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ceryna
March 5th, 2004, 01:39 PM
I realize that baking soda is often used in food, but this is about cleaning-type stuff, not food, hence placing it here. ^^

The other day, in another thread, I posted that putting an open box of baking soda in a 'fridge can help absorb odors.

My problem isn't a malodorous refrigerator, however. ^^;;

Will the open box of baking soda technique work in rooms?

Here's my exact problem.

As most of you know, I have moved in with my parents temporarily to save up a down payment for a house (and no calling me a freeloader, I pay rent, a share of the utilities, and I buy my own groceries. :p ).

Of course, my bedroom was given away to my younger sister when I moved out at 18, and 7 years later, she still has it. This is why I now live in the dining room (with most of my stuff in storage).

The dining room is right off the kitchen, and while I have my shoji screen, a curtain, and my mom's tall wooden hutch blocking the doorway, that really only gives me visual privacy for changing clothes and stuff.

About two days ago, I noticed a really horrible odor in my room. At first I thought it was just something that had gotten burned in the kitchen and that it would dissipate, and then I thought that maybe I had spilled something and forgotten to clean it up, but I finally figured out this morning that it was coming from the garbage can, which was right by my "doorway".

Of course, the trash has now been taken out, but the smell is still lingering and I need to get rid of it, because it is seriously nauseating. I don't want to just cover it up with air freshener (is there even a vegan-friendly air freshener?), and while burning scented candles and the like helps when I'm home, they can't be left unattended and have to be extinguished before I go anywhere, which means I have to come home to a smelly room!

So what's the best way to eliminate this odor? I am definitely going to have to re-wash my bed linens, because I can even smell it on my pillows and stuff. (I just washed my linens this past weekend, too. *sigh* )

Will an open box of baking soda do the trick? Are there any other vegan-friendly methods of removing the odor? What products do you guys recommend?

Thanks!

(And yes, I realize I probably gave you way more detail than necessary, but sometimes I feel the need to explain myself thoroughly. Very thoroughly. Heh.)

missleigh
March 5th, 2004, 01:52 PM
http://www.differentdaisy.com/nexternalhtml/earth-friendly-stain-and-odor-remover.htm
This looks like it might work similiar to Febreze. It might be worth a try!

mazza1998
March 5th, 2004, 02:33 PM
Was the garbage bin on a carpet? If it was you can use baking soda like shake and vac..sprinkle it on the carpet, leave for 10 minutes and then vaccum it up.

eggplant
March 5th, 2004, 02:39 PM
Was the garbage bin on a carpet? If it was you can use baking soda like shake and vac..sprinkle it on the carpet, leave for 10 minutes and then vaccum it up.

I was going to say the same thing.

ceryna
March 5th, 2004, 02:56 PM
The garbage can is in the kitchen, on the linoleum. I could try taking it out and mopping underneath it, in case something leaked or spilled, though.

Missleigh, your suggestion looks good, I'll have to check that out.

Joe
March 6th, 2004, 05:17 AM
... but I finally figured out this morning that it was coming from the garbage can, which was right by my "doorway".
... Of course, the trash has now been taken out, but the smell is still lingering and I need to get rid of it, because it is seriously nauseating.
So what's the best way to eliminate this odor?


Trash cans need to be washed out from time to time. Sometimes soapy water and a scrub brush need to be used. You might need to do this. (Easier if can is plastic than if made of metal.) Then, after it dries, sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom before inserting the liner.

Sometimes food or whatever can stick to the inside of the lid, so this needs to be cleaned too.

Possibly some essential oil (like lemon oil) can be put inside the can to help deal with the odor.