Masking Smell vs Deodorizing
Keeping your home smelling fresh and keeping your home smelling good can sometimes be two separate things. Smells – both good and bad – are caused by volatile compounds that stimulate scent receptors. Good smells do not block the receptors that recognize bad odors. So while lighting a candle may cause good smells to reach you, it won’t get rid of any of the bad ones.
Deodorizing vs Masking
Deodorizing - Removing or neutralizing unpleasant odor molecules. Deodorization involves physically removing smelly molecules or chemically changing their structure so they no longer smell.
Masking - releasing pleasant smelling volatile aromatic compounds and provide temporary relief from bad odors.
Deodorizing Options
Baking Soda aka Sodium Bicarbonate
- Many bad smells are acidic molecules, using baking soda as the base in an acid/base reaction changes the structure of the smelly compound and structure dictates smell.
- Post reaction you are left with a less smelly compound, carbon dioxide, and water. The malodor has been chemically neutralized.
How To
- Keep baking soda in its original container or in an open bowl.
- Baking soda is only used up after a chemical reaction so if it's still white, no need to refresh.
- Some smells can be too powerful (or not acidic) so you may need to use this technique in tandem with others.
Vodka aka Ethanol
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Ethanol disrupts the cell membranes of odor causing bacteria and viruses leading to inactivation or death.
How To
- Great for soft or porous material like fabric
- Put it in a spray bottle for a more even distribution, dilute with water as needed.
Coffee Grounds aka Caffeine
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The nitrogen in caffeine bonds with the sulfur compounds found in most bad smells and neutralizes odors and leaves behind a light coffee scent.
How to
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Keep coffee grounds dry and uncovered and make sure they do not get wet.
Vinegar aka Acetic Acid
- Many of the odiferous (as well as health-affecting) species contain various basic, nitrogen-containing groups.
- Acetic acid reacts with basic odors in an acid/base reaction (opposite of baking soda (link above)), changing the structure of odorous compounds changes their smell and reduces intensity.
- Acetic Acid is effective at eliminating bacteria.
How To
- Try to find cleaning vinegar instead of white vinegar, the acetic acid concentration is 6% versus 5%
- Put it in a spray bottle for a more even distribution, dilute with water as needed.
- Add to the washing machine to remove smells from clothes bedding towels
- Some smells can be too powerful (or not basic) so you may need to use this technique in tandem with others.
Masking Options
- Candles - heat causes volatile aromatic compounds to be released from the wax into the air.
- Add your favorite essential oil to vinegar or Vodka fabric sprays - once the spray evaporates the oil will remain leaving a lingering pleasant scent.
- Simmer pot potpourri - Evaporation and convection releases volatile aromatic compounds from heated botanicals into the air
- Bake regularly - easiest way to make your home smell like baked goods, bake!
Prevention
The best method for keeping a fresh home is regularly dealing with malodor sources. Masking and deodorizing means nothing if you don’t eliminate the source. Make sure to clean and disinfect the source area.
Odor molecules will penetrate porous materials like carpets or fabric. Then they will gradually be released into the air. So, the odor may be emanating from someplace other than the original source of the odor.
Tip/Tricks
- Having a regular cleaning schedule especially for odor producing areas (bathrooms, kitchen, heavy use living rooms)
- Wipe baseboards and ceiling fan blades with dryer sheets → leaves behind an anti static coating that reduces the electrical charge on surfaces which repels dust. The rough texture can help remove dirt. Plus it leaves a lingering clean scent.
- Air purifiers' main function is not removing smells, but they do use a variety of methods to filter the air in a space.
- If you have central air, exhaust inside air outside the building by running in ventilation mode with the windows open a bit.
