Nasty smell in the house? How to keep your home odour-free

When the temperature gauge rises, so can nasty niffs! Whether it's your bin that's a bit pongy or your carpets that smell, here are seven tricks to deal with bad smells around the home.

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1. Pongy bin
If your bin doesn't smell good, try adding a box of cat litter to it. Layer the bottom with absorbent cat litter with odour control and you can scoop out any spills, while the odour crystals will add a fresh scent.

2. Smelly fridge
Try keeping a pot of baking soda in the fridge to absorb odours, and remember to change it every couple of months. Half a cut lemon also works well. To keep bad smells at bay, wipe down doors and shelves and wash salad boxes at least once a week.

3. A musty freezer
Freezer that's the problem? Try taking a clean dry sock and packing it with dry coffee grounds. Leave it in the freezer and it will act as a natural deodoriser.

4. Stinky dishwasher
If your dishwasher is starting to honk, first check that the drain hose isn't crimped. Once you've checked and cleared the bottom of the machine of any bits of food, try pouring a few pints of household vinegar into the bottom. Leave it to stand for an hour or more, then run the washer through a full cycle. If that doesn't get rid of the bad smell, it's time to call a plumber.

5. Stale carpet
To freshen up a stale-smelling carpet, simply sprinkle a box of baking soda over it. Leave for 30-60 minutes and then vacuum it up.

6. Mildew in laundry rooms
Laundry rooms, bathrooms and basements can all suffer with mildew smells. To combat the problem, keep the room well ventilated. If opening a window isn't an option, consider investing in a dehumidifier to get rid of excess moisture. You might be surprised at the difference it makes.

7. Sweaty trainers
If your running shoes don't smell so good, try crumpling up some newspaper and pushing it inside. The paper will soak up any bad smell. The same trick can be used on plastic food containers. Simply crumple up some newspaper, pop it inside, and replace the lid to remove any lingering food smells.