From playtime to potty time, so much happens in our homes — and it's inevitable that some of these activities have their own distinct scents that are not all pleasant. To find out what the most common undesirable odors are and, more importantly, how to get rid of them, we spoke to pro Mandy Ciccarella. She's the Air/Dish communications manager at Procter and Gamble, the parent company for air freshener guru Febreze. Find out what she had to say ahead.

Fragrant Food

Your garlic fish culinary masterpiece was delicious last night, but it just smells icky today. How to get rid of the odor? "Food is a difficult stink to squash," says Mandy. "While kitchen vent fans are our favorite option for hot food, sometimes they are not an option due to space or budget restrictions. To remedy this situation, make sure to clean cooking surfaces consistently. Give your stovetop a thorough scrub weekly to ensure that you do not allow cooking oils and grease to build up, causing it to smell," she advises. To keep from forgetting, she recommends setting a recurrent phone reminder for cleaning up and cleaning out. "Make checking for expired food part of this routine. This way you remove odor-causing cold foods such as fruits and bread in a timely fashion as well."

Dirty Pets

"Your pup is your pride and joy, but after an afternoon of prancing around in the Autumn leaves, things can really start to stink," Mandy declares. "Once he's back in the house, that dirty-dog smell is going to move quickly from his fur coat to your couch and carpet and everywhere else he decides to sprawl out." Her recommendation? A few spritz off fabric deodorizer, such as Febreze Fabric [1].

Stinky Bathroom

Mandy doesn't mess around when it comes to the bathroom, going for a more aggressive preemptive strategy. The best way to keep the bathroom smelling continuously fresh, she says, is to place a discrete odor-eliminating scent. Her favorite is a Febreze SmallSpaces [2] behind the toilet. You'll be amazed at how great the bathroom smells despite repeated use.

Ripe Workout Gear

Squeezing a workout into your busy life is hard enough without also worrying about post-workout cleanup — but a little washing goes a long way. "Sweaty yoga mats and sneakers are a sign of healthy lifestyle, but they can really stink!" agrees Mandy. "Don't let the bad smells associated with working out stop you from getting in shape. To prevent your favorite accessories from developing a well-used odor, wipe down your mat after every session and spritz your sneakers with your favorite fabric refresher."