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

Shifrah Combiths
Shifrah Combiths
With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town…read more
updated Jun 13, 2023
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Modern kitchen with white cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel fridge, and black tile floor.
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Credit: Diana Paulson

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.

Arm & Hammer Odor Busterz Balls, 6 Pack
$14$12

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.

$12 at Amazon
Smells Begone Air Freshener Odor Absorber Gel
$16

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.

$16 at Amazon
NIYIKOW Nature Fresh Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags (4 Pack x 200g)
$13

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.

$13 at Amazon

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

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