11 Best Odor Eliminators to Deodorize Any Space (2024)

One thing you can count on is wherever you find bacteria, you usually have odors. Think of the kitchen trash can, bathroom toilet and your pet's bedding and toys. Clorox's Disinfecting Mist has earned the top spot on our list of odor eliminators because of its ability to kill bacteria and viruses (including the SARS-CoV2 virus) on hard surfaces, kill bacteria on soft surfaces and freshen the air.

This EPA-registered versatile mist sanitizes upholstery, mattresses and plush toys in 5 minutes, disinfects bathroom fixtures and countertops in 10 minutes and deodorizes the air. In our tests, I liked how evenly it covered surfaces without making them overly wet, and it left a clean, light, pleasant scent behind. Food-contact surfaces and children's and pets' toys will need a rinse after using this mist.

Febreze is so synonymous with odor removal that it's almost become a generic term. This GH Seal-star spray quickly tackles airborne cooking odors, smoke, must and more with its cyclodextrin technology that surrounds odor molecules and pulls them from the air. And all this performance comes at a great price, making it our Best Value pick.

The newest upgrade to Febreze Air Mist is that it now dispenses as an even finer mist to linger longer and pull more odors out of the air. In our testing, I found that cooking and bathroom odors were rendered unnoticeable, and stale spaces smelled fresh again very quickly. Just be sure to wipe away any excess that lands on hard floors as it can make them slippery.

While there are imitators now on the market, Poo-Pourri was the original in-toilet odor-eliminating spray and, in my opinion, it's still the best. Simply spritz three to five sprays onto the surface of the toilet water before you go, and it traps odors inside the bowl to prevent them from becoming airborne. We tested it in our office bathrooms and at home with the same great results.

Made with essential oils and without alcohol, parabens or phthalates, it comes in an incredibly wide assortment of scents — some with cute names like "Potty On." I like the discreet little bottles that make it easy to tuck into a bag for travel. Some scents are even available in larger refill sizes. Be sure to keep the bottles out of reach of children and pets.

A safer alternative to those distracting little tree air fresheners that hang from the rearview mirror, Febreze Car odor eliminators clip directly to a dashboard vent so they won't block your view. The air coming through the vent wafts over them to disperse the scent. We found them to be effective in every car we tested them in, and I like that the intensity of the scent can be dialed up or down as desired. They gave cars a fresh, pleasant scent that was noticeable the minute we got in, even before we turned on the ignition.

They can also be placed on the rear seat vents to combat odors from spilled foods, kids and pets riding in the back. Be aware that the scent can be a bit strong when you first clip them on, and some reviewers noted that the "heavy-duty" clip in this package didn't seem any different from the others.

If you like the "set it and forget it" approach to odor elimination, a gel could be just what you need. Simply peel back the foil top on this Fresh Wave jar and replace the vented lid. This allows the gel to work continuously and evaporate over time. In our tests, we found it removed lingering food and bathroom odors very well, and I like that it can be used in places where you can't use sprays, like inside a closet.

The ingredients in Fresh Wave are plant-based and EPA Safer Choice-certified, and refills of the gel can be purchased to replenish it as it evaporates. One jar claims to last up to 60 days in an area of up to 200 square feet. Larger areas may need multiple jars.

Shoes can get stinky, especially if you wear them without socks. And even if you allow your shoes to air out between wears, that still may not be enough. That's when you need a good shoe deodorizer. After testing this new, highly-rated spray on sneakers and dress shoes, I was impressed with how evenly it sprays without puddling inside shoes. The spray leaves shoe interiors with a pleasant scent, and it contains silver ions which work continually to attack odor molecules and bacteria to help keep odors from returning — all without chlorine or bleach in the formula.

Online reviewers loved the scent and effectiveness of this spray. "I have a few pairs of shoes I was considering retiring due to recurring odor, but this stuff cleared that up and has prevented the odor's return," one wrote. For the best results, use the spray after wearing your shoes, especially those with fabric insoles and linings, to allow the spray enough time to dry and properly work.

Pets are certainly lovable family members, but the messes they leave behind are anything but. Even if you bathe and brush them regularly, there's pet hair to remove plus, their favorite lounging spots, their bedding (and yours, if they sleep with you!) and toys can all smell dank and stale. But an even coating of Febreze Pet Odor Eliminator on these fabrics will neutralize stinky pet odors as it dries.

In our GH Seal tests, pet owners reported that it effectively removed odors on fabrics and even freshened the air to help camouflage the fact that there was a pet in the house. It's easy, neat to use, works quickly and it's not just for pet odors — I found that it works on cooking and smoke odors too. For water-sensitive fabrics, be sure to test it on a hidden spot before spraying the entire item.

Front-loading washing machines clean well and save energy, but they have a dirty little secret — they can stink. Honestly, top-loaders can too, but front-loaders are the biggest offenders. Water that pools in the drum, door gaskets and dispenser drawers can smell stale and even cause mold to grow. Plus detergent and fabric softener residues left behind can smell and transfer the odors to your laundry. Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tablets are an easy and effective way to rid your appliance of unwanted odors.

Once per month, simply add one tablet to the drum and run a normal cycle (with hot water) or your machine's self-cleaning cycle, if it has one. The time-release tablet works throughout the entire cycle removing the residues bacteria feast on. It cleans the drum, pump, valves, hoses and more. In our tests, it left both front- and top-loading machines clean and fresh-smelling.

I also love the list of months on the side of the box so you can check off each cleaning and keep track of when it's time to do the next one. I still recommend drying the gasket, door and dispenser drawer regularly, however, and you'll still have to occasionally remove and scrub the detergent dispenser because Affresh won't reach in there.

Musty closets don't just smell stale when you open the door. They can also make the clothes hanging inside smell musty too. So if you have a closet in a damp location (like a basem*nt) or one that doesn't get good air circulation, consider hanging this airBoss No Spill Dehumidifier on a hook to absorb the moisture that causes the odors. Remove the aluminum seal to expose the moisture-permeable film covering the moisture-absorbing beads inside. Then, hang the bag on a hook or place it on a shelf to enjoy a fresh-smelling closet.

As the beads pull in the moisture from the air, they turn to liquid. When all the beads are gone, pour the liquid down the drain and put a new airBoss in place.

I tested airBoss in my entryway coat closet where it worked great and kept the winter coats hanging in there smelling fresh and clean, even when the weather grew humid. Plus, it's easy to use and dispose of. Keep in mind this product is meant for smaller spaces like closets, laundry rooms, RVs and attics, so you will need more than one for larger areas.

We are still testing this odor-eliminating candle from Diptyque, but we love it so much already that we just had to include it here. Diptyque's luxury candle burns beautifully and smells divine but it's also very hard-working. It replaces malodors with a combination of mint, basil and tomato leaf essential oils.

In our tests, two Cleaning Lab staffers each lit the candle after cooking a particularly pungent dinner and noticed an obvious clearing of the air just a short time later — even after leaving and returning home. It burns evenly and slowly, so though it's a bit pricey, it will last a long time and provide a lot of odor elimination for the cost, and it emits a nice warm glow. As with all candles, never leave it burning unattended, and keep it away from children and pets.

Smelly towels can stink up an entire closet or bathroom — and sometimes even the best detergent is not cutting it. A winner in our , this odor eliminator contains gentle citric acid that removes unpleasant odors and restores softness to fabrics during washing.

In testing, I was impressed by the fresh scent and soft feel of the towels after just one wash. To use, pour the liquid into the fabric softener dispenser on your washing machine and run a regular wash cycle with laundry detergent. Some online reviewers said the scent is a bit strong, so choose wisely between the Cool Cotton or Fresh Lavender scent options.

While both products make household odors less noticeable, many air fresheners simply cover up a bad smell with a floral or fruity one. That's why they often quickly fade and the malodor returns — it was never really gone in the first place. Essentially an air freshener's primary purpose is to do just that, freshen the air and impart a pleasant scent to it.

Odor eliminators use chemical, mechanical or physical means to actually trap and neutralize odor molecules so they are no longer perceptible to the human nose and can no longer return. Sanitizers and disinfectants work by actually killing the bacteria that cause the odors.

Check the label of any odor-removing product you are considering for an explanation of how it works and the types of odors it removes. If it doesn't say anything, it's likely just an air freshener designed to impart a pleasing fragrance.