Whether you buy the most expensive air fresheners or use the best washing detergents, sometimes there is a nasty, lingering odour in your home that you cannot get rid of. From sweaty armpits in clothes or smelly stains on sofas and mattresses, there’s a simple solution hiding in your cupboard to make your home smell fresh.
With one common type of alcohol, you can freshen up your space quickly and naturally with no harsh chemicals required. A popular cleaning content creator who goes by the handle @brunchwithbab revealed that cleaning with vodka can actually banish odours from your home. It may sound odd, but the expert guarantees your home won’t smell like a pub; here’s how to do it.
The cleaning creator began the video by questioning: “Did your grandmother ever tell you the secret to getting rid of those stinky odours? It’s vodka.”
She went on to explain, “Fill a spray bottle with vodka and mist away. It eliminates odours on clothes, just focus on those stinky areas, and it will save you money at the dry cleaners. No more stinky sneakers around here.”
Babs demonstrated by spraying different areas in her home: “It even eliminates odours on those mattresses; it works on mattresses too. Grandmas know best, and now you know vodka is not just for drinking.”
In the caption of her video, she provided further detail on the method: “All you need is vodka and a spray bottle. Make sure your spray bottle has a mist setting—not just a straight spray. To spray clothing, focus on the areas that collect the most bacteria and, therefore, odour, like under the sleeves.
“Spray from about 18 inches away from the clothing in sort of a sweeping motion. Vodka kills odour-causing bacteria and evaporates without a trace.”
Cleaning experts at Continental Maid Services advised mixing equal parts distilled water and vodka. For an added scent boost, include a few drops of an essential oil in the spray bottle.
Vodka is a great cleaning solution due to its high alcohol content, usually around 40% for standard bottles. According to Martha Stewart’s blog, the alcohol can easily cut through grease and grime without the use of any potentially toxic ingredients.
The alcohol also evaporates quickly, “leaving no streaks or residue behind. Plus, it’s odourless once dry, meaning your home won’t smell like a pub.”
Vodka can also be used for cleaning mirrors and windows. The expert on the Martha Stewart site said: “I use a mix of vodka, vinegar, water, cornflour and lemon essential oil to make my window cleaning solution.
“The vodka eliminates streaks and removes any residue, the vinegar and lemon cut through dirt and grease, whilst the cornflour gently buffs away any stubborn marks, like dried-on toothpaste on your bathroom mirror.”
How to make the mirror-cleaning solution:
Bring 500 ml of water to a boil, then allow it to cool slightly. Then, pour the warm water into a measuring jug and stir in one tablespoon of cornflour until fully dissolved.
Add two tablespoons each of vodka and white vinegar, along with ten drops of lemon essential oil. Mix thoroughly, then transfer the mixture into a spray bottle.
