room deodorizers

[Deleted User]

I am sure members here have terrific ideas to combat odors in their pet households and I am interested in finding out about them.

A while back we had the vinegar discussion and vinegar does work to neutralize odors but it leaves a pickle-jar scent (IMO).

I am not a fan of glade plug-ins since a dog of mine broke out in hives from sleeping near one… but maybe they have improved?

If you are using herbs/flowers, which kind?

[Sarita]

I have to agree about the vinegar – it does not smell good. I don’t think it neutralizes moreso than it overpowers the odor.

I have not found anything yet that is satisfactory.

[MayaConsuelo]

I add a few drops of essential oil to the vinegar/water mix like peppermint or eucalyptus, that seems to linger a bit longer than the vinegar smell. I burn a lot of incense (not right by the bunny’s cage, but by the entrance) – my favorite is Nag Champa. I also was thinking about getting an air purifier… this will be my first winter with the bunny (windows closed) and even though I clean a lot I’m afraid with the enclosed space there will be more animal odors/allergens. Do air purifiers help with the smells or just with air quality? And which one is safe to use (I know some are toxic.)

[Lintini]

All those glade plug ins / febreeze plug in stink-ums all say on the back to keep away from pets. I was actually looking at them the other night to get one in my room. So I put them back on the shelf. Right now I have a bowl of vinegar on a shelf and just clean a lot. I am really interested in getting an air purifier too, but I don’t know how much it would help me.

[RabbitPam]

I’m allergic to scented things, so I like odor absorbers. I find that an open box of baking soda is not just for refrigerators. I have one in the bunny’s room on a higher shelf.

Another old trick is a dish of coffee grinds to absorb odor. You can also burn charcoal, little round ones in a dish, that will absorb odors. And Lighting a match will stop a new odor immediately. It isn’t the flame that does it, it’s the sulfer as the match ignites, so those big kitchen matches are the best. Then blow it out immediately so the sulfer and smoke work on the odors.

A covered baby diaper pail for used litter is also a way to keep it to a minimum. Think prevention rather than masking. (You can also sprinkie the baking soda on top of the used litter in the pail, or add fresh litter to act as a barrier until you throw it out.)

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I know what you mean about that pickle smell! Gross!

I’m allergic to scented things, so I like odor absorbers. I find that an open box of baking soda is not just for refrigerators. I have one in the bunny’s room on a higher shelf.

That’s what we do too, and I’ve also sprinkled a little in the bottom of the litterpans and covered with papertowel and then litter. But if I have to do that-I’ve learned it’s just time to buy new ones It did work though!

[Barbie]

I wrote a huge post on air filters/purifiers earlier this year…. but I can’t find it. Anyway, I found that my air purifier has really helped. I live in an older apartment and it has central air, so it helps with the air quality, though idk about the smell so much. I do use carbon filters in addition to the regular air filters. I don’t have as much issue with the pee/poop scent since I change the litter boxes daily, but the “old lady” / musty smell that comes with living in an old building REALLY bothers me.

I have to go to the grocery store, but I’ve been meaning to pick up some boxes of baking powder. You can set the out (hidden, in bunny proof places) and also sprinkle some on the carpet and then vacuum it up. Also, I’ve heard that putting out crushed lava/volcano rocks (make sure it’s real lava) in a mesh bag helps absorb orders. From what I’ve heard, they can be re-used too, just lay them out in the sun for a few hours and they’re good as new!

ETA, Kate (Jersey) found my air purifier post… https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx

[jerseygirl]

The lava rock sounds intriguing! I like the idea of essential oil to overpower vinegar smell also. I don’t actually notice the vinegar smell though, only if I spray it. In a bowl I don’t smell it. Elrohwen 1st mentioned this property of vinegar. It’s rather handy and vinegar is something I aways have on hand anyway.

I wonder if some other food acids would work similarly, like a solution of citric acid or aspartic acid?

I was just reading about these products which ticks alot of boxes for me.  http://www.allgreenthings.com/Store/pc/Air…z-p763.htm    http://www.puregreen24.com/PureGreen24FactSheet.pdf

RP, I didn’t realise it was the sulphur from the match that was the agent. I thought the flame burnt the odorous gases. From what I was just reading though, sodium bisulphate, sulphuric acids act as deodorizers. Bit toxic in these forms for my liking I must say.
 

[MayaConsuelo]

Thanks for the air purifier link, I may have to invest in that. I know I live in a barn, but I don’t want it to smell like one.

My friend who’s a vet mentioned treating a patient’s rabbit who eventually died from pulmonary problems due to an inappropriate air purifier. I’m going to send him a FB message right now to ask for more details, just to make sure… I think anything that attracts particles (with filters you have to manually clean) is probably safe, and this was one of those filters that released toxins into the air, not sure which ones… I’ll post his response when I get it.

[bunnyjames]

I think air purifiers work great, especially with smells. I had a Central air purifier and air humidifier installed to my house when I had my daughter since her lungs were under developed she’s great now, but sometimes if there is too much dust or the air is “too thick” she gets a bit sicky, so my house HAS to be impecably clean =l The doctors advised to get a central air purifier and hunidifier in her room to thelp with this, so i did but having to change the filters and be testing the air quality was a bit overwhelming, so decided to go with a central one (whole house). It’s GREAT! its pricey but well worth it. I have 11 bunnies living in the house with me and no bad smells. Ive also noticed that carpets tend to trap bad odors so i striped my house of all capet and put tile and hardwood floors. But i do use the vinegar and water solution to mop the floors, after that i pass the mop again but use lavendar oil diluted in water or jasmine and my house holds no bad odors. i do cleaning every 3 days though.

[MimzMum]

I’ve been wanting to get a purifier for years, but just never manage it. They are all so expensive and there’s other household costs that get in the way.
I know it’s supposed to be urban legend that Febreeze is bad for pets, but I won’t take the chance. And yes, there’s nothing more delightful than the aroma of salad dressing after I clean the bunny habs. *cough gasp*
Not only is my house dark, but no windows can be opened for about 9 months of snow and ice. It makes things extremely stuffy and in some cases downright pungent. In my next life I’m getting a nice airy place in the Bahamas.

[BinkyBunny]

Mimz — I can see where winter time lock-up can get stuffy! Can’t easily air out the house in 40 below weather! Brrr.

I haven’t tried any newer air purifiers. I had one a long time ago, but it was really noisy. Might be worth checking out some of the newer quieter ones. I also don’t have to worry too much about it getting stinky or stuffy because the temperatures are rather moderate during the day and so we can keep outside air moving throughout the inside of the house just with fans.

I also clip fresh rosemary from a huge bush we have and cut some fresh basil from our liittle indoor herb garden we now grow in the front foyer/sunroom, and those fresh cuttings are pretty strongly scented. I put those cuttings int a basket in the bunnyroom by a fan which helps spread a great fresh scent throughout.

I haven’t tried the coffee grinds or lava rock — I’d like to try that.

Essential oils are normally okay, but I remember Dana Krempels advising me to stay away from citrus scents as those can be not so good for bunny.

[jerseygirl]

Came across this just now. Charcoal briquettes: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/cl…ome-127601

[BinkyBunny]

Thanks Jersey… seems easy enough to try out!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Just wanted to mention about plug-in products. I used to use them in my basement and I recently got an e-mail about one that overheated in the bathroom and burned up the house pretty bad. I will never use these again. FYI- Glade and Febreeze test on animals!

[Lintini]

I’ve been using baking soda now (Thanks Pam!!!) in my room and my mom came downstairs and said she couldn’t smell the rabbits. I do clean their litterboxes once a day and one of them gets changed 2 times (right before bed) because it’s the most used. I have switched to just using newspaper in the litterboxes since I am changing them daily and it’s saving me lots of money so I can buy other things for them. But I am really noticing the difference with using baking soda. I also have a bowl of vinegar up on a shelf.

So I am rather proud that she says my rabbits don’t smell. My Boyfriend says my room smells like hay though, but that doesn’t bother me.

[Barbie]

Maya, pretty sure you’re talking about the air purifiers that produce ozone. Ozone is heavy so other particles stick to the ozone molecules and then fall to a surface like the air purifier’s collection plate or the floor, or the wall, or the tables, or the window sills…. where you have to clean them up from.. I’ve heard that those ozone air purifiers can actually turn the wall near them black. Blech. And yeah, having excess ozone around isn’t so great for people or animals.

Lintini, glad you’ve been having success with the baking soda!  How long have you been using the baking soda? How do you use it (set out the box or sprinkle it around and vacuum up)? And how much? I’ve started using baking soda too, and just set the boxes out near the bunnies pen (bunny proofed of course!) and around the apartment, but haven’t seen much improvement. I put out 4 open boxes on Saturday evening…. I haven’t had time to sprinkle it on the carpet yet though.

[Michelle&Lolli]

I use an air purifier and once in a while I will plug in a frebreeze scented oil thing. Usually if I’m having company over cause even if I’ve changed litter and cleaned, I am still paranoid about the place smelling. Now for me, I can’t stand the frebreeze scents for very long at all so usually they are only plugged in for an hour. They give me a headache. lol But in thinking about it, running the air purifier has worked the best.

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