Home is where the heart is- an adage that is often repeated in our daily lives. So if our homes smell fresh, then that’s a great sign and it lifts our mood. But if the smell is bad, then we feel anxious and uneasy. Banish the unpleasant smells and make your home a haven filled with sweet-smelling things by following these sixteen strategies to keep your home smelling divine.
Deodorize The Trash
Smelly trash may be behind the odors that linger throughout the house. You can cut off the culprit at its roots by making the trash smell good. To do this, simply add a few drops of scented essential oil to the bottom of your trash bin before lining it with a bag.
For more odor-fighting power, add 2 teaspoons of citric acid, a half cup of water, 10 drops of tea tree oil, and 20 drops of pine essential oil in a spray bottle. Spritz some of the solution at the bottom of the bin and repeat every time you take out the garbage before replacing the trash bag.
Clean The Microwave With Lemon
Next time you wipe down the microwave, use this trick to remove leftover odors and leave a fresh citrus scent. What is needed is a small microwavable bowl, a cup of water, a cup of vinegar, a lemon, and a piece of microfiber cloth.
Mix the water and vinegar in the bowl. Cut the lemon into half, squeeze the juice into a different cup, and save for later. The remaining lemon peel is what is required for the task. You can throw it in the bowl with the vinegar solution. Put the bowl in the microwave and let it run for 10 minutes. As the water boils, your kitchen will be filled with the soothing smell. After those 10 minutes, you can remove the bowl and easily clean the microwave with a cloth.
Make Fridge Fragrance
Baking soda to neutralize fridge odors is a well-known kitchen hack. A new trick: Dampen a cotton ball with vanilla extract and leave it on a refrigerator shelf to add a sweet fragrance. Instead of the vanilla essence, you can also try putting lemon juice on the cotton ball.
Flip A Switch For Scent
Turn off your lights until the bulbs are cool. Now place a few drops of vanilla extract on your light bulbs. When you switch on the bulbs, the heat will gently spread the scent and your home will be filled with a nice fragrance. This trick works better with incandescent bulbs which get hotter than CFL bulbs.
Catch Fridge Drips
Drips from bottles and containers can leave bad-smelling residue on the fridge shelves. To catch the drips, leave a plastic lid below each bottle to act as a coaster. Once they start getting dirty, you can toss them into the dishwasher to clean the mess.
Get The Stench Out of Plastic Containers
Sometimes the smell of last week’s dinner doesn’t get off the plastic containers even after washing them with soap and water. In such a situation, tomato juice is the surprising solution. You can also use it to wipe down a foul-smelling fridge.
De-Stink Your Garbage
To keep unpleasant garbage odors away, sprinkle a bit of baking soda or borax in the bottom of your trash can. The crystals will help neutralize the nasty smells. Replace the powder every time you take out the trash.
Don’t Light Every Candle
No need to light the wick to get the benefits of the yummy-smelling candle. Just leave a couple of them inside your linen closet, next to the fabric where they can absorb the scent. Not only will you get a pleasant, fragrant surprise every time you open the door but the fabric will also carry the aroma wherever they are taken.
Let Your Vacuum Do Double Duty Cleaning
Soak a cotton ball with your favorite perfume, then drop it into the vacuum cleaner bag. As you do your regular cleaning job, the vacuum will gently release the scent into the room. So here’s how you can make the house smell good and do the floors at the same time.
Make Fires Smell Nice Again
A fireplace is a warm and cozy space in every home but now and then, it can cause a stench. The remedy is to throw a few lemon or orange peels into the flames to kill the scent and prevent the smell in the future by burning the peels. The flammable oils in the peel will burn away longer than paper.
Fix the Obvious Odor Sources
Spots like litter boxes, garbage cans, pet beds, and diaper pails are all areas that give off funky smells. The more time we spend around these places, the less likely we are to realize they stink. This is called sensory adaptation and it’s common to all senses. So we have to be proactive to keep odors at bay.
Clean the inside of your garbage can once every month. Launder pet beds regularly and scoop the litter boxes every day. Try using smaller garbage bins so you are forced to take out the trash every day.
Open the Windows
Opening the window is the easiest way to bring freshness in. This holds especially true if you have leftover cooking smells or lingering odors from home improvement projects, like painting. Opening the windows makes the home feel cleaner and lifts the mood.
Use Essential Oils
Diffusers are just another way to use essential oils. Consider making a fabric refresher spray from scratch: Mix ½ cup of white vinegar, ½ cup of rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, and 20 drops of your favorite oil in a small spray bottle. Shake well before each use and spray over clothing or upholstery.
Become a Plant Parent
Plants can do more than just look pretty. Many varieties have some air filtering capabilities that can freshen up your homes. Or you can look for plants that have subtle scents and place them near places that have unpleasant odors.
Invest in A Floral Arrangement
Flowers are a nice and natural way to add a little scent to your home. Flowers also brighten up your spaces. Look for flower arrangements that smell nice. You can consider roses, jasmine, lavender, lilacs, peonies, etc. to name a few.
Keep Fresh Herbs Around
Herbs like rosemary, mint, lavender, and basil have fresh and lovely fragrances. You can consider having a tiny herb garden in a window or even a herbal wreath for a quick dash of fragrance.
