Just like a charcoal water filter, charcoal briquettes can be used to absorb moisture and odor from the air in your home. A while back, Gregory tipped us off on using charcoal to remove fridge odors, but they definitely work in other rooms, too. We've found them particularly helpful for "old apartment smell" if you're in an old building or moist smells in basement-level units.
As for how to distribute them, you can simply lay a few out in a metal tray. Other options: sew pouches for them or use an old sock, then hang them in inconspicuous areas. Line a basket with foil or plastic and lay the briquettes inside. Or simply set them out on a tray on a shelf or side table: the black little pillows actually look kind of cool!
Be sure to get natural briquettes without mesquite or easy-light additives.
Have you used charcoal to rid your home of odors? How do you dispense it throughout your home?
Image: Sree Engineering Works
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Hmm. What a great idea! I'll definitely try it. We live in an old house and it kind of has an old house smell. The plug ins work, but can be way overwhelming and uses unnecessary electricity.
The same charcoal you use for the fish tank is great for the fridge too.
The natural wood one is cheap and good for larger areas.
The little plastic baskets that berries are sold in work great.
Very cool idea - when we're away for any length of time with the house closed up, it does tend to get musty.
Our house had the "old house" smell too. As soon as we started using a dehumidifier in the basement the smell was gone. I do like this idea though. I will try it in my vestibule that has no air circulation and gets that smell occasionally.
Does it work on pet dogs? Part of my house has that dog smell no matter how much I vacuum, dust, and wash the dog.
another dog owner here, hoping this works. thanks for the tip!
This is great! I recently had a Bath & Body Works wallflower spill onto my wood floors and the smell is nausiating and overwhelming from the minute you walk in! For the past two days I have put bowls of ground coffee out to help get rid of the odor and it has been working. However I think using these charcoal briquettes could be an added bonus- plus I agree they do look kind of cool pending no one touches them! Charcoal dust will get on everything!
Couple of briquettes in the trash can, under the liner?
AWESOME!! i have some but not enough to bbq with and I've been trying to get the old house smell out of my linen and clothes closets... Ive tried everything even down to bleach :( nothing worked! im gonna go try this right myah!
Needed this, my issue is also an closet... and a stairwell that always gets stuffy.
Awesome, I'll try this the next time my roommate makes curry. It stinks up the house for days.
Back in the 70s, I saw little bags of charcoal briquettes hanging from the ceiling in a fabric store. An employee explained (because I asked) that they used the charcoal to absorb smells.
Love this idea! I'm also an in-home dog owner and hope this helps cover up the inevitable smell!
I'm going to give this a go in the cat litter closet as well.
For things like curry - try boiling vinegar (or vinegar+water) for a few minutes. Yes, your place will smell like vinegar for about a half hour, but then all smells will be gone! Works well if you happen to burn something too.
I assume one would use the non-ready to light version?
Awesome idea! I just moved into a house that had been empty for a few months while the owners were advertising for tenants. We've gotten rid of the musty smell upstairs, but the basement is another story. I have a ton of little baskets and bowls that are about to become charcoal holders.
i live above my landlord who is indian , and his wife cooks everyday curry and other spices , my heart ache when i know the smells bothers some of my visitors , my nose got used to it , but it s embarrassing to smell that in my place who is well decorated and taken care :(
i ll try this for sure and boiling vinegar everyday thkx everyone . i love u all guys .
Wow, I can't wait to try this unscented alternative. Thanks. To ladymantle: Sometimes home smells do not come from garbage!
hmm... where can I get these charcoal briquettes? oh, and what is the difference between this and "activated charcoal"?
We bought volcanic rock in a mesh bag at ACE hardware. It worked great for dog smell in basement of our new house. You just set in sunlight for 8 hours to refresh. It worked wonders.
To anyone who's tried this, how long did the charcoals last before the stink came back?
And were you able to "refresh" the charcoal by sitting them in sunlight?
How many did you use to de-stink an entire room of what size?
As one person above asked: What kind of charcoal briquettes work best? Non-ready to light or ready-to-light?
Thank you, in advance.
Has anyone learned how long the charcoal is effective? Should it be replaced with fresh charcoal on a regular basis?