dehumidifier can also help when excess moisture is contributing to mustiness.

Final Thoughts

If your home smells bad, don’t start by asking how to cover the odor. Start by asking where it is coming from.

Remove the source, clean contaminated surfaces, wash odor-holding fabrics, improve ventilation and control moisture. Then give the area time to dry and see whether the odor returns.

If it does, the source may be deeper than the surface.

Call COIT for professional carpet, upholstery and home cleaning that helps tackle stubborn odors where they start.

Call the PROs at COIT for a professional clean!