13 Clever Deodorizing Hacks For A Fresh-Smelling Living Room

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Living rooms, being one of the most heavily used rooms in the house, often retain bad smells. Luckily, there are tons of clever deodorizing hacks that can keep your living room smelling fresh, even if you've gone nose blind to the issue at hand. Whether it's pet dander building up in the carpets, piles of shoes by the door, dinners spilled by toddlers, or sweaty teenage boys lounging on couches, these hacks work wonders.

Keeping things smelling nice, or even just neutral in some situations, can often feel like a never-ending uphill battle. That's why it's best to find methods that require little to no effort or planning on your part. If you're someone who just wants to flip a switch and have bad smells vanish, there are a few options here for you. However, if you prefer a more hands-on, DIY approach, there are also some interesting recipes you can employ. These are our top tips for a fresh-smelling living room.

Air purifiers work wonders for adding extra ventilation to a room, significantly reducing odors and creating a more pleasant living space. If you have lots of pets or any health conditions that make you sensitive to dust and dander, this should be one of the first hacks you try. Make sure to invest in an air purifier with a HEPA filter to remove these airborne particles and odors. Knowing how to use an air purifier is easy, even if you've never owned one before.

Just set it up in a location that gets plenty of airflow; this means not placing it backed up against a wall or too close to the ground. The fan will suck in the bad air, run it through its filter, which catches dust, pet hair, and the like, and then spit out fresher air. However, if the filter gets too dirty, then it can stop purifying the air. The best way to clean it depends on the model you have, but most require the filter to either be vacuumed, brushed off, or even washed. Do this at least once a month for the best results. 

Our couches and lounge chairs see a lot of action. This includes close contact with muddy paws, spills from dinner, and sweaty clothes when you're relaxing after a run. Because of that, you should be routinely laundering your cushions. About every six months, you should be stripping all the upholstery that you can. Check your couch cushions for zippers to see what you can wash. This not only includes the throw pillows, but also the covers for the seat and backing pillows, too. The best water temperature and cleaning solution will depend on their specific fabric, but they will smell a heck of a lot better when they come out. If you are worried about them losing shape in the dryer, air dry them instead.

While in the wash, take the opportunity to launder your throw blankets and living room curtains, too. As for the cushions that couldn't be put in the wash, invest in an upholstery cleaner like Bissell's Little Green Cleaner, which retails for $124 on Amazon. This uses water and upholstery-safe detergent to wash the cushions right on the couch or chair. One button dispenses the soapy water, and the other suctions it from the fabric, leaving it dry. You will be surprised by the difference this makes to the overall smell of the space.

Maybe vacuuming in general feels like too much work, let alone sprinkling all your rugs with deodorizer. However, cleaning your floors regularly is a huge part of keeping your living room smelling fresh. Dirt and other grime, if left to linger on the floor and get ground into the carpet, can really stink. If you have multiple pets, you may even need to vacuum daily to keep up with all the hair and dander. Yet if you feel like the chore is too much, make your life easier by buying a machine that does it all for you: a robot vacuum.

When thinking of a robot vacuum, you might think of a Roomba. However, there are plenty of other brands available that do a great job, too. However, keep in mind that the best robot vacuum for your floor type can differ, as certain brands do better when changing from carpet to tile, for example, than others. You also want to ensure the vacuum has an adequate sensor so the machine doesn't bump into furniture or fall down stairs. If the vacuum is on the cheaper side and has an unreliable sensor, it can eventually scuff furniture or knock down decor.

There is nothing like a classic candle to make a living room smell better. If you don't have time to get rid of a smell before company comes over, or you just want to add an extra sparkle to it after a long day of cleaning, reach for a candle. While national brands like Yankee Candle are a reliable choice, you might also consider shopping the collection of some of your favorite HGTV stars. Erin and Ben Napier's Laurel Mercantile collections offer delightful holiday scents, while Joanna and Chip Gaines also sell scents at their famed Magnolia Market.

Whatever you choose, remember to avoid common candle errors like not allowing your candle to burn all the way to the edges. This is especially important the first time you light it to prevent tunneling. You should also be wary of having too many candles near each other in your living room. The flames in close proximity can cause a flare, which can cause them to flicker and grow, potentially catching nearby things on fire. Of course, always blow out the candles when leaving the room for an extended period.

If you find that your living room always has the kind of dank, musty smell that comes from it always being a little bit wet, a dehumidifier is your best solution. The machine works to suck moisture from the air, so that it doesn't condense and make everything prone to mold or "damp" odors. It also makes the room feel more pleasant overall, as humidity can make it feel a lot hotter than it actually is. Rooms should never be above 60% humidity to be comfortable and mold-free, so a dehumidifier can help you achieve both of these — with better smells all around.

If you find that a machine is a bit out of the budget, or looks too out of place in your living room, you can also purchase dehumidifying beads, such as the Hi-Capacity Moisture Absorber Bucket from DampRid for $14. These small, gel-like pellets absorb moisture and allow you to pour the accumulated water out of the cup to clean them. You can set them behind plants or on a bookshelf so they do their job without ruining your decor.

Although introduced in a tongue-in-cheek Dry January campaign, Martha Stewart's partnership with Tito's Vodka is actually a great way to get rid of smells in your living room. The idea is that you can spritz the liquor on things that you can't put through the washing machine or don't have the time to launder. The reason vodka is effective is because of its high alcohol content, which acts as a powerful disinfectant against the germs and bacteria that cause stink. However, don't use the liquid straight from the bottle. Instead, put it in a spray bottle, as it works best when misted, not poured. Just be sure that it's not flavored vodka, as any sugars or syrups will make it sticky.

It's a great hack to have on hand for your carpet, upholstered furniture, and even any clothing or pet toys in your living room. That's because it's a pretty powerful deodorizer. "You can spray your gym bag with vodka; if you go to your favorite restaurant and you leave [smelling like food], you can spray that with vodka; If you stand next to a smoker, you can spray that with vodka," laundry expert Patric Richardson told Apartment Therapy.