The CrockPot as an Air Freshener/ Odor Neutralizer
For this "recipe", I used the Little Dipper crockpot slow cooker as an air freshener or odor neutralizer. If you don't have a Little Dipper you can certainly use a larger size crockpot -- whatever you already have in the house.
Feel free to eyeball the quantities!
Day 333.
Happy Black Friday!
I hope each of you had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving as I did.
It was also terribly easy---we had 6 crockpot dishes and a turkey-in-the-oven.
Lots of food, and a super-easy clean-up.
But.
At about 10pm last night, the house was cleared, and I noticed a funk.
It wasn't bad, but it was a slightly sour smell of old mulled wine, and dirty dishes.
Instead of actually cleaning the dishes and emptying the wine crockpot, I eliminated the odor.
With the Little Dipper!
Add baking soda.
Mix.
Plug it in and turn to low (the Little Dipper and some of the small ones don't have settings, they just plug in).
Keep the lid off.
Let the baking soda do the job of soaking up unpleasant odors.
If you would prefer to use the crockpot as an air freshener, fill with water, and add:
I took the mini crock into another room later and smelled the water ---- it smelled strongly of mulled wine.
woah.
Happy Black Friday!
I hope each of you had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving as I did.
It was also terribly easy---we had 6 crockpot dishes and a turkey-in-the-oven.
Lots of food, and a super-easy clean-up.
But.
At about 10pm last night, the house was cleared, and I noticed a funk.
It wasn't bad, but it was a slightly sour smell of old mulled wine, and dirty dishes.
Instead of actually cleaning the dishes and emptying the wine crockpot, I eliminated the odor.
With the Little Dipper!
The Ingredients.
- water
- baking soda (for the little dipper, I used 3 tablespoons)
- crockpot
The Directions.
Pour water into the crockpot you are going to use.Add baking soda.
Mix.
Plug it in and turn to low (the Little Dipper and some of the small ones don't have settings, they just plug in).
Keep the lid off.
Let the baking soda do the job of soaking up unpleasant odors.
If you would prefer to use the crockpot as an air freshener, fill with water, and add:
- drops of essential oil
- potpourri scent
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla or other desired extract
- ground cinnamon, and cloves
- a cinnamon stick
- slices of lemon
The Verdict.
I was quite pleased with how the baking soda really did absorb the kitchen odors.I took the mini crock into another room later and smelled the water ---- it smelled strongly of mulled wine.
woah.
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I'm new to your blog, but I'm so glad I found it. I'm excited to have new recipes to use in the coming year. And some to use at Christmas. Jacquie in AZ
ReplyDeleteWhat a nifty tip! The best! Thanks, I'll be remembering this one!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, this is a great idea. I only have a giant, ancient (nine year old) Crockpot, but I will still use this. So often i return to the house after a walk and notice I can smell that night's dinner...or breakfast. Uck.
ReplyDeleteWow, I never would've thought of that. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip. I have a Little Dipper that I rarely use. This will be a good use for it.
ReplyDeleteClever, clever, clever!!!!
ReplyDeleteI use my mini crock all the time as a candle melter thingy (lol). Ya know, like the ones that you sit the candle on. I just sit the candle in the crock and plug it in. I think it makes the candles last longer. BUT, after you do this, the wick sinks and it can't be used as a regular candle again.
ReplyDelete"I only have a giant, ancient (nine year old) Crockpot,..."
ReplyDeleteLOL! That is a baby crockpot! I am still using the one that I bought in 1978!
this is a great idea...I have to try it!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the recipes and tips! We used crockpots to cook the extra stuffing that didn't fit in the bird, and another one to keep the mashed potatoes warm. We were all pleased with how well they both turned out! I will definitely use them again next year at Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteThis is a timely post. My sister's apartment smells kind if stale from being shut up but with a new born baby in the house I don't want to use any sort of spray so this should do the trick. :-D
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I'll definitely use this to get rid of those funky smells that pop up now and then. Right now though, I'm going to go put in some vanilla or cinnamon and give the house a nice welcoming aroma!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous--well, *I* think it's ancient because it has no timer, no warm setting, and when I go to a store with all the new fancy crockpots I just drool. I did find on the Rival website a plug in timer that adapts your crockpot, but the catch is you are limited in your cooking time choices before it'll switch to warm.
ReplyDeleteStill, I am grateful that I have a crockpot at all so I can do all these cool things Stephanie thinks up!
Great idea! Another reason to get a little dipper. Oh Santa...
ReplyDeleteI love baking soda. I love slow cookers. You are brilliant!
ReplyDeleteGuess what's going on my Santa list this year !
ReplyDeleteI haven't owned a crockpot since about 1980 something, but I want one now and thanks to you, I have the enthusiasm to USE it !
I found your blog when my husband started working an hour away and I realized I needed to start cooking (I DO NOT cook). He now raves to his friends how great I am...and I had my in-laws over for a fully Crockpot Thanksgiving and my brother in law commented and how good my cooking was. THANK YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteThis would be really smart to do while making stinky stuff like bacon or fish.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good idea! I would never have thought of it and now I can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
It probably helps keep the air hydrated, too.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the market for a new crockpot since my old one desperately needs to be replaced. I've read many online reviews, but I am wondering which crockpot is your favorite. Have you used any that you would not recommend?
ReplyDeleteThought about you when using my crockpot yesterday. Thought about you again when I was cleaning my crockpot this morning... so not only will you have cooked 365 crock meals, but you will have washed that dang crockpot(s) 365 times! Bet you can't wait for 2009.
ReplyDeleteHi~
ReplyDeleteHow long did you leave the little dipper plugged in? I just wondered if you left it overnight....or just a few hours. Sounds like a great idea!
LOL!
ReplyDeleteHow cool. I can't wait to try it on my turkey stock smell.
ReplyDeleteI just found you through "todays creative blog"!! Thank-you for making a blog on crockpot cooking!! I love my crockpot! I will be back often.
ReplyDeleteI precooked my sausage and veggies for the stuffing then added it all with the Pep farm herb mix to the crock with about a half gallon of fat free chicken broth. Plugged it into a plug in the office and voila. Turkey cooked in less time.. was easier to put in and take out sans the 7 lbs of stuffing. I would do this again.. I will try the deodorizer. Wish I had it the day I roasted the turnip!
ReplyDeleteI have a electric potpourri crockpot...I think I'm going to try this in it.Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI purchased a new 6 quart Crockpot about 3 years ago, but I recently starting using my 4 quart 1972 crockpot (with Off, Low and High settings only) a few weeks ago--to make the applesause recipie. Love it and make applesause every week. My husband accidently dropped something heavy on the lid and broke it, but a plate or large bowl works.
ReplyDeleteFor the deodorizer trick, I will use a tiny popourri crockpot (plug in only; not for food use).
I wonder if this will help with the fresh paint smell? Off to try it now.
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE BRILLIANT-- I hate that smell, I am going to remember this next time I cook fish.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog! Great ideas! And the question is.....will you continue to do this throughout 2009?? Thank you so much!
ReplyDeletegreat idea! I have an ancient thrift store find crockpot but it has served me well.
ReplyDeleteMy sensitive pregnant nose thanks you so very much! I used my big crockpot in the bedroom after our three year old had a night of diarrea and vomiting. I left it on downstairs overnight and for the first time in weeks, I woke up to NO FOOD SMELLS!! So awesome! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteWell I burned a soy sauce/brown sugar marinade in my oven so I have my Lil Dipper running right now. We'll see if it takes away the gnarly burnt smell!
ReplyDeleteAlso I got my Lil Dipper at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for $2. It's a snazzy red color too!
I love this idea! We use baking soda a lot here... and I don't want any fake deodorizers around... but I really do need something right now so this is just the thing to try. Is a good thing I was looking through old posts!
ReplyDeleteRecently I tried using chicken feet to make chicken stock in my slow cooker, not realizing that the feet had "turned". The whole house filled with a disgusting, rotten smell.
ReplyDeleteI put about a 1/3 of a cup of baking soda and a lot of water in my 6-quarter, turned it on, and in a few hours that pervasive smell was completely absorbed by the baking soda.
Thanks for the tip.
Will be doing this tonight during dinner!! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea I would have never thought of this. I did baking soda with lemon and another one in a potpouri warmer with vanilla and baking soda. My house should be magical in a few hours ;)
ReplyDeletefor those looking for a good crockpot...
I'm using a rival crockpot from the 70's. When I moved out I purchased a new crock pot and it was HORRIBLE I begged my mom to trade me and she gave me the crockpot I've been using my entire life, nothing compares to the original rivals. I mainly buy 50's-70's cooking and bakeware because they really don't make things how the used to!
Another great way to have your home smell great is through soy candles! Soy wax holds the scent better and does not release harmful chemicals into the air as paraffin does. Not to mention paraffin candles encourage our dependence on foreign oil, soy is grown in the USA and helps support American farmers and local businesses. I make soy candles and any left over wax I have I put in a potpourri pot and it works amazingly.
I just bought the little dipper for the sole purpose of using as an air freshener because it was cheaper than buying one of the electric potpourri warmers :-) I think the mix I used was old though because it didn't work so well, that's how I came across your blog. I googled it to see if I was crazy for using the dipper for potpourri. I'm going to use some of your other suggestions now. thanks!
ReplyDeleteis this an either or recipe? either just odor removal (just baking soda) OR foran air freshner (essential oils). I other words, can i combine baking soda and essential oils/cinnamon to absorb odor WHILE adding fragrance?
ReplyDeleteYour post is a lifesaving idea at this time in my life. I have 3 boys and a stinky bathroom with exhaust and no windows. No matter how hard I clean I couldn't get rid of the funky urine smell. This worked like a charm and I cannot be more happier. Thaaaaaaank you so much for the beautiful idea.
ReplyDeleteOh SNAP! I never thought of this use as an air freshener.I will be using it daily.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much....keep these recipes and tips coming.
We have wild fires in Oregon, I'll have to try this.
ReplyDeleteShould the consistancy be more of a liquid or paste?
ReplyDeleteGreat question!! More of a liquid.
ReplyDelete:-)
How cool! It's October 13th 2022, and I just came across this post tonight. So amazing to see that this was posted over a decade ago and people like myself are STILL just finding this hidden gem to this very day! I love the internet for how it connects so many of us, near and far, to things old and new!.
ReplyDelete