Maintaining household cleanliness is our major concern. You can’t actually say that a home is clean unless it is unsullied and smell fresh. And even the cleanest homes can end smelling bad, so knowing the main source of the smell the key. Here are common offensive smells and tips on how to get rid of it naturally from Sixwise Home Improvement tips:

1. Dog and Cat Urine After you have blotted up the urine, saturate the spot with a mixture of three parts water to one part white vinegar. Blot the vinegar then let it air dry. Sprinkle the area with baking soda, and then saturate it with water mixed with one drop of dish detergent. Work the mixture into the stain, especially if it is carpet, and then allow it to air dry. And finally, vacuum up the left over baking soda.

2. Carpet Odors A general formula to remove all kinds of odors from carpeting is 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of corn starch and several drops of essential oil (for fragrance). Sprinkle the mixture on your carpet, let it sit overnight, then vacuum it up the next day.

3. Cigarette Smoke Set out bowls of ground coffee and let them site for a couple of days. The grounds will help to absorb the smell. White vinegar also works for this purpose.

4. Mildew and Mold To get rid of musty smells and mildew, such as in the basement or in your bathroom, mix one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with two parts water, put in a spray bottle and spray the area (let it sit for an hour or more before rinsing). 5. Skunk Spray If threatened, a skunk may spray a smelly sulfur compound called N- bulymercaptan, which is very hard to get rid of. If you or a pet is sprayed by a skunk, you should wash immediately with carbolic soap and water, tomato juice or vinegar.

You can also try this homemade skunk-spray remover:

• 1 quart 3% peroxide

• 1/4 cup baking soda

• 1 tablespoon liquid hand soap

• Mix ingredients together

• Wash area (avoiding eyes, ears and mouth) and let soak for five minutes

• Rinse well