Q Reader’s Odor Question
“Sooo…. I’m in college and work at a medicinal marijuana distribution facility. I am very straight edge, and my friends, family and roommates have no idea of this part of my life. I’d like to keep it this way! My problem is that my schooling backpack continually smells of a fresh weed odor. Last night, my roommate Jordy actually asked me if I had been around an area of a skunk spray. I worry that they will soon find out about this additional income source if I don’t take measures to prevent it from happening. Can you help me? Many Thanks! – Kevin”
A Smell Removal Answers
1 White Vinegar Wash Cycle
As a preliminary step, you will want to work to deodorize the backpack to eliminate any musty weed odors. You can accomplish this by adding an deodorizing boost to your normal detergent washing machine cycle of the backpack. Once you have checked to see if your backpack is machine washable, you will want to place the machine settings accordingly, and proceed to add in a additional cup of white vinegar within the cycle. Once completed, hang the backpack outside to air dry rather than opting for the drying machine. This will help to avoid unwanted shrinkage and will help to lift away any additional odors.
2 Baking Soda Detergent Boost
If you do not have white vinegar, baking soda can work well as a deodorizing alternative. Measure one cup of baking soda and add it within a normal wash cycle along with normal washing machine detergent. The baking soda will work to absorb some of the deep weed odors within the fiber and leave it smelling fresh. Similar to white vinegar, you will want to hang to backpack outside to naturally air dry rather than using the drying machine.
3 Vodka Spray
If you are on the go, spraying your backpack down with vodka can be highly effective at cutting through many of the odors. The high alcohol content neutralizes many weed odors on contact and works to dry away odorously. Pour a small amount of vodka within a spray bottle and proceed to spray down your backpack. Once you have sprayed down the entire backpack, put the backpack in the sun to allow the alcohol to quickly evaporate and lift much of the unwanted aroma away.
4 Deodorizing Product Spray
As another fast solution, the use of a store bought deodorizing product can work well at covering up the odor within the short term. Whether it is Glade or Febreze, will need to give the backpack a thorough spray down and place it within the sun to quickly evaporate. In many circumstances, this will be sufficient to properly cover the scent of weed.
5 Trash Bag the Backpack
As a preventative solution, you may want to consider always having a trash bag within your backpack. Any time that you anticipate being around weed, simply place the backpack within the enclosed trash bag. This will ensure that no weedy residues will make their way within the canvas material.
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Photo credit: Chuck Coker
Once a milk spill has occurred, it is extremely important to blot dry all of the substance from the affected area within the car. Using a clean hand towel, press against the upholstery, padding or carpeting until all available moisture has been extracted from the surface.
As a secondary action, you will want to apply a mixture of white vinegar to the location where the stink of sour milk has developed. Begin by mixing a solution of one part white vinegar with four part water within a generic spray bottle. Proceed to mist down the affected areas of the car until they have become fully drenched in this formula. Allow the mixture to soak in for 4-5 hours, before returning to blot dry the white vinegar solution and leaving the windows open to properly air dry away.
As an alternative to white vinegar, enzyme cleaning spray can have an even more powerful effect in eliminating sour milk smell within a car. Purchase a enzyme cleaner at your local pet store or large super market, and proceed to heavily spray down the milk affected areas until they are sufficiently moist. Once completed, allow the enzyme spray to settle in for 24-48 hours while the active enzymes go to work in literally eating through the odorous residues. After 1-2 days have passed, the enzyme moisture can be blot dried, leaving a freshened car interior behind. As a note of precaution, avoid using this enzyme formula on leather or suede automotive upholstery.
As another absorbent measure, coffee ground trays can work to pulling difficult automobile odors. Spread a cup of coffee grounds across two different cookie trays. Next, place the trays under the two front seats and allow them to remain the for 1-2 weeks. During this time, the grounds will work to absorb the residual milk odors and replace them with the subtle aroma of coffee beans.
Airing the car out in the sun can have a powerful deodorizing effect. Find a safe place to park your car within direct sunlight for 6-8 hours with all of the car’s windows rolled down. If any smell remains after the an entire day within the sun, try placing your car out for a second or third day until it has become entirely freshened.
As a preliminary step, you will want to blot as much of the smelly milk out of the carpeting as possible. While preforming this action, you will want to place you entire body weight behind the press increase your effectiveness in extracting the sour smelling moisture. Once dried, you will need to pour additional water on this location to soak the affected spot and dilute the remaining milk residues. Finish this step by pressing drying this location again to extract the watery milk mixture from the carpeting.
As a secondary step, shampooing the carpeting can be performed to properly lift any remaining sour milk debris from the carpeting fiber. Apply a few teaspoon of shampoo to the affected carpeting and pour water on the location to properly moisten the spot. Begin rubbing the location and allow the suds to properly lift any unwanted residues. Finish by blot drying the location, pouring water and then blot drying until no shampoo evidence remains. Often, performing these two steps are all that are required to wipe out minor sour milk odors.
Although white vinegar will likely be sufficient, the aroma of white vinegar can be avoided by using odorous enzyme cleaner to literally eat through the odorous milk residues within the carpeting. Pour your enzyme carpet cleaner over the affected location until the carpeting and affected padding is sufficiently moist. Once the affected carpeting location has been soaked, allow the enzyme cleaner to soak within the spot for 24-48 hours. After this time has passed, finish by blot drying the carpeting to lift any remaining enzyme cleaner from the carpet padding.
Stagnant water within the Christmas tree stand is usually the source of the odor. It can take as little as 5-7 days for a smell to develop within this water, so it is especially important that it gets poured out and replaced on a weekly basis. Though the stench may smell of cat urine, this similar sharp aroma is normally the cause.
Often, the smell of cat urine is the direct result of cat or other tree dwelling animal’s urine. In such cases, the Christmas tree can be taken outside and given a heavy spray with the garden hose to wash the ammonia-based odor away. Once complete, place the erect tree within a location of the yard where it will receive a minimum of 8 hours of direct sunlight. Once the Christmas tree has completely dried off, it can be taken back within the home and placed within the stand.
As a final solution, the Christmas tree can be placed erect outside within direct sunlight until the odor dissipates. Similarly, you will want the tree to be in a location within the yard where it will be sure to receive a minimum of 8 hours of direct sunlight. The ultraviolet rays, open space and fresh air will all work to naturally lift away any unwelcome odors. If this solution has not been effective after one day, try leaving the tree outside for two or even three days until the smell is gone.
You will want to change the the wood chip bedding every 5-7 days. Build up of hamster waste and urine and water bottle related mildew can quickly lead to an unwanted hamster funk. Failure to change the wood chip bedding is often the most frequent cause of smells developing and can cause the entire room to smell.
If smells still remain after performing the above steps, you can proceed to throw out all of the temporary toys that have become soiled within the cage. Often, these toys con within the form of old paper towel rolls and scraps of cardboard. These types of material are difficult to deodorize and are best thrown out.
If you are not in a rush, several activated charcoal briquettes can be placed over the affected area within the drawer. For safety reasons, you will need to proceed to place activated charcoal briquettes first within an old pair of nylon leggings. This will help to maintain a barrier between the charcoal and the drawer to prevent any unwanted staining. Allow the activated charcoal to rest in place for 4-7 days while the absorbent materials works to suck in the unwanted aroma.
This solution works fantastically at cutting through rotten residues and sterilizing surfaces. Moisten the a rag with rubbing alcohol and give the area where the shrimp had be resting a thorough wipe down. Afterwards, provide 10-15 minutes for the any alcohol residues to evaporate away.
This natural oil can work well in cutting through the stink of a rotten prawn through the chemical effects of citric acid. Moisten a hand towel with lemon oil and proceed to wipe down the affected area within the drawer. Leave drawer open for the lemon oil to aerate. Upon completion, the stench of prawn should be wiped out to be replaced by the welcoming scent of citrus fruit. 
After applying a deodorizing compound, you will need to make sure that no moisture exists within the carpeting. Getting the area dry quickly is extremely important as this will help to assure that mold spore will return to the carpeting. To ensure a quick drying process within the carpeting, you will either need to run an area fan pointed at the location or a dehumidifier within the room. Although a dehumidifier is much more effective, a fan can usually work as a substitute when one is not readily available.
As a final solution when nothing else has worked, the use of an ozone machine can help to ensure that any remaining musty odors within the carpeting are wiped out for good. Take extreme precaution to avoid running it while anyone is spending time within the home. Misuse of this machine can cause several negative health implications or even death. As a final advisory, be sure to open all of the windows after the machine has run and do not breath the air inside until there has been sufficient time for the home to air out.
As a final deodorizing compound, bleach can also work to kill mold spore and neutralize difficult odors within the fabric fiber. Mix a solution of one part bleach with eight parts water within a tub and proceed to dunk the mold affected clothing within the mixture. Allow the clothing to sit for 1-2 hours before removing the clothing to place through a normal detergent wash. To add an additional boost, an extra cup of bleach can be added to your detergent wash. Finally, be sure to only use this on all white clothing to prevent unwanted whitening of clothing.
The citric acid within this compound can work to cut through much of the dog dander odor within the area rug. Mix a formula of one part lemon juice with eight parts water within a spray bottle. Proceed to mist down the area rug making sure that no spots are left untouched. Once the entire rug is sufficiently moist, proceed to hang it outdoors within direct sunlight until is becomes fresh and dry.
Though normally associated with treatment of cat waste, the use of cat litter can be a very effective absorbent for foot odors. Scoop a half cup of this deodorizing granule to be poured within each moccasin. Next, proceed to lightly shuffle the moccasins to ensure that the granules make there way to the toe area of the footwear. This method can be perform this task nightly until the moccasins are smelling fresh. In addition, the cat litter can be stored after use to be reapplied the following night.