As the summer approaches and temperatures rise, some homeowners will begin to notice an unpleasant odor coming from their chimney. Creosote deposits, or soot, can produce sour smells in hot, humid weather. Ultimately, a stinky chimney needs to be professionally cleaned. Until you're able to have your chimney cleaned, however, baking soda or clay-based cat litter can help mitigate the smell.

Long-Term Solutions for Stinky Chimneys

Smelly chimneys need to be cleaned, not just to eliminate their odor. As the InspectAPedia explains, creosote in a chimney is flammable and can catch fire. The soot producing an odor in your chimney could also lead to a chimney fire if it's not cleaned out.

A chimney sweep can clean your chimney and remove the creosote deposits in it. This will eliminate the fire danger. In most cases, it will also get rid of the odor.

Sometimes, however, a smell lingers even after all creosote has been cleaned out of a chimney. If your chimney still stinks after it's been cleaned, the chimney sweep may recommend other solutions. They might suggest:

• using a chimney deodorizer, which will mask and reduce unpleasant odors
• setting up a top-mounted damper to reduce any downdraft in your chimney
• installing another vent in your home that alters the airflow in your house

These long-term solutions are effective, but they take time and cost money to implement. First, you'll need to wait for the chimney sweep to come back with a deodorant, or for a contractor to install a damper or vent. Second, you'll need to pay for this, and saving up for it could take a little while.

Short-Term Fixes for Smelly Chimneys

Until you're able to have a deodorizer, damper or vent installed, baking soda and clay-based cat litter are inexpensive and effective short-term fixes. Baking soda has long been used to eliminate odors, and clay-based cat litter is specifically designed to capture and mask unpleasant smells. Although neither is marketed for use in fireplaces, sprinkling some in the bottom of your fireplace will reduce stenches coming from your chimney into your home.

To use baking soda or clay-based cat litter in your fireplace, simply:

1. clean out any ashes in the fireplace
2. make sure the flue is shut so a downdraft doesn't blow around the baking soda or cat litter
3. evenly dust the bottom of the fireplace with baking soda or cat litter

For extra strength, you can first sprinkle clay-based cat litter in the fireplace and then use a dusting of baking soda on top of it. After it's set up, you should clean out the litter and baking soda periodically, as you would with a litter box. Whenever the odor returns, replace the litter or baking soda with new, fresh stuff.

Although you may not want to use your fireplace while there's cat litter or baking soda in it, clay-based cat litter and baking soda both aren't flammable. In fact, MomsEveryday suggests using clay-based cat litter to help prevent fires when barbecuing, and the City of Garden Grove, California notes that baking soda is one of the few materials you can use to put out a fire that's on your stove or in your oven.

If your chimney starts to smell this summer, there are likely creosote deposits in it that will need to be cleaned out. Having it professionally cleaned is the only way to permanently address the odor issue and make sure the suit won't catch on fire. Until you're able to have your chimney professionally serviced, however, baking soda or clay-based cat litter can help you temporarily reduce the odors. Whether you have a large party planned or are just tired of smelling your chimney yourself, try sprinkling some in the fireplace until a chimney sweep can come.

For more information about chimney cleaning services, visit http://www.earlytimeshomesolutions.com.