The desire to eliminate foul odors has been ingrained in us since the dawn of time. We may remember several movies and cartoons, dating back decades, where we saw someone lighting a match to remove these foul odors in the bathroom.
The nature of wanting to eliminate pesky odors has driven the market’s rapid expansion in odor eliminators and air fresheners. But, what are the best ones to use? Let’s find out.
Why Eliminate Odors?
Our desire to “keep it fresh” was exemplified in World War II. Throughout the world, cotton fabrics were frequently used for textiles and tarpaulins. However, these would rapidly start smelling, indicating the fabric was beginning to rot. This became such an issue that the US Army Quartermaster Corps began to collect and compile data on these textiles; this launched the beginning of a now ever-expanding market (1).
Not only is keeping odors at bay important for our noses, but it is also essential for our families, especially our furry friends. Research has shown that one of the leading causes of cat abandonment is “inappropriate elimination,” a.k.a, urinating in the house.
This is where odors become the source of a significant problem. Left untreated, carpet that has been urinated on will retain markers signaling to our furry friends it is an appropriate place to relieve themselves, driving the behavior to continue (2).
As a result, it is not only preferable but important to keep the odors in our house at bay. But this leaves us with a couple of questions: What are the different types of odor eliminators out there? And are there some that are safer than others?
What are the Different Types of Odor Eliminators?
When it comes to being clean, our nose is our most powerful tool; thus, it is important to clean odors effectively using odor eliminators. However, if you walk around the supermarket, you will know that the odor eliminator choice is overwhelming. In a nutshell, there are various eliminators we can use, so what are they?
Odors originate from a variety of sources in our homes, often from organic materials. These materials must travel through the air to activate our nose’s sensors and be solid, liquid, or gaseous. Some examples of common odor-causing materials are urine, feces, and food waste (3).
Most of the odors we smell in our homes contain several similar molecules, including one that we all may be familiar with, ammonia. In time, nature will eliminate odors by a process called oxidation, by merely neutralizing the compounds causing the odor with oxygen in the air (4).
In a nutshell, this is a process that a large number of odor eliminators use. Also, another extensive range of odor eliminators uses droplets to contain and eliminate these odor-causing compounds.
However, there is a downside. Many of these products contain chemicals that can be unsafe, and some take a long time to work or will work for only a short amount of time until the odor returns. So what else is out there? Spontaneous oxidation-reduction (5).
What Is Spontaneous Oxidation-Reduction?
Now, if your high school chemistry is a bit rusty, never fear; spontaneous oxidation-reduction is simply a transfer of electrons, the negatively charged part of an atom (5).
Any chemical process where chemicals, also known as elements, change the electrons they have is an oxidation-reduction reaction. An example of this process is in oxidation-reduction odor eliminators (6).
Why are These Odor Eliminators so Good?
Take the notorious skunk; this black-and-white striped animal, while appearing adorable, has a somewhat hazardous backside. Luckily, there is something we can do if you ever encounter this rather noxious skunk spray.
The odor-causing compound in skunk spray is sulfur. Sulfur can, thankfully, share its electrons with other compounds, especially hydrogen peroxide (7). By combining sulfur and hydrogen peroxide, the sulfur is oxidized, and the smell is eliminated. In addition to being a more pleasant smell, the fact that odor-causing compounds can be oxidized leads to a significantly safer and natural product (8).
Oxidation-reduction odor eliminators specifically target and oxidize odor-causing compounds naturally. They work incredibly fast, last, and are safe for use in your home, with no harmful effects on your family or furry friends (9).
ProBio® Odor Out by EcoClear
Like oxidizing smelly skunk spray, EcoClear’s ProBio® can oxidize and eliminate many odors. This is done by reacting with another common smell-inducing compound, nitrogen. Nitrogen is the basis of many gag-inducing smells, including ammonia, which can be found in urine.
Through spontaneous oxidation-reduction with nitrogen, ProBio® can remove any smelly accident from your home and be used in many commercial settings, including health care facilities. It is also natural, long-lasting, and incredibly safe, leaving your home smelling fresh and your pets and family safe.
The Bottom Line
Wanting to remove odors from our life is not only preferable but necessary. There are many products available to deal with odors, but some are superior to others.
Spontaneous oxidation-reduction products deal with that stench quickly, and they last. EcoClear’s ProBio® is the stellar oxidation-reduction odor eliminator you should use today.
