These 3 Products Eliminate Odor, Not Just Mask It — and They Keep My Home Smelling Fresh and Clean

updated Jun 12, 2023
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This year, my family and I moved into our new house in Tennessee. It had been sitting vacant for a while, and therefore, smelled a bit stale. We’re also a household of seven, including two dogs, a cat, and three little kids who play lots of sports. This means there are a lot of smells going on in our home.

I really don’t want our home to smell bad. But I know that you can get used to the way your home smells, so much so that it can be difficult to distinguish whether or not it’s an unpleasant scent. That’s why I try my best to identify what it must smell like to our guests by taking it all in when I walk in the door after being outside.

While I like lighting candles for the ambiance they provide and diffusing essential oils for their gentle aroma, I prefer to not mask household odors and instead neutralize them. After trying several different methods, I think I’ve figured out a way to deal with all the particular odors that can be an issue in a home. Here are three odor-eliminating products I’ve found that keep my home smelling presentable.

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Amazon
$11.96
was $13.99

These Arm & Hammer Odor Busterz Balls are cute, but more importantly, they fit easily into many different places. I have one at the bottom of my kitchen garbage can, underneath the bag and another few in our shoe racks — especially where my kids keep their cleats. They’d also be good in the fridge, in gym bags, or in the car.

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Amazon
$16.10

I use the Smells Begone Air Freshener Odor Absorber Gel particularly because of animal smells. They have a somewhat strong scent when you first open them up, but it soon dissipates, leaving behind a gel that absorbs unpleasant odors without masking them with another fragrance.

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Amazon
$12.98

These charcoal air-purifying bags are also super convenient for tossing into any smelly area. They’re great for gym bags, shoe racks, and even the car. The best thing about them is that they can be “re-charged” by being set out in the sun.

What odor-eliminating solutions do you have in your home? Share in the comments below.