Some fresh ways to eliminate household odors

Here are natural remedies for some of the smelliest problems in your home.

Your trash can smells bad

To freshen outdoor and kitchen trash cans, first wash them, inside and out, with warm soapy water, rinse clean, and dry thoroughly. To prevent future odors, try one of these solutions: Dust the bottom of the garbage can with scented cat litter or throw a few citrus peels in the bottom of the can before you insert your garbage bag. You also can dust the bottom of your non-metal can with baking soda or unused coffee grounds.

Your sink or garbage disposal smells like rotten eggs

Drop a cut-up lemon, a couple of tablespoons of salt and a few ice cubes into your disposal. Turn on the disposal and run it until the lemon and ice are pulverized. The lemon deodorizes and the ice and salt clean away scummy residue.

Your dishwasher smells rotten

To get rid of the odor, first remove all food particles or scum from the bottom of the machine, making sure to remove and rinse the filter. Then pour two cups of distilled white vinegar directly into the drum of the machine. Run the machine through a hot water cycle. Pause the cycle for about 20 minutes midway so that the water and vinegar mixture has a chance to break down detergent residue. Restart and finish the cycle.

Your refrigerator smells fishy

Start by cleaning out the shelves and drawers. Scrub all shelves with a mixture of warm water and baking soda, then wipe with a mixture of white vinegar and warm water. To prevent future odors, keep a box of baking soda open on a shelf in the back of your refrigerator and freezer, and replace it monthly.

Your drawers or closets smell musty

Before you fill your drawers or closets, crinkle up some newspaper, sprinkle it with distilled white vinegar, and stuff it inside each musty drawer or place it on the closet shelf for a couple of days to absorb the bad odor. Once the smell is gone, keep drawers smelling fresh by placing scented dryer sheets in the drawers or on the shelves.

Mayhew, a “Today” show style expert and former magazine editor, is the author of “Flip! for Decorating.”