# Opinions on Febreze? Other odor fighting strategies? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436 "2005-10-09T20:26:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/1 "2005-10-09T20:26:43Z")
We just bought a second hand bunk bed cheap. The mattresses we’ll freecycle, but the bunkies we need (the thingies that support the mattresses). They reek of cigarette smoke. Will Febreze help? Will leaving them out in the North Carolina sun help? What will help? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/2 "2005-10-09T20:33:36Z")
Dunno. Airing it out and getting some destructive UV exposure is probably the best bet. I find that a just-used bathroom smells like shit, and a just-used bathroom+Febreeze smells like shit+Febreeze. I’m fairly unconvinced that “air-fresheners” do much more than overpower the senses with nauseating perfumes that mingle distressingly with whatever malodorant you’re trying to eliminate. They just compound the stank, IMO. Dissipation and destruction is the way to go. Sunlight and lots of fresh air might just do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/3 "2005-10-09T20:51:06Z")
I always have a Yankee Candle or tart burning somewhere, and visitors tell me that no, the house doesn’t smell like smoke (or dogs and cats). I guess the scent must be stronger than the smoke/pet odor – or else these folks are just being nice. I do know that when I come home after being out for several hours, I smell the scent, not the smoke. Maybe that’ll change when winter comes and I can’t open windows. Can you wash the “bunkies”? I’m not sure if you’re talking about something flexible (like canvas straps) or metal or wood. My daughter swears by Oust. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/4 "2005-10-09T20:55:33Z")
This is kind of messy, but I found that it got some major odor out of my carpet (cigarette smoke and cooking smells). First, let the mattress air out outside - all day in the sun, if possible. Then, lay the mattress flat and pour a large can of coffee grounds on it. Let them sit for about half an hour, then vacuum up. Do the same thing to the other side of the mattress - you can use the same coffee grounds if you want. I’m not sure how well this will work since a mattress is so thick, but it can’t hurt. Also, there is a product called “Nature’s Miracle” meant for pet stains, but it basically helps remove any smell I’ve come across. You can find it in most pet stores, and I’ve seen it at grocery stores as well. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/5 "2005-10-09T20:55:56Z")
I’ve had good experiences with febreeze, but with caveats. My girlfriend recently went back to her college apartment after the summer at her parents. Her roomates cat had, at some point early in the summer, relieved itself ONCE on the bed. There were three layers of blankets on the bed. Every part of every layer, including the mattress, smelled of cat urine. The blankets were stripped and thrown in the wash, and fresh blankets thrown on the mattress. By the next morning, the clean sheets AND the pillows smelled like urine. I sprayed the newer sheets and pillows, and the mattress with febreeze. I used two kinds of febreeze. An older “scented” one and a new “original” scent bottle. The older one was used on a pillow and 1 sheet. The new stuff was on the rest. After a bit, the stuff that I had treated with the newer bottle smelled fine (like febreeze), and the stuff i’d sprayed the older febreeze on smelled like FRESH cat urine and febreeze. I don’t know if this was “outdated” febreeze, or if it was the fact that it was scented that made it work like shit. My $0.02: If you use febreeze: use a NEW bottle of original scent. No anoying perfumy smell, and it won’t be outdated (I’m pretty sure the stuff expires). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/6 "2005-10-09T20:59:59Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Dunno. Airing it out and getting some destructive UV exposure is probably the best bet. > > I find that a just-used bathroom smells like shit, and a just-used bathroom+Febreeze smells like shit+Febreeze. I’m fairly unconvinced that “air-fresheners” do much more than overpower the senses with nauseating perfumes that mingle distressingly with whatever malodorant you’re trying to eliminate. They just compound the stank, IMO. Dissipation and destruction is the way to go. Sunlight and lots of fresh air might just do the trick. [Cecil speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_182.html) . Really, I finds that Febreze just makes my sinuses burn; I can’t tell if it eliminates the odor or keeps me far enough away that I can’t smell it. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/7 "2005-10-09T21:00:55Z")
Oust, if I’m not mistaken, isn’t a surface deodorizer. It’s meant for freshening the air. That is to say, it won’t prevent the odor, just neutralize it somewhat. And Febreze is meant for fabrics… and works great in that department. I can spritz a little in my car, and even non-smokers usually can’t tell that I smoke in the car (assuming I wipe down the windows and dash also). The best bet for removing odor from a hard surface (presumably you’re dealing with wood or metal) is to wash it thoroughly. On your hands and knees, with a healthy dose of elbow grease. If it’s made of wood, ultimately, the best thing to do (but definitely not the most fun) would be to strip it and restain it. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/8 "2005-10-09T21:11:45Z")
Maybe you might want to think about renting a steam cleaner. I used to smoke in my old house, and before we moved, I steam cleaned all the furniture, leaving it out on the porch to dry. It worked. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/9 "2005-10-09T21:16:26Z")
I bought a used SUV a couple of years ago with upolestry seats. I got it cheap because the previous owner had done some serious smoking in it. It was very overpowering. I bought it and used Febreze generously over every single square inch. It worked remarkably well and you couldn’t smell smoke at all after that. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/10 "2005-10-09T23:42:54Z")
I think Febreze’s superpowers are directed toward getting cigarette smells out of fabric. So if you’re talking about something like fabric-covered box springs, I’d give it a try. I have used Febreze twice to make heavily smoked-in bedrooms sleepable. I don’t think they were completely deodorized, though. If that doesn’t work, allergy supply places (one catalog is National Allergy) sell really good odor eliminators of various types. These definitely are not just scented deodorants but sprays that neutralize the odors. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/11 "2005-10-10T06:33:36Z")
I don’t know if you can get this in NC, but in my neck of the woods we have something called the Air Sponge. It’s cheap, it’s kinda ugly, but it works great. It comes in what looks like a small margarine container. You take the lid off to reveal a blue cake inside with little black granules sprinkled on top. You just set it out wherever the odor is worst, and the cake literally absorbs the odor. It doesn’t give off any scent of its own - it just kind of cleans the air. I started using it in my rats’ room b/c that room is rather stuffy, even with the window open, and whenever I’d come in it would smell pretty ratty. Since I started using the Air Sponge there has been next to no smell at all. I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/12 "2005-10-10T07:38:36Z")
Febreeze + outdoor time will likely help. Meanwhile, I will tell you a horrific tale of a former roomate. “Joe” was a fellow grad student at my university. He was a very odd duck, with a compulsion to tell outlandish lies about inconsequential things and a truly bizarre worship of Wonder Woman. He lived on a diet consisting exclusively of donuts, cheeseless pizza, and hot dogs. He had a phobia of matches. One day Joe met me at the door when I came home. He was overcome with joy. I asked him what was going on. His response was, “I just found the best invention! It’s called Febreze! It makes odors leave clothing! Now I’ll _never_ have to do laundry again!” And he never did. At least not in the next 2 months he lived with me. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/13 "2005-10-10T07:51:31Z")
What material is the bed made of? Since you said you’re not using the mattresses and only the bedframe, I’d drag it outside and spray it with a bleach/water solution. If it’s made of pressboard, you may be out of luck, as those little splinters and glue can hold a lot of nasty smells. But bleach will kill a lot of nasty stuff. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/14 "2005-10-10T13:54:18Z")
> [@inkleberry](#): > > His response was, “I just found the best invention! It’s called Febreze! It makes odors leave clothing! Now I’ll _never_ have to do laundry again!” I’ll see your :eek: and raise you a “eeewwww!” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/15 "2005-10-10T15:17:29Z")
I’ve used it when during a rainy spell here, one of my son’s friends accidently peed in the bunkbed and I could not air it outside for a couple of days. As I cannot stand air fresheners in general, I didn’t find Febrese to be disgusting at all. Whether it is a mask or what, it did the job of keeping his tiny room from stinking like a drunk tank. I still aired the (foam) mattress on the first hot sunny day that came along. No worries. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/16 "2005-10-10T18:47:07Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I bought a used SUV a couple of years ago with upolestry seats. I got it cheap because the previous owner had done some serious smoking in it. I just bought a new (used) SUV and we actually got the guy to drop the asking price a bit after I complained about the horrible smoke smell inside. The first thing I did was spray it liberally with Febreze, and the smell is gone. I bypassed all the various smelly-scents and bought the one that had “Clenzaire” in it, whatever that is. It’s something that’s supposed to kill the really bad odors, and the aroma wasn’t too sickly-sweet or anything. Now it just smells clean. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/17 "2005-10-10T18:50:33Z")
Question: Is there something in Febreeze that actually destroys or otherwise inactivates odorant chemicals? Does it simply mask, or can it do more? ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/18 "2005-10-10T20:00:45Z")
According to their website, it actually removes odors from fabric. [http://www.homemadesimple.com/febreze/how\_works/index.shtml](http://www.homemadesimple.com/febreze/how_works/index.shtml) The mechanism, albeit vaguely described, seems to be dissolving the odor causing agents and then evaporating, thus cleaning the fabric. This is consistent with where it has worked well for me. It doesn’t sound like it would be especially effective as a general air freshener. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/19 "2005-10-10T23:45:52Z")
Thanks for the great ideas! As soon as it stops raining, I’ll put them out for a day or two. Then I’ll do the coffee ground thing. Then I’ll do the same thing w/baking soda. Then I’ll do the Febreze. I’ll report back! And I think I’ll look for that Air Sponge thing for the laundry room where we keep the litter box. Oh, and thanks **inkleberry** for that little window into the depths of human depravity. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-febreze-other-odor-fighting-strategies/325436/20 "2005-10-10T23:52:20Z")
> [@Harriet the Spry](#): > > According to their website… Hmmm. Veddy veddy interestink…I wonder if a 70%, aerosolized solution of denatured alcohol would work just as well without the gag-inducing perfumes…