Natural homemade spray removes unpleasant smells from curtains without chemicals

Curtains and fabric window coverings can easily absorb unpleasant smells including cigarette smoke (Image: Getty) Curtains and fabric window coverings can easily absorb unpleasant smells ranging from cigarette smoke to fried food. They can also smell musty if the air quality in a home is poor and if there’s lots of air pollution in the area. Unfortunately, bad smells can linger in curtain fabric leaving an unpleasant smell in the confines of the home. With this in mind, Gareth Coxall, marketing and creative director at Terrys , has shared his ‘trick’ for removing unpleasant smells from curtains without cleaning them in the washing machine. He said: ‘A little trick you can try for removing smells is to create a homemade lemon and white vinegar spray. Curtains can also smell musty if the air quality in a home is poor (Image: Getty) ‘Mixing equal parts water, lemon juice and white vinegar together in a spray bottle, you can spritz your curtains to freshen them (and the room) up, without a chemical in sight. ‘Putting a little baking soda in a small mesh bag around the curtain rods will help to absorb any lingering odours too, without having to resort to any harsh sprays. ‘Airing your curtains out is also a simple, effective way of keeping them fresh. ‘Opening the windows in the room or taking them to hang outside will prevent them from becoming musty.’ Looking for a new home, or just fancy a look? Add your postcode below or visit InYourArea Lemons, white vinegar and baking soda can be bought online or from local supermarkets fairly cheaply. JUST ESSENTIALS by Asda Lemons cost 55p for four or 14p each, Dri-Pak Pure White Vinegar costs £2 from Ocado and Stockwell & Co. Bicarbonate Of Soda costs 65p from Tesco. Curtains also collect dust, dirt, dander, bugs, bacteria and pet hair as well as bad smells which means they may need to be washed. Some ready-made curtains can be washed at home but others may need to be professionally dry-cleaned. Washing curtains that are dry-clean only could result in curtains shrinking and fading so it’s best to read the care label. If you don’t want to risk washing curtains at home, you can alternatively vacuum them or use a lint roller to remove dust and pet hair. Removing dust and pet hair regularly will help prevent a buildup and unpleasant smells.