[Home Tips] How to quickly get rid of indoor odors?
🧐 Why are there so many unpleasant odors in Hong Kong homes?
Hong Kong's densely populated residential environment means units are generally small and poorly ventilated, which can easily lead to odor accumulation. Common causes include:
- 🥘Cooking fumes (especially after frying and grilling)
- 🚬Smoke (including secondhand smoke and neighbors’ smoke coming in through windows)
- 🐟Fishy smell from ingredients (especially seafood and meat that are not stored properly)
- 🐾Pet body odor
- 🗑Garbage or kitchen waste smell
- 🦠Muddy smell (high humidity, mold in corners or carpets)
- 🚽Toilet odor (smell from the drainage system)
💬 Let me tell you:
Hong Kong is hot and humid in spring and summer, and dry and cold in autumn and winter. The source and intensity of odors vary with the seasons. For example, the musty smell is particularly strong during the rainy season, and cooking odors are more likely to remain when the heater is turned on in winter.
🔍 The core principle of rapid odor removal
- Find the source of the odor and eliminate it (not just cover it up)
- Promote indoor air circulation
- Use substances that absorb or decompose odors
- Maintain daily cleaning habits
💪 Hong Kong indoor odor removal method quickly
1️⃣ Open windows for ventilation + cross ventilation 🌬️
- Method : Open the windows on both sides at the same time to create convection, which can reduce odor in a few minutes.
- Applicable : After cooking, oil smoke, smoke
- 💡 Editor's Tip:
- When the wind is insufficient, a circulation fan can be used to accelerate convection
- Be careful to avoid leaving windows open for long periods of time during the rainy season, which can cause moisture to build up.
2️⃣ Use an air purifier (with activated carbon filter) 🌀
- Activated carbon filter can effectively absorb odor molecules
- HEPA filter filters out dust and allergens simultaneously
- Applicable to : smoke, pet odor, kitchen waste odor
- 💬 Editor's advice:
- Choose a model with a high CADR value for faster deodorization
- Replace the filter regularly, otherwise the effect will be greatly reduced
3️⃣ Natural deodorization adsorption method🌿
Activated carbon/bamboo charcoal
- Absorbs odor and moisture, suitable for wardrobes, shoe cabinets, toilets
- Take it out and expose it to the sun every 1-2 months to restore its adsorption capacity
baking soda
- Absorbs acidic odors (such as refrigerators and trash cans)
- Place in an open container
White vinegar steam method
- Boil a pot of white vinegar water and use the steam to neutralize the smoke and odor
- Especially suitable for removing odors in the kitchen after frying
4️⃣ Tips for removing odors from the kitchen 🍳
- Turn on the range hood for at least 5-10 minutes immediately after cooking
- Boil water with lemon slices; the steam can neutralize the smell of cooking fumes.
- Boil coffee grounds in water and use the coffee aroma to cover and absorb odors
5️⃣ Toilet/drain deodorization 🚽
- Pour diluted bleach or special cleaning agents into the drain regularly
- Install odor-proof floor drains to block sewer gas
- Place dehumidifiers to reduce mold growth
6️⃣ Pet odor treatment🐾
- Clean pet beds and blankets regularly
- Use a pet-specific deodorizing spray (which neutralizes rather than masks odors)
- Keep the litter box clean and change the litter every day
7️⃣ Tips for Quickly Removing Odors⏱️
- Boil orange/lemon peels → Fresh aroma quickly fills the room
- Use a hair dryer + activated carbon bag → quickly blow away the odor in the wardrobe or shoe cabinet
- Light an unscented candle → Burning breaks down some of the odor molecules
🚫 Common Mistakes in Deodorizing (We'll Help You Avoid Them)
- Only using perfume/fragrance to cover up → The source of the odor is not removed, and the mixed odor is even worse
- Air purifiers that don't have their filters replaced for a long time → The filters can become a source of odor
- Bleach is too concentrated → pungent and harmful to metal and skin
- Over-humidification with aromatherapy oils → High humidity can easily cause moldy odors
📌 Editor's Summary
In Hong Kong, to quickly and effectively remove indoor odors, the editor recommends:
- Find the source first → garbage, kitchen waste, mold, pet supplies
- Immediate treatment → ventilation, adsorption, neutralization
- Add aroma → natural flavors such as lemon, coffee, herbs
- Long-term prevention → Clean regularly, keep dry, and ventilate properly
💡 Editor's Recommendation:
🌬️Cross ventilation + 🌀Activated carbon air purifier + 🌿Natural adsorbent
This can significantly reduce odors within 30 minutes and keep the air in your home fresh for a long time, whether it's cooking, raising pets or humid weather, you can easily cope with it 🏠✨.
