Keep Curtains Odor-Free Between Cleanings With This Clever Trick

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Curtains live with you. They're always on display, whether it's during Thanksgiving dinner, birthday parties, or late-night hangs. Unfortunately, that constant exposure also means curtains absorb everyday household odors. Odors like burnt toast, pet smells, and fancy meals are bound to stick to them. And if you think smells won't catch onto your bedroom curtains because they're far away from the kitchen, think again. Humidity, dust, and even mold can build up in curtains and contribute to odors. If your curtains start to smell, replacing them is not always necessary. You can simply use small bags of baking soda or activated charcoal to help remove odors.

Sure, some materials can be machine-washed, such as polyester, velvet, nylon, or linen. But others are not machine-friendly, and frequent washing is not always practical. Instead, this approach involves hanging small sachets of activated charcoal or baking soda behind the curtains. This helps prevent odors from lingering in the fabric.

This method works because both baking soda and activated charcoal naturally absorb odors, a property many people already use in refrigerators. Baking soda is also a kitchen staple often used to help keep mold out of the fridge. Activated charcoal is especially effective at absorbing smoke odors, which are common in kitchens.

To easily harness the power of baking soda or activated charcoal with this hack, you can purchase pre-made pouches, like these Activated Charcoal Odor Absorbers on Amazon. These come with hooks, which can be attached to the grommets of your curtains. A safety pin can also be used to secure the pouch to the back of the curtain.

For a more DIY approach, you can purchase your own small sachets to fill with baking soda or activated charcoal powder and hang them behind curtains with safety pins. Sachets should be made from breathable fabric so odors can be absorbed effectively. Avoid plastic ones, and instead use something like these Lavender Sachet Bags With Drawstrings. As for baking soda, just use household baking soda (no need for food-grade ones). Activated charcoal is often sold as a food-grade powder used for products like toothpaste or soap.

There's no strict schedule, but baking soda and charcoal typically remain effective for up to three months. While this clever deodorizing hack is perfect for making your living room smell fresh and clean, remember to aerate your space, too. Open curtains and windows, and let the air move through your house. This, plus a lot of sunlight, helps to eliminate odors, refresh your space, and even kill bacteria. Opening windows for about 10 minutes once or twice a day, a German cleaning practice known as lüften, can help refresh indoor air at no cost.