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Something has burned on the stove or a burning cigarette has been forgotten and a fire breaks out? In the best-case scenario, the fire will be discovered quickly, no one will be injured and the damage to property will be limited. But usually, you need clever tips to remove the burnt smell.

How to get the burnt smell out of the house?

Anyone who has ever been confronted with such a situation knows how stubborn the smell of burning is in the home. The fire could have been so small. And even burnt food from the stove smells strong and unpleasant. But how do you get that burnt smell out of the house? Consequently, we have collected the best tips for removing the burnt smell. So you can neutralize the unpleasant smell in the apartment and breathe deeply again. Walls, furniture, and textiles must also be freed from the stench and this is how it works:

1) Ventilate enough to remove the burning odor

If you are the victim of a fire in your own four walls, you should first keep a cool head, even if it is not that easy. However, if you have a small fire that you can quickly put out yourself, you should be able to get rid of the smell quickly. To do this, you should first ventilate the room in which there was a fire with the windows wide open. As soon as the noxious smoke has disappeared, you can ventilate the whole apartment so that there is a good draft and the stench dissipates. Also, read tips on how to put out a grease fire.

2) Remove burning smell from objects with vinegar

Next, it is important to take all damaged, i.e. burnt, items out of the house or apartment outside. Undamaged items that have taken on the smell of burning should also be taken out to air out. Because these are mainly responsible for the fact that it smells burnt. If the items are heavy, such as furniture, and covered with soot, you can easily clean them with various home remedies to remove the burning smell. Vinegar works well as a cleanser.

3) Remove the burning smell from furniture and textiles with baking soda

If the furniture has been damaged by the fire, you may never be able to completely remove the burnt smell from it. Then you can try vinegar, but if there is a strong smell of burning, you should throw the items away. For bulky items, you can try standard cleaning methods. So try a thorough carpet cleaning, for example with the natural cleaning agent baking soda. And for the upholstery, clean the sofa with vinegar water or soda, depending on the material.

4) Remove burning smell from clothing

In the best case, you can let everything air out in the fresh air, otherwise, try special cleaning sprays to counteract the burnt smell. You should also put clothes, pillowcases, and blankets in the washing machine as soon as possible. Before that, you can treat clothing and other textiles with the household remedy baking soda. Simply put the baking soda in a garbage bag with your clothes and shake vigorously. Then leave it on overnight and the horrible smell from the clothes is gone.

5) Get rid of bad burn odors with coffee

As soon as you have ventilated and cleaned the respective objects, you can use other home remedies to neutralize odors. So that you can completely remove the smell of burning, place bowls of coffee in the apartment. It smells good and the bitter substances in the coffee neutralize the bad smells. So just put small bowls with fresh coffee powder in as many places as possible in your home and soon the burnt smell will disappear for good. Bowls with household remedy salt or the use of cat litter are also helpful. Because these effectively bind bad odors.

6) Checklist for the smell of burning

If you follow all the tips, you should be able to get your home odor-free again. So that you don’t forget anything, here is a checklist for removing the burnt smell.

  • Ventilate your apartment sufficiently.
  • Anything that was on fire or was very close to the scene of the fire must be removed.
  • Vinegar helps against soot on furniture and removes unpleasant burning smells.
  • With the help of the washing machine and odor removal sprays or baking soda, textiles become odor-free again
  • Bowls filled with coffee, salt, or cat litter can be used to remove the burnt smell from anywhere in the living area.

7) When to seek professional help?

If your fire was so bad that the fire brigade had to put it out, it is advisable to hire a specialist company to remove the burnt smell. Because the fumes that arise from such a major fire are very toxic and can pose a real danger to you and your family. In many cases, insurance will cover the cost of cleaning up after such a fire in your home. In addition, note what to do in the event of burns.

Asparagus is delicious and, thanks to valuable ingredients, also healthy. But as soon as you eat it, the delicious dish turns into a pungent smell in the toilet. Why is that?

The problem: Urine smells bad after eating asparagus

If only it weren’t for that unpleasant acrid smell when you go to the toilet, shortly after eating asparagus. However, fewer people are affected by this than is commonly thought.

The phenomenon of asparagus urine only occurs with every second person. The reasons can be very different. “Methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulphide compete in asparagus urine for the most unpleasant note,” says an article in the magazine Chemie in our time.
The foul-smelling substance trio is quite familiar to our nose: It also gives human biogases such as flatulence, mouth and athlete’s foot odor unpleasant notes.

Why does urine smell after eating asparagus?

Asparagus, whether white or green, contains asparagusic acid, which is initially odorless. However, if this is broken down, a sulphur-containing compound is formed which is excreted in the urine – with a corresponding odour.

However, this breakdown product only occurs if you have a certain enzyme – and not everyone does that. The genes decide who has this enzyme and who doesn’t. Only about 40 percent of people have such a gene that is able to produce the enzyme.

Still others can’t even smell the smell. The Apotheken Umschau writes that those affected then probably have a mutation in an odor receptor gene. But don’t worry, it’s neither bad nor dangerous.

Asparagus urine resembles skunk secretion

“The smell is harmless and not a sign of illness or poisoning,” reports Stefan Lorkowski, Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of Jena, to the Apotheken-Umschau. Stuffing when going to the toilet is still unpleasant. No wonder, since the substance is similar to the chemical compounds in the dreaded skunk secretion.

Only 15 minutes after enjoying an asparagus meal, it starts to smell. Nothing can be done about it. However, drinking plenty of water helps flush the breakdown products out of the body quickly.

Incidentally, the problem that the pee gives off a strange smell after eating asparagus is not new: reports of smelly asparagus urine have been around since the middle of the 17th century – a time when sulfur and sulfates were used as fertilizers for the first time.

Getting rid of the smell of garlic made easy. If you don’t want to do without garlic dishes, you should know a few home remedies. We’ll show you how to fight the annoying garlic stench.

After dinner with friends at an Italian restaurant, the smell of garlic is there. It was very delicious. And the pesto tossed in aioli was a dream. But the next day you are told more than once that you smell quite penetratingly of garlic.

1) Cut garlic instead of pressing

The medicinal plant garlic is widespread worldwide. And is often used for cooking. If you cook with the white tuber yourself, make sure that you cut it rather than press it. Of course, garlic presses are very common, but when pressed, the inner structures of the bulb are destroyed so severely that the allicin is released in particularly high concentrations. It is therefore “more odor-friendly” to cut the tuber with a sharp knife. Another obvious tip when eating is not to eat large pieces of garlic at all. Because these make the largest contribution to the unpleasant smell during digestion in the stomach. But you should use garlic as a medicinal plant, as it also has health effects.

2) Miracle milk against the smell of garlic

In order to effectively combat the smell of garlic, you need to know that the unpleasant smell is mainly caused by the sulfur compound allicin being formed in the stomach when garlic is digested. This gets into the blood. And is then excreted through the skin. If you drink high-fat milk while eating, the allicin that is produced is immediately dissolved in the milk. So it doesn’t get into the blood. Therefore, enjoying milk together with food containing garlic is a really good preventive measure. Instead of using milk to get rid of garlic, you can use Turkey’s national drink, Ayran. Ayran, a drink made from salted yogurt and water, has a fat content of approx. 3% and therefore also dissolves the allicin very well.

3) Get rid of brushing your teeth and smell of garlic

However, if you have failed to take preventive odor-inhibiting measures and the garlic has reached your stomach and the allicin has already formed, then good advice is expensive. Now the substance gets into the blood and you vaporize it for about 24 hours, whether you want it or not. Of course, brushing your teeth as often as possible helps to counteract the development of odors in your stomach and then your throat, i.e. bad garlic breath. Although this only covers the smell for a certain time, it still provides relief. I’ve also tried chewing and sucking certain anti-garlic dragees and chewing gum. These also manage to fight the worst garlic flag for at least 1-2 hours. Also, note our tips for brushing your teeth.

4) Get Rid of Garlic Smell with Apple and Green Tea

Raw apples work on a similar principle. Or use the home remedy green tea. When consumed at the same time as a meal, they also neutralize the foul-smelling sulfur compound that is produced and does not allow it to get into the blood in the first place. However, since it is rather unusual to eat raw apples with garlic dishes, this alternative is not very common.

5) Chew fennel seeds for garlic smell

One of our readers has a great home remedy to fight bad breath. According to this, you can get rid of the unpleasant smell of garlic by chewing fennel seeds. Simply grab a small number of fennel seeds after the food containing garlic and chew them properly. Our reader reported that he got this tip from an Indian restaurant.

6) Get rid of the garlic smell with lemon

Another reader recommended using lemons. So you can eat a few pieces of lemon. Or for the less hardcore among us: just dilute some lemon juice with water and drink it after the meal containing garlic.

7) cardamom, parsley, sage, and co.

Likewise, some swear by chewing parsley or cardamom. The use of the medicinal plant sage is also very effective. Essential oils are released when these helpers are chewed. And these can also bind the odorous substances. Ginger is also said to help get rid of the garlic smell. However, these methods take some getting used to and are not for everyone. However, I have not had the best experiences with these methods.

8) Get rid of the garlic smell with coffee beans

Coffee as a home remedy is known to many. And that the right coffee bean is also needed for a delicious coffee. But suck a coffee bean? Who does that? Well, some swear by it to get rid of the garlic smell after eating. It’s worth a try.

9) Get rid of garlic smell on skin and hands

The common thing about the smell of garlic is that it is mainly excreted through the skin. And it is very difficult to neutralize this smell. But it helps to shower as often as possible and to wash your skin and hands with stainless steel soap. And if you use a knife with a stainless steel handle in the kitchen, the steel neutralizes the garlic fumes. Accordingly, rinse your hands under running water and rub your palms on the steel soap or alternatively on the handle of your stainless steel knife. In addition, note valuable tips for cleaning stainless steel.

10) Making clothes garlic free

But even after the bath or shower, the evaporation continues through the skin. Since the smell also quickly settles in clothing, you should also change your clothes more frequently in the 24 hours after ingesting garlic. Likewise, don’t cover up the smell of garlic with perfume sprayed on your skin. Because the combination of the fragrances from the perfume and the allicin creates a thoroughly unpleasant fragrance cocktail and confuses every nose. Speaking of the nose, garlic is also a good home remedy for a cold.

At least you don’t smell yourself

So there are a lot of tips and tricks to deal better with the annoying problem of garlic smell. It is best if you work preventively. This means that when cooking or eating, think about the smell and contain it accordingly. However, once the garlic has reached the stomach, combating it is difficult. But don’t let the unpleasant side effects of the smell deter you from a nice visit to the Greek with a good tsatsiki or your delicious homemade tsatsiki and a doner kebab with a good garlic sauce. Because there is at least one positive effect: you don’t even notice the smell of garlic yourself.

Home remedies for smelly vacuum cleaners. Constant vacuuming is an annoying but necessary evil. If the vacuum cleaner suddenly stinks, the fun is over. But there are a number of things you can do to counteract the annoying stink – then it will soon be possible to get some fresh air again.

How the stench is created in the vacuum cleaner

The odor formation has various causes. Completely new devices in particular develop a frighteningly unpleasant stench after a few uses, which somehow smells of machines and strictly of plastic. Then you should let him stink for a moment. There is not much that can be done against this new smell, because just a few applications later it will disappear of its own accord. The situation is different with older vacuum cleaners. In order to be able to effectively combat the stench in used vacuum cleaners, you first have to look for the causes.

The causes smelly vacuum cleaner

  1. One of the least problematic causes is a dust bag that is full to the brim. Over time, along with old dirt, dust, and grime, various strains of bacteria and mites have taken root, causing the foul odor.
  2. Sometimes liquids and damp dust are sucked up. The engine heat inside the vacuum cleaner then quickly ensures the nesting of bacteria and mold growth. This creates a new stench again.
  3. Any mite filters that may be present also start to stink when they are dirty and the air is only insufficiently filtered.
  4. Even devices without filters can develop strange smells. The rotating movements of the cyclone technology ensure heat in the dust container. Are there already damp flakes of dust, wet dirt, etc. inside, germs and bacteria have the best breeding ground for their reproduction.
  5. In the period that follows, these vacuum cleaners also stink, especially if the containers are emptied too seldom.
  6. If none of these cases apply, the vacuum cleaner may have motor damage. This can lead to a great deal of heat being generated. On the one hand, it burns to dust and dirt and, on the other hand, singes the plastic of the housing. Then the vacuum cleaner can no longer be used.

Peppermint oil against unpleasant vacuum cleaner odors

Do you have a musty, unpleasant smell in the rooms after vacuuming? There is a very simple solution to this: peppermint oil. Drop a few drops of peppermint oil into the filter or bag. You can enjoy a fresh scent the next time you vacuum.

Measures against smelly vacuum cleaners

  1. Often only the bulging vacuum cleaner bag has to be replaced. Perfume fans can put vacuum cleaner deodorants in the new pouches, which are available as pearls, incense sticks, or essential oils.
  2. Another tip is to put a tablespoon of standard washing powder in the new vacuum cleaner bag or simply vacuum it up, which also provides a breath of fresh air from the vacuum cleaner. This also works with half-filled dust bags.
  3. Conventional deodorant spray or room spray also does a good job: the room spray is sprayed into the hose or the washing powder is sucked up. So you can enjoy the fragrance without having to replace a half-full dust bag – which ultimately saves money. Alternatively, a drop of perfume on the filter, through which the air is blown out again at the end, provides a good scent.
  4. The bag holders and the bins of the bagless vacuum cleaners should be wiped out regularly. Disinfectant wipes or simply moistened kitchen towels do a good job. But you can only continue vacuuming when the container is completely dry.
  5. Unappetizing dirt sometimes also causes a bad smell from the intake manifold. A look into the pipe and regular flushing with hot water work wonders. All dust and mite filters should be checked regularly and replaced if necessary.

Clever tips and natural home remedies to combat and permanently remove a stinking musty odor in the basement. We have collected the best tricks against moisture, bad smell, and mold for you.

Who doesn’t know this typical musty scent that a vaulted cellar likes to leave behind? Moisture, construction defects, lack of ventilation, mold – the smell can have many causes. You should get to the bottom of them and then use our tips to eliminate the problems.

Combating the causes to remove mold odor

Basements are the storage rooms in everyday life, but ultimately every second basement owner struggles with a musty smell. With these old house recipes and housewife tips, you can quickly get the problem under control. Depending on the extent and cause, different remedies help particularly well.

1) Vinegar against mildew odor

One of the main causes of damp basement walls and the rather musty smell is excessive humidity. A proven and successful household remedy helps against the smell: commercially available vinegar. You certainly have this at home. Handling is also easy.

Just put a glass or two of vinegar in a room. You will soon notice a change: the commercially available vinegar has the advantage that the musty smell is absorbed and removed after just a few days. Then you should ventilate the room properly so that the vinegar smell disappears again.

2) Salt against moisture

It is optimal if you use vinegar together with another household remedy: salt. It absorbs moisture and thus fights the cause of the musty odor. Three to four bowls filled with salt already help. Once the salt has become soaked with moisture, it must be replaced.

3) Cat litter against moisture

Cat litter also serves this purpose. Three to four larger containers are ideal for larger rooms. They easily replace electronic devices. The success is visible within a few days and ultimately even saves money. Once the litter has become soaked with moisture, you should replace it. As a rule, however, this is not necessary for normal room size.

4) Coffee against the musty smell

The acknowledged favorite drink of the Germans and probably the best-known pick-me-up has one outstanding property: coffee is an odor killer that quickly achieves the desired effect. So you can take it down to the basement after your morning treat and counteract the bad smell.

Place four to five teaspoons of coffee powder on a plate, place it directly in the room and the brown powder will do the rest. The air is cleaned after one or two days. Expensive chemicals and air fresheners, which usually only cover up the smell, are not necessary. The musty smell is gone.

5) Dehumidifier

If the actual problem has not yet been resolved, rough tools will help. For example, dehumidifiers literally suck up the moisture in a room. They also agree on larger vaults. There are many offers here. Depending on requirements, machines can also be borrowed from the local hardware store for larger issues.

Mold: A health threat

The musty smell can also be an indication of mold. Mold spores find a perfect breeding ground in damp rooms. The mold should definitely be removed. Affected furniture that is stored in the basement should be disposed of as soon as possible or dried thoroughly, for example in the sun.

An effective mold eliminator is an alcohol. The alcohol removes the water from the mold spores, as well as from the human body, and thus destroys the mold quickly and reliably. It is an ideal household remedy against mold caused by moisture.

You can also use vinegar as a home remedy instead if you have mold. You can read about the best way to do this and what other home remedies are effective against mold in the linked article. Sometimes, however, only professional mold remediation can help as a last resort. With the mold, you also remove the musty smell in the basement at the same time.

Avoid musty smell

If you ventilate regularly and ensure even air circulation, you won’t have any problems with mold and odors of the worst kind in the end. The following rules should be observed, especially for basement rooms: In summer, always air at night or in the early hours of the morning. If there is no window, it is essential to ensure regular air circulation by means of open doors.