Moving into a new house is always an exciting step in anyone’s life. After all, each home has its own unique charms. Unfortunately, some pre-owned homes also come with their own unique odors – some of which aren’t so charming.
Whether you’re getting ready to move or simply tackling some much-needed spring cleaning, this How-To Guide will explain how to get rid of the most common (and unwanted) odors in a home. These tips are also great if you’re getting your home ready for sale.
In this guide:
- What’s the best home odor remover: Neutralizer or deodorizer?
- How odor neutralizers work
- The right technique for getting rid of odors in a home
- How to get rid of pet odors in the house (cat, dog, ferret, mouse)
- Eliminating cigarette smell in house
- Eliminating damp and musty smells from the house
- What to do if you still smell the odor after a couple of treatments
- Where to find Purodora products
What’s the best home odor remover: Neutralizer or deodorizer?
The particles behind a home’s strong, lingering odors such as urine, cigarette and musty smells, can seep into all sorts of surfaces. When it comes to eliminating any unwanted smell, you have to locate the source of the odor and neutralize it.
Unfortunately, few products sold in stores are actually odor neutralizers; they simply mask or deodorize the smell. Some merely create an unpleasant mix of odors that can make the situation worse. Even if these products do work for a while, the unwanted odor will eventually return.
To completely eliminate stubborn odors for good, you need a product containing an odor neutralizer that’s specific to the molecule behind the odor.
Purodora products use advanced odor-neutralizing technology to eliminate even the most stubborn odors on contact (including products that eliminate skunk smell).
How odor neutralizers work
Purodora odor neutralizers quickly and permanently eliminate all types of tough odor problems, including cigar, wet dog smell and urine. They even eliminate odors that have been around for years. As soon as the product comes into contact with the source of the odor, it molecularly binds to it to neutralize the odor. The odor instantly disappears. The only smell Purodora products leave behind is a fresh, pleasant scent.
See the science behind this advanced odor neutralizing technology and why Purodora products are guaranteed to work!
PRO TIP
For best results, make sure the odor neutralizer reaches ALL of the unwanted odor
To eliminate the unwanted smells completely and permanently, odor neutralizers need to come into contact with the entire source of the odor. For deeply embedded odors, a few treatments may be needed for the product to reach all of the odor-causing molecules and neutralize them entirely.
The right technique for getting rid of odors in a home
Having the right products is important, but it will only take you so far. You also need to use the right odor-removing technique. Below we explain the best odor-removing techniques and products that are proven to work.
How to get rid of pet odors in the house (cat, dog, ferret, mouse)
If the previous tenants had multiple pets, the house or apartment might be full of all sorts of animal smells: cat urine, wet dog, skunk spray – pets can create a kaleidoscope of smells!
PRO TIP
General pet odor or urine smell?
The first step is to figure out what type of odor you’re dealing with, since different odors need to be treated with different products.
Eliminating general pet odors
Eliminating general pet odors from hard surfaces
We recommend using Purodora Disinfectant and Animal Odor Neutralizer. It’s used by pet stores, veterinary clinics, boarding houses, breeders, groomers and animal shelters as a routine cleaner and urine odor neutralizer.
- Quickly eliminates all animal odors
- Neutralizes odors, doesn’t mask them
- Does double duty as a household cleaner and disinfectant that’s safe to use on all hard surfaces: wood floors, walls, ceilings, ceramic, cabinets, concrete, etc.
- Leaves a clean mint scent for several hours
- Won’t damage or dull the finish on wood floors
- Water-based and has a neutral pH
- Safe for people, pets and planet
How to use Purodora Disinfectant and Animal Odor Neutralizer
Clean floors and walls with ½ cup (120 ml) of Purodora Disinfectant and Animal Odor Neutralizer mixed with in 1 gallon (4 L) of water.
Eliminating general pet odors in the ambient air
A surprising amount of pet odors are actually trapped in the ambient air. Here’s how you can get rid of airborne animal odors in any room of your home.
In homes WITH a ventilation system, air exchanger or air conditioning system
- Spray the diluted Purodora Disinfectant and Animal Odor Neutralizer on the filters of the ventilation or A/C system or air exchanger.
- Immediately reinstall the filters while still wet with the product and run the system continuously to distribute the product in the ventilation ducts and throughout the house to eliminate unwanted odors.
- If you can, respray the filters every 2 hours until the odor is completely gone.
In homes WITHOUT a ventilation system, air exchanger or air conditioning system
- Spray the diluted Purodora Disinfectant and Animal Odor Neutralizer on a clean cloth and hang over a table or floor fan.
- Run the fan for one hour in each room where pet odors are present. Keep the windows open, if possible.
- You can treat multiple rooms at the same time if you have access to more than one fan.
Eliminating pet urine odors
Unlike general pet odors, which are often present throughout the house, urine odors are usually localized to specific areas – such as in the room where the litter box was kept. However, if the previous tenants had multiple pets – or if the pet was prone to “accidents”, there may be urine odors in more than one room.
The first step is to locate the source of the urine odor.
PRO TIP
If you’re lucky enough to be able to ask the previous owners about the pets, this will make your odor-destroying job easier. Ask questions like:
- How long have you had pets?
- Where was the litter box or pee pad located?
- Did the pet tend to urinate in a specific spot?
- Did it ever urinate in other places?
If you aren’t able to ask the previous tenants, use your nose. Get down on your hands and knees and start sniffing around the most common areas where pets tend to pee: patio doors, windowsills, near heaters, in bathrooms and the laundry room. You might feel a little silly, but your nose will tell you where the dried-up urine is hiding.
Once you have found the source of the odor, use a proven urine odor neutralizer like Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer.
Why use Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer:
- Neutralizes urine (and other odors) on contact
- Even totally destroys odors that have been ingrained for years
- Easy to use; just spray and walk away
- Works on both hard and soft surfaces: wood, ceramic & concrete floors, mattresses, carpets, sofas and more
- Won’t stain fabrics
- Leaves a pleasant citrus scent
- Alcohol-based product that evaporates quickly to leave surfaces dry
- Won’t cause boards to swell and warp (like water-based product)
- Won’t promote the growth of mold
How to use Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer
Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer is used in different ways, depending on the surface being treated.
Eliminating pet urine odors from low-pile carpets or concrete floors
Spray Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer directly on the affected surface and allow to air dry. No rinsing required.
Eliminating pet urine odors from thick carpets
- Make a circle around the affected area and enlarge it by 4 to 5 inches to make sure the product reaches all of the urine.
- Inject Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer into the base of the carpet with a syringe and needle (it’s easy and it really works!).
- Start at the outside of the circle and work your way toward the center. Inject roughly 1 tsp (3 to 5 ml) of Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer at 1-inch intervals to make sure the product reaches all of the urine.
PRO TIP
What to do if Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer leaves a dark ring on fabrics
Alcohol-based products like Urine Odor Neutralizer can sometimes leave a dark ring on certain colored fabrics where the dye has not set properly. No need to worry! Simply rub the fabric with a damp cloth and the stain will disappear immediately
Eliminating pet urine odors from wood or ceramic floors
When it comes to wood or ceramic floors, it’s not the boards or tiles where the urine odor is coming from, but the porous grout between the tiles and the spaces between and underneath the boards. You’ll need to get Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer into these small spaces for it to reach and neutralize the urine odor.
- Use a narrow squirt bottle to get the product into the grout or cracks in the floor with more precision.
- Wipe off any excess product on the surface of the floor with a damp cloth. Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer will instantly neutralize the urine odor on contact and then quickly evaporate without damaging the grout or causing the boards to swell and warp.
Eliminating stubborn pet urine smell from floors
Since gravity also works on urine, it may have sunk deeper into the concrete or carpet. In this case, a second treatment may be required.
- If the odor is coming from a baseboard trim, be sure to insert Purodora Urine Odor Neutralizer between the floor and the baseboard using a squirt bottle.
- If the sections between the wood planks are too tight, you can use a syringe and needle instead of a squirt bottle.
Eliminating cigarette smell in house
Cigarette smoke can infiltrate just about anything in a home: the ventilation system, between walls, carpets, plastics – you name it. But it can be done, especially with the right products.
PRO TIP
Before tackling the cigarette odor problem in your home, look for any yellowish streaks on the walls. This might be a sign that the previous occupants smoked heavily or for a long time. A simple household cleaner will not be enough to remove these smoke streaks. A degreaser that’s safe to use on walls will do the trick.
We recommend two cigarette odor neutralizers, depending on the type of surface being treated. Both are specifically designed to neutralize the cigarette, cigar and cannabis odors.
Eliminating cigarette smell from hard surfaces
Why use Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Hard Surfaces
- Guaranteed to work (contains a neutralizer specific to smoke odor from cannabis, cigarettes and cigars)
- Thoroughly cleans dirt and removes nicotine particles from any hard surface
- Water-based concentrated neutralizer
- Biodegradable and pH neutral
- Safe for people, pets & home
- No rinsing required
- Leaves a pleasant pine and citrus scent in the air for several hours after use
How to use Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Hard Surfaces
- Mix ½ cup (120 ml) of Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Hard Surfaces with 1 gallon (4 L) of water and clean all hard surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings, cabinets, etc.) with a clean cloth.
- Allow to air dry. No need to rinse.
- Be sure to also clean the filters in your range hood.
Eliminating cigarette smell from fabric surfaces
Why use Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics
- Guaranteed to work (contains a neutralizer specific to smoke odor from cannabis, cigarettes and cigars)
- Completely eliminates smoke odors in fabrics and other soft surfaces such as upholstered furniture
- Easy-to-use product, no diluting or rinsing required
- Alcohol-based neutralizer: works on contact and then quickly evaporates to eliminate the risk of fabrics mildewing
- Won’t stain fabrics
- Also great for use on car seats, carpets & seatbelts
- Safe for people, pets & home
- Leaves a pleasant peach & sandalwood scent in the air for several hours after use
How to use Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics
- Spray Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics on carpets, curtains or any other fabric that smells of cigarette smoke.
- Allow to air dry. No rinsing required.
PRO TIP
If the previous tenants were heavy smokers, or lived in the home for a long time, the nicotine molecule will probably have infiltrated everywhere – even behind the walls. You may need to repeat the treatment over several days. Don’t lose hope. Within a few days, Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics will reach the entire source of the odor and completely eliminate it.
Eliminating cigarette smell from the ambient air
In homes WITH a ventilation system, air exchanger or air conditioning system
Option 1. Clean the filters. For best results, soak them in a bucket for 1 hour in 2 to 8 Tbsp. (30 to 120 ml) of Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Hard Surfaces mixed with 1 gallon (4 L) of water. (Use the lesser amount of product for light cleaning; the larger amount for deep cleaning). Make sure the filters are completely submerged.
Option 2. Replace the filters if they are very old or dirty. Spray the new filters with the diluted Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Hard Surfaces.
For both options, put the filters immediately back in the system and run it continuously to distribute the product through the system ducts.
Re-spray the filters every 2 hours times to completely neutralize the odor in the air ducts and ambient air.
PRO TIP
Always use a water-based odor neutralizer to clean filters in a ventilation system, air exchanger or air conditioning system
Using an alcohol-based odor neutralizer could pose a fire risk if the filters are located close to the system’s motor. Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Hard Surfaces is water-based, so there’s no risk of fire.
In homes WITHOUT a ventilation system, air exchanger or air conditioning system
- Spray Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics on a clean cloth and hang it over a fan.
- Run the fan continuously for one hour in the room. Keep the windows open, if possible.
- Repeat in each room that smells of smoke.
You can treat multiple rooms at the same time if you have access to more than one fan.
Eliminating damp and musty smells from the house
If the house has been empty or sealed up for a while, it may have acquired a musty smell. Other homes can develop a damp smell – particularly in the basement, the garage or the bathroom.
To eliminate this unpleasant smell, we recommend cleaning and treating the air with Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer. It effectively eliminates all musty and damp odors.
Why use Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer
- Guaranteed to work
- Completely eliminates damp odors in hard surfaces (concrete, wood, walls or ceilings)
- Easy-to-use product, no rinsing required
- Also great for use on carpets
- Safe for people, pets & home
- Leaves a pleasant herbs & peach scent in the air for several hours after use
How to use Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer
Step 1: Find out what’s causing the odor
If you’re noticing a damp smell in your home, the very first thing you should do is try to identify and locate the source of the smell as it may be hiding a larger problem that will need to be fixed. Otherwise, the damp smell will just keep returning.
PRO TIP
If you can’t pinpoint the exact source of the problem, start by treating the air in your home. It might make it easier to identify where the smell is coming from.
Eliminating damp and musty smells from hard surfaces
Dilute ½ cup (120 ml) of Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer in 1 gallon (4 L) of warm water and clean all hard surfaces (floors, cabinets, walls).
Eliminating damp and musty smells from raw wood, plywood and metal
Spray the diluted Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer directly on the surface and allow to work.
Eliminating damp and musty smells from the ambient air
In homes WITH a ventilation system, air exchanger or air conditioning system
- Spray the new filters with the diluted Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer.
- Put the filters back in the system while still wet with the product and run it continuously to distribute the product through the system ducts.
- Re-spray the filters every 2 hours times to completely neutralize the odor in the air ducts and ambient air.
In homes WITHOUT a ventilation system, air exchanger or air conditioning system
- Spray the diluted Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer on a clean cloth and hang it over a fan.
- Run the fan continuously for one hour in the room. If possible, keep the windows open.
- Repeat in each room with a damp or musty smell.
You can treat multiple rooms at the same time if you have access to more than one fan.
What to do if you still smell the odor after a couple of treatments
Don’t worry. Just be patient and keep at it.
It can take up to several days to completely eliminate the smell of smoke from a home – especially if the cigarette smell has been around for a long time. Don’t get discouraged. If 75% of the smell is gone within a few days, it means the treatment is working, but that there are still some nicotine particles left to neutralize. Keep treating the surfaces or rooms. Eventually you will eliminate 100% of the cigarette smell from your home, once and for all.
Get more bang for your buck with multi-purpose odor destroyers
We know how frustrating it can be to buy a specialized product you might only use once. Purodora products are designed to eliminate specific odors, but can also be used for a wide range of purposes both inside and outside the home.
Where to find Purodora products
Purodora odor neutralizers are available online and at many pet supply stores. To find the retailer nearest you, consult our Find Us section!
We want you to be completely satisfied with our products. If you have any questions or comments, contact us by email, phone or live chat! We’re here to help!
