Does Something Smell Funny in Your House?

Unwanted odors can cling to rooms no matter how much you try to air them out.

Try a little lemon, vanilla or even onion (yes, onion!) to remove those unwanted scents.

• If the garbage disposal still smells like last night’s dinner, run a lemon peel or an orange peel through it to eliminate the odor.

• Hide unused dryer sheets under couch or chair cushions, underneath mattresses and inside pillow cases. The dryer sheets give off a laundry-fresh scent.

• Carpet fibers often trap unwanted smells. Use a deodorizing carpet powder (Rios recommends Febreze Carpet Deodorizing Powders) to freshen fast. Baking soda also can remove these odors. Sprinkle the powder on carpets, wait for a few minutes, then vacuum as usual. The vacuum powders help pick up dirt and hair while leaving behind a light, fresh scent.

• Put a little dab of vanilla extract on light bulbs when turned off. Once the lights are turned on, the bulb will heat up the extract and smell delicious.

• If a basement has a moldy smell, cut an onion in half, place it on a plate, and leave it overnight. The onion smell eventually goes away, and it neutralizes the moldy odor.

• Potted plants are natural air purifiers. Some of the best: indoor palms, orchids and peace lilies.

• Got a cat? Mix tea leaves with its litter. The tea will help neutralize that litter-box smell.