Natural Home Odor Eliminator: 8 Simmer Pot and DIY Ideas

The simplest natural home odor eliminator is a pot of water simmering with fruit, herbs or spices, plus fresh air and a clean source. Open a window, remove whatever is causing the smell, then simmer one of the blends below for 30 to 60 minutes.

One honest caveat: a simmer pot mostly freshens the room with a pleasant scent. It will not cure a damp dog bed or a wet carpet. Deal with the source first, and use the pot as the finishing touch.

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How do you deodorize your house naturally?

If you're wondering how to deodorize my house naturally, work in this order:

1. Find and remove the source: trash, laundry, pet bedding, a damp towel.
2. Ventilate for about 10 minutes so stale air leaves.
3. Absorb what remains with baking soda on rugs, in drawers or in a bowl near the problem.
4. Freshen with a simmer pot or a few drops of diluted scent, if you want one.

It's also worth skipping many store-bought sprays. The Salt Lake City sustainability team notes that many plug-in air fresheners emit dozens of different VOCs, even those labeled "unscented" or "natural". That is a good reason to prefer a simple DIY natural air freshener made from food ingredients.

Check whether you're nose blind

You stop noticing your own home's smell. Leave for 15 minutes, then walk back in. That first impression is what guests get, and it tells you whether the room needs help.

Baking soda and vinegar: what each one does

A baking soda and vinegar odor remover is popular, but the two work best separately. Utah State University Extension explains that baking soda neutralizes acid-based odors in water and adsorbs odors from the air. Sprinkle it on a dry carpet, leave it for a few hours and vacuum, or keep an open bowl in a closet.

White vinegar is useful for wiping hard surfaces and for a simmer pot after painting or cooking. Mixing it with baking soda just fizzes and cancels both out, so use one, then the other.

Eight simmer pot recipes

Each recipe goes in a pot of water, filled about three-quarters. Bring it to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer and top up the water as it drops.

1. Lemon, rosemary and vanilla

One sliced lemon, three sprigs of rosemary and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. The citrus reads as clean, the vanilla as warm. Use fresh fruit, since the scent comes mostly from the peel.

2. Vinegar and lemon

One cup of white vinegar, three cups of water and a quartered lemon. This is the practical one for cooking smells or a freshly painted room. The vinegar smell is sharp at first and fades as the steam clears. Don't let the pot boil dry.

3. Pine, cedar and bay

A handful of rinsed pine needles, a couple of untreated cedar chips, four dried bay leaves and a cinnamon stick. It suits a den or home office, where citrus can feel too bright.

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4. Ginger and mint

A sliced 3-inch piece of ginger and a cup of fresh mint. This is a milder pick for homes with pets, though no scent is risk-free for animals. Keep the pot on a back burner, out of reach of counter-surfing dogs and cats, and check with your vet about any plant or oil you're unsure of. Essential oils deserve extra caution around pets, so I'd leave them out of the pot.

5. Orange and clove

A thick-sliced orange, a tablespoon of whole cloves and two cinnamon sticks. It's a heavier, spicy scent that works in larger rooms or to cover food-prep smells before guests arrive.

6. Lime, thyme and mint

Two sliced limes with fresh thyme and mint. Lighter than the spiced blends, so it suits spring and summer.

7. Coffee beans

A quarter cup of roasted beans in three cups of water, with a teaspoon of cocoa if you like. Coffee gives a warm scent that overlays other smells, which is handy after a strong meal.

8. Eucalyptus and lavender

Half a cup of dried lavender and a branch or two of eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is strong, so start with one branch in a small bathroom. Both plants can be a concern for pets, so keep this one for rooms animals can't enter, and ask your vet if in doubt.

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What is the best natural deodorizer for a home?

The best natural deodorizer for home use depends on the problem. Baking soda is my first pick for absorbing odors from soft surfaces. Fresh air is the best fix for stale rooms. A simmer pot is the best choice when you want a pleasant scent rather than just neutral air. If smells keep coming back, a filter helps; see our picks in the best air purifiers for odors.

A natural dog odor eliminator for the home

For a natural dog odor eliminator for home use, start with washing. Launder dog beds and blankets regularly, vacuum upholstery, and let baking soda sit on rugs before vacuuming. Scenting the room hides little if the bedding is the source. Keep simmer pots well away from curious noses.

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Does boiling water help with humidity?

Dry winter air pulls moisture from wood, and a simmering pot adds a small amount back. The effect is local and modest, so don't treat it as a humidifier. If your home is persistently too dry or too damp, a hygrometer will tell you more than your nose does.

Choosing the pot and avoiding mistakes

Enameled cast iron holds a low simmer well, and a glass saucepan lets you see the ingredients. Any small pot works.

• Check the water every 30 minutes. A dry pot scorches and smells terrible.
• Never leave it unattended, especially with pets or children around.
• Strain the solids into the trash or compost. Rinds and cinnamon sticks can jam a disposal.
• Wipe the stove first so the pot isn't sitting on grease.

For more on cleaner air, see how to disinfect the air in your home, and for a greener approach to scent, safe houseplants for dogs and cats. Our longer list of boil ingredients has more options.

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Frequently asked questions