Cold weather often forces us to keep the doors and windows shut. This is especially true in winter when temperatures drop significantly. While shutting the doors and windows keep us warm, they do have the undesirable side-effect of producing stuffy smells. This is usually caused by the buildup of mold and mildew, resulting from moisture, and a lack of enough ventilation and sunlight.

Though every house owner prefers to use the best canister vacuum cleaner for their home, sometimes the vacuum has some little effect. So, these following 6 unconventional tips and related natural substances will get the job done.

Vodka

As outlandish as it may at first sound, vodka is actually a great remedy for many problems around the house. Vodka can be used to disinfect and deodorize, as well as to clean jewelry. According to Snap Clean, when it comes to a stuffy-smelling house, vodka is a great solution when you find that damp source of the smell. All you have to do is sprinkle a little vodka on the area, and let it dry.

Vinegar

Vinegar, also known as acetic acid, is another multi-purpose liquid that can help a great deal in riding a house of bad smells. Vinegar usually contains about 5 to 20% acetic acid, which kills a wide variety of germs, including bacteria and viruses. Vinegar also acts as a deodorizer and grease remover. Simply mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts of water in a spray bottle, spray on the damp, smelly areas, and allow to dry.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is usually available as a white powder. Scientifically known as Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3), baking soda has a wide variety of uses in the home. As with the previous 2 remedies, you need to find the origin of the odor, simply sprinkle some baking powder on it, and allow it some hours to work its magic and stop the foul smell. If there are smells originating from the refrigerator, just put a pack of baking soda in it. It should last for a year.

Zeolite

Zeolite is a powerful desiccant. It is a naturally occurring mineral that absorbs the odor from its environment. Simply leave the Zeolite in your problem area and it will start to absorb the stuffy smells. It lasts for about 6 months but can be recharged by simply being left out in the sun for a day or two, or in a very hot oven for about 30 minutes.

Ground Coffee

Ground coffee is another very effective substance that can be used to get rid of stuffy smells. To use ground coffee, you will need old socks. Fill the socks with the ground coffee and hang in stuffy spaces. Given some time, the ground coffee will absorb the odors. The only down-side to this remedy is having your guests see the socks that you have hanging around.

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a special form of carbon that has a very high capacity for removing odors. It is often found in many odor removal products. To use this method, fill a plastic container with activated charcoal and leave it to absorb the odor. The down-side here is that this process takes up to a week. Secondly, charcoal can cause quite a mess, so handle with care. The third downside is that charcoal is not reusable once its effects wear down. On the other hand, it is very cheap.

Conclusion

With the 6 tips above, you are sure to get rid of the stuffy smell in your home, using any of the methods of your choosing. One more thing to keep in mind though is that mold and mildew can be entirely avoided, by regularly arranging and cleaning the house, vacuuming, dehumidifying and frequently airing it.

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