What stinks? How to kill odors at home

It’s the end of the holidays, and there’s something in the air.

And it’s not the fragrance of fresh cut pine or gingerbread fresh from the oven.

Did Daisy leave a doodle behind the Christmas tree? Does your sink seem to be belching after gorging on cooking scraps sent down the disposal? Are you slow to open the refrigerator, stuffed with leftovers that never truly leave even after you’ve consumed them?

It’s tempting to treat your stuffy house to a breath of fresh air with the new year, but how do you do it when it’s freezing outside and there’s an 80 percent chance of rain?

A variety of experts have come up with tips for freshening your abode without throwing open the windows and without blowing a lot of money on expensive products that may or may not work. Comb your cupboards or supermarket aisles for these common items that will help in your mission. Included: Spices, activated charcoal, baking soda, cat box filler, tomato juice, vanilla extract, vinegar, lemons or lemon juice, and fabric softener sheets or liquid fabric softener.

Pet pee: We’ll start with the worst, not only the rankest odor but also the hardest to remove. It can also be hard to locate, even by following your nose. If the source of the odor eludes you, turn off the lights and run a black light around the room. It will make any biological material glow.

To de-stink, blot the spot with a white paper towel but don’t rub. Then apply a mixture of half white vinegar and half water. Let it marinate a few moments before using clean towels or paper towels to soak up the liquid. Cover the spot with a towel while it dries.

If odor remains after it has completely dried, sprinkle baking soda over the spot and work it into the carpet. Let it sit for a few hours and then vacuum up. Hint: Do not try to clean with ammonia. It will only make your pet want to return to the scene of the crime and do it again.

Smoke: Did a holiday guest sneak a smoke inside your bathroom? Dampen a dish towel with vinegar and wave it around for a few minutes. Then set small bowls of white vinegar around the room.

Stale closets: Make sachets with cat box filler. Or fill mesh bags or clean, old pantyhose with activated charcoal, potpourri or cedar chips, then hang them inside the closet.

Trash cans: Sprinkle a ½ cup of borax or cat litter in the bottom to cut down on mold and bacteria growth.

Ovens: It’s a no-brainer to clean inside the oven. But did you ever think about what’s hiding behind it? After all the cooking and baking that begins with Thanksgiving, chances are some of that food and grease is hiding behind or underneath it. If the range is freestanding, try pulling it out to clean the backside and bottom. To freshen the inside, bake citrus rinds at 350 degrees.

Disposal: Chop up a lemon and drop it into your disposal or sprinkle baking soda over a few ice cubes and run through the unit to clean and freshen this notorious stink zone.

Dishwasher: Pour baking soda in an open bowl and leave it in the closed dishwasher overnight.

Carpets: Baking soda works great for removing odors. Sprinkle it liberally over your carpet, work it into the fibers with a broom, allow it to sit for at least several hours (several days is best), and then vacuum it up.

Refrigerator or freezer odors: If odors persist after removing all food and cleaning, check the drip pan underneath and wash with baking soda and water. If you have spoiled meat inside your fridge, rinse the area with vinegar, baking soda or tomato juice. If these measures don’t work and you’re going away for a few days - or if you’re prepared to do without perishables for a few days - fill the shelves with crumpled newspaper or with big shallow pans spread with ground coffee or activated charcoal. Shut the door and leave it for two to three days.

Microwave: Mix one cup of water with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or baking soda, put it inside the microwave and bring it to a boil for about 5 minutes. Let stand for another five minutes. Then wipe the interior dry.

Stale rooms: Place small bowls of white vinegar around the room and shut the door.

Bedding: Sprinkle baking soda, borax or a mixture of spices over your mattress, futon or bedding and leave overnight. Vacuum in the morning. Or sprinkle baking soda between the mattress and box springs and leave it. For a really musty mattress, sprinkle with cat box litter and leave for a weak, or wipe it with a sponge dampened with vinegar.

Toilets: To clean inside the tank, pour a half cup of vinegar inside. Using a scrub brush to wash the sides. Flush, add more vinegar and repeat. Don’t forget to wash around the base.

You can make a paste with equal parts of fresh lemon juice and baking soda, mixing until it has the consistency of pancake batter. Using a damp cloth, spread along the bottom of the toilet and let sit for 15 minutes. Then pour vinegar into a spray bottle and spray along the paste. Let it fizzle, then wipe with a rag.

Sources: The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell” by Julie Dana and Marcia Layton Turner, Mrs. Clean at Housecleaningcentral.com.