How to Get Smoke, Pet and Musty Odors Out of Things You Can’t Wash
July 24, 2026 · Twin Pines
Some smells cling to things you cannot throw in the wash: a smoke-soaked book, a musty box of stored dolls, a piece of furniture that spent years in a basement, shoes that will not quit. Masking them with air freshener only layers perfume on top. To actually get rid of the smell, you have to neutralize it.
Why odors stick
Smells are molecules. Smoke, pet, mildew and musty odors come from tiny compounds that settle into fabric, paper, wood and plastic. Air fresheners and scented sprays just add more molecules — the original smell is still there under the perfume. Baking soda helps a little by absorbing, but it cannot reach deep or handle strong odors.
The right approach: neutralize, don’t mask
An odor neutralizer works differently. It reacts with the odor molecules themselves and cancels them, leaving no smell — not even a fragrance. That is what you want for items you cannot launder.
Step by step
- Air it out first. Give the item time in fresh, dry air. This alone lifts the lightest surface odor.
- Test a hidden spot. On fabric, finished wood or a collectible, dab an inconspicuous area to check for any effect on the finish or color.
- Mist, don’t soak. Spray a fine mist onto or into the affected area. For a hollow item like a strung doll, spray inside. Saturation is not necessary.
- Let it work and repeat. Give it time to react, then repeat for strong or deep odors like heavy smoke.
Odor-specific tips
- Books: stand the book open, fan the pages, and mist lightly — do not wet the paper. Repeat over several days.
- Stored collectibles: treat the item and the storage container, or the smell comes right back.
- Pet odors: find the source. Treat the actual spot, not just the air around it.
- Footwear: mist inside and let dry fully before wearing.
The product that cancels odor
D-stinker is built to cancel odors instead of covering them — smoke, pet, mildew, mold, mothball, garbage, musty and more. It leaves a neutral result with no fragrance. It has been safely tested on common metals, plastics, rubber and washable fabrics, and it works on everything from stored dolls and books to footwear and furniture. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, non-flammable and solvent-free.
Got a smell that will not quit? Reach for D-stinker, and see more in Odor Eliminators.