Seamus Hammond
Getting perfume off a desktop can be challenging, especially if it's a sturdy surface like wood or plastic. Here are some methods to try: open windows and turn on fans to ventilate the area and prevent the scent from lingering. You can also try using natural odour neutralizers like baking soda or activated charcoal, or an electric burner with essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus. For more direct approaches, use a cloth dampened with vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or even vodka to wipe down the desktop. Alternatively, try a mix of olive or coconut oil with white vinegar, applying it to the affected area, and then washing it off with soap and water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Use washable covers on furniture or rugs in areas where perfumes are frequently applied. Avoid spraying perfume near furniture or fabrics. |
| Airing out | Open windows to let fresh air in and keep the scent from being too strong. Use fans to spread the fragrance out. |
| Natural odour neutralisers | Baking soda, activated charcoal, full-fat milk, vinegar, lemon juice, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, olive oil, coconut oil, vodka, unscented deodorant, Dead Sea Mud Mask, Epsom salt |
| Commercial products | Febreze Fabric Free, laundry detergent, Castile soap laundry solution, Febreze, electric burners, humidifiers, essential oil diffusers |
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What You'll Learn
Use natural odour neutralisers
Natural odour neutralisers are a great way to get rid of unwanted perfume smells. Unlike air fresheners, they absorb and neutralise odours rather than just covering them up with fragrance.
One option is to use baking soda. Place a bowl or box of baking soda in an inconspicuous area of your home to absorb and neutralise odours in the air. For stubborn smells, you can also steam clean the affected area, then sprinkle baking soda on the surface and leave it to work its magic. Remember to replace the baking soda once it loses its odour-absorbing powers.
Another natural odour neutraliser is vinegar. Mix one teaspoon of vinegar with a pint of water in a hand sprayer and use it to neutralise unwanted scents. Be sure to keep this mixture out of the reach of children and pets, and replace the vinegar when it no longer absorbs odours.
You can also try using bamboo charcoal. The Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag, for example, is filled with bamboo charcoal and can be placed anywhere in your home to eliminate odours in spaces up to 90 square feet. These bags last for two years and are a great natural alternative to traditional air fresheners.
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Steam cleaning
To steam clean a desktop, start by filling your steam cleaner with water. It is recommended to use distilled water in your steamer to get the freshest and cleanest steam possible. Some people also add a few drops of essential oil or a scented product such as Febreze to the water to enhance the scent of the steam. However, it is important to check the manufacturer's instructions before adding anything other than water, as some steam cleaners are not designed to be used with scented products.
Once the water is heated and turned into steam, slowly trace the steam cleaner across the surface of the desktop. Start from the top of the desktop and work your way down. Hang any curtains or other fabrics nearby to avoid getting them wet.
If the source of the odour is underneath the surface layer of the desktop, be aware that the moisture from the steam cleaner may reach the source and reactivate it. In this case, it may be necessary to treat the underlying cause of the odour rather than simply steaming the surface.
In addition to removing odours, steam cleaning can also help to extend the lifetime of your desktop by removing wrinkles and stains without coming into direct contact with the surface, which can be damaging. Steam cleaning is also a more cost-effective long-term investment compared to dry cleaning, which uses harsh chemicals to remove odours and stains.
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Preventative measures
To prevent perfume stains on your desktop, it is important to understand how perfumes interact with different surfaces. Modern perfumes are designed to last and use a mix of volatile and long-lasting molecules. The lighter molecules, such as citrus or floral notes, evaporate quickly, while the heavier ones, like those found in woods, resins, and spices, are more stubborn.
- Spray your perfume before sitting at your desk: Apply your perfume to your neck or wrists, and let it dry completely before sitting at your desk. This will prevent the oils in the perfume from transferring to your desktop surface.
- Be mindful of the spraying distance: If you are already seated at your desk, spray your perfume at a distance of about 5 inches (12 cm) from your skin. This will ensure that the fragrance mist is spread out, reducing the concentration of oils on your skin that could transfer to the desktop.
- Avoid spraying near the desk: When applying perfume, be cautious of the surrounding environment. Avoid spraying near furniture or fabrics, as the scent can linger and penetrate deeply into materials.
- Use washable covers: If possible, use washable covers on your desktop to make cleaning easier. This will also help prevent the perfume from bonding with the surface, making it harder to remove.
- Air out the room: Open windows and use fans to circulate air and prevent strong scents from accumulating. This will also help prevent the perfume from settling on your desktop or other surfaces.
- Natural odour neutralisers: Consider using natural odour neutralisers like baking soda or activated charcoal in areas where perfume is frequently applied. This will help absorb and neutralise the scent, reducing the likelihood of it settling on your desktop.
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Using oil
To get perfume off a desktop, you can try using oil. Oils like coconut, olive, almond, jojoba, or grape seed can be effective in breaking down perfume molecules. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Apply the oil generously to the affected area of the desktop.
- Massage the oil into the surface as if you were cleaning it.
- Rinse the area with soap and water to remove the oil and the perfume along with it.
You can also mix the oil with other ingredients for added benefits. For example:
- Sugar or honey: Mix sugar or honey with almond oil to create a scrub that will make the desktop surface lustrous and silky soft.
- Vinegar: Mixing white vinegar with oil creates a potent solution for removing stubborn perfume stains. After applying the mixture, wash the area with soap and water.
- Lemon juice: Mix lemon juice with oil to create a natural solution that can remove strong scents. Spray the mixture onto the desktop and wipe it down.
Always test any cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn't damage or discolour the surface.
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Baking soda
To use baking soda to remove perfume from clothing, you can follow these steps:
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the affected areas of the fabric.
- Leave the baking soda on the garment for a couple of hours or overnight to absorb the odor.
- Shake or brush off the baking soda powder.
Alternatively, you can soak your clothing in a sink or washing machine filled with warm water and one cup of baking soda before washing. Leave the clothing to soak overnight or for a few days, then wash as usual.
You can also use baking soda to remove perfume from your skin. Create a paste using baking soda and water, apply it to your skin, and let it dry. Rinse it off with water, and be sure to apply hydrating body cream afterward, as baking soda can dry out your skin.
In addition to its direct odor-removing applications, baking soda can also be used as an air freshener to absorb odors from the air. To make a baking soda air freshener, mix half a cup of baking soda with 15 to 25 drops of essential oil in a jar. You can then place this jar in your desired location to freshen the air.
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Frequently asked questions
Try using natural odour-neutralisers like baking soda or activated charcoal.
Steam cleaning is a powerful solution for particularly stubborn scents. Hot steam goes deep into fibres, breaking down and removing trapped perfume molecules.
You can try using a humidifier or essential oil diffuser to spread moisture and calming scents around your room. Electric burners are a modern, cleaner alternative to traditional incense or coal burning.
Avoid spraying perfume near your desktop or any other furniture or fabrics to keep the scent from sticking.
You can try rubbing some unbrewed coffee grounds on your hands and then washing them with soap and water. Alternatively, you can try using baking soda, vinegar, coconut oil, or olive oil.
