There are a multitude of reasons that someone may want to keep their house smelling fresh all the time. Usually, kids, dogs, husbands, and/or dirty laundry have something to do with it, but as a stay-at-home mom of two amazing boys, with a husband who works away from home a lot, and a large dog…. We make messes. We are the epitome of messes. But in the midst of the chaos and the smells, I continually strive to make our house “homier.”
Have you been scouring the earth for ways to get allllll the smells from your house? Food, diapers, toilet, sweaty clothes, dirty clothes, dog, any smell you can imagine, I tackle on a daily basis. So over time, I do believe that I have found the good, the bad, and the cheap, using mostly basic household ingredients.
First things first, we need to talk about the sources of the day-to-day smells in our house before we can address them. Each unique smell can require a different tool in our arsenal.
Spouse
We begin with the top of the food chain, the spouse. The biggest source of love, friendship, and stink in our lives. Let’s be honest here, ladies, this is a raw topic. We’re talking about a stink like skunk outside the door, not apple pie on a soft fall morning. My husband probably toots as much as he kisses me each day. The first thing he does in the evening when he gets home, (after kissing his lovely wife and amazing sons) is drop his sweaty gym clothes on the floor. Living in a camper means he’s leaving his gym sweats in our kitchen/living/dining room/bedroom…)
Kids
Next, we work our way down to the mini men( or mini beards as I like to call them). Beard one is four, the perfect age for making mud pies and having tractor pulls in his bed with his new friend, the stink bug. Beard two is almost a year old, and now that he has transitioned to mostly solid foods, he has made a habit of daily blowouts and throwing food.
Spouse
We begin with the top of the food chain, the spouse. The biggest source of love, friendship, and stink in our lives. Let’s be honest here, ladies, this is a raw topic. We’re talking about a stink like skunk outside the door, not apple pie on a soft fall morning. My husband probably toots as much as he kisses me each day. The first thing he does in the evening when he gets home, (after kissing his lovely wife and amazing sons) is drop his sweaty gym clothes on the floor. Living in a camper means he’s leaving his gym sweats in our kitchen/living/dining room/bedroom…)
Kids
Next, we work our way down to the mini men( or mini beards as I like to call them). Beard one is four, the perfect age for making mud pies and having tractor pulls in his bed with his new friend, the stink bug. Beard two is almost a year old, and now that he has transitioned to mostly solid foods, he has made a habit of daily blowouts and throwing food.
Pets
Finally, we will move on to the miscellaneous category. The dog, the bugs that get into anyone and everyone’s house. The old food you didn’t know was in the back of your pantry. They can’t open the windows to freshen up the house. Everything else you can think of. Smells are all around us, and I am here to tell you, just like my husband told me…. Forty dollar candles are not the fix.
Also see: A Realistic Cleaning Schedule Working Parents Can Stick To
Tools For Getting Rid of Bad Smells
Baking Soda
A primary weapon in the battle to make your house smell good is baking soda. Using baking soda is one of the easiest, safest, and most effective ways you can use to make your house smell better. For example, sprinkling some baking soda in the corners of each room creates a fresher aroma without any harsh chemicals. You can also make cleaning solutions with baking soda that will absorb odors and help them disappear quickly.
You can also try adding a tablespoon or two of baking soda to hot water and use it to mop your floors every few weeks – it not only cleans but also deodorizes pleasantly.
Finally, consider placing an open box of baking soda in strategic places like the kitchen, laundry, or bathroom to reduce unpleasant smells over time.
Also See: Make This DIY Disinfectant Spray For Half The Cost
Vinegar
Vinegar is like that friend who’s always there to help out in a pinch! This versatile liquid can be used to make homemade cleaning products that are a natural alternative to harsh chemicals. Use by itself, or sprinkle in some baking soda, and you’re ready to tackle any mess with a chemical-free and affordable tool.
Essential Oil Diffuser
This option may cost a small amount up front but will last a long time and has the least amount of prep. My personal essential oil diffuser was bought on amazon and is small enough to sit on a shelf and in the boys’ small rooms. I fill it once every few days with some purified water and add three to five drops of thieves oil. From there, I press the power button, and my house smells like cinnamon and clove or lavender all day long. ( if you can’t tell from these suggestions, I love fall).
Apple Cider
I am a huge proponent of making apple cider, and if you never have before, don’t panic, it’s super simple, and I personally guarantee that not only will your house smell great for days, but your family will thank you for the delicious treat.
Making your home smell better with apple cider is both cost-efficient and easy. Start by filling a pot with water and adding one cup of apple cider vinegar. Simmer the mix on low heat on the stovetop for several hours to release the pleasant aroma of tart apples into the air. Apple cider can also be used in an aroma diffuser, sprayed in your home, or even heated up in a bowl if you don’t have a stovetop. No matter how you chose to use it, enjoy the scents of sweet autumn apples as it lingers in your home’s atmosphere.
Fresh Herbs
Keeping your house smelling fresh and fragrant can be a lot of work! Air fresheners and other chemical-laden sprays are sometimes too overwhelming, making it difficult to mask bad odors. That’s why using fresh herbs is a great alternative way to keep the air in your home smelling light and pleasant.
Whether you tuck them in a potpourri bowl or tie them together and hang it in the window, adding fresh herbs throughout your living area will uplift the energy and give off an invigorating scent. Not to mention, with this method, there’s the added bonus of looking misty-eyed at your fancy herb decorations like you’ve just been invited into an 18th-century French palace (it happens!).
Fresh Cut Flowers
In the summer months, this is my ABSOLUTE favorite way to keep my house smelling great. I am a fresh cut flower junkie. Now no, we’re not rich. No, I do not require my husband to go buy me fresh flowers once a week. I have come up with two ways to get flowers fairly cheap.
First, I plant a small flower garden each summer. At our home base, where we will eventually build I actually have an antique truck that I have converted into a flower garden. I grow the flowers each spring with the idea to have them in the house by the end of summer. Secondly, and lucky for me, you-pick flower gardens are ALL the rage right now. I would say that within the last three years, at least five have popped up within twenty miles of our house. I can typically run down the street to a flower farm, fill my own mason jars( they discount them if I bring my own containers), and get about three popping bouquets for about 10-15$. Your home will smell like the outdoors in no time.
Plants and flowers like Jasmine, Chrysanthemum, and Eucalyptus are great fragrances, but plants like Bamboo Palms, Dragon Trees, English Ivy, Spider plants, and other are effective at absorbing odors from the home. See plants that make great indoor air purifiers.
Baking
At 31 years old, I have sold three houses already and helped friends sell theirs too. I do LOVE to organize, but the visual is not always what seals the deal. When people shop, anyone in marketing will tell you that all the senses matter. When people buy a home, they want to feel at home. And the only thing better than walking in and seeing a decluttered house with clean neutral colors, is smelling fresh baked goods. Breads, cookies, pies, ALL proven winners. Whether you buy take and bake or go to the trouble of making whatever you decide to make from scratch, Baking is a sure winner. Show me anyone who doesn’t love the smell (and taste) of fresh baked cookies and I’ll show you a liar.
Another way to use your stove to get good smells moving through the house is to turn the oven on low, and then put a couple of teaspoons of ground cinnamon, or cinnamon sticks, and cloves on a baking sheet.
Air Purifier
The least affordable solution, but one that is effective and doesn’t take a lot of work on my part is an air purifier. Air purifiers assist with bad smells by circulating clean air throughout the entire home, trapping bad smell particles and releasing fresh air.
Not only do they make your home smell good, but they also help reduce allergies and enhance our overall health. Who knew a device could keep you so clean and healthy? So next time you’re trying to beat bad odor – bring in an air purifier to the rescue!
I got this little beast of an air purifier from Amazon, and I love it.
Scented Candles
Have you ever been feeling confident that your home smells great, only to realize foul odors were somehow lingering in the air? Usually, that’s when company is coming over, and you don’t have enough time to properly clean. It this case, a scented candle can be your saving grace! They are an easy, affordable solution for filling any room with delightful scents and leaving foul odors nowhere to be found.
Common Places Where Bad Odors Hide
First and foremost, keeping a tidy house will help keep your home smelling fresh. Is this the end all be all? No friend, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Honestly though, small things like making sure you take out the trash daily and taking out those extra smelly bits like dirty diapers right away can make a HUGE difference. I would also like to note here that cleaning your garbage cans on the regular will go a LONG way here.
Ok, so we have surpassed the obvious, clean up the mess. But how do we keep the house smelling nice instead of smelling like nothing? If you have nothing but time and energy, I suggest baking fresh sourdough bread daily….but if you’re like me and chasing kids, doing housework, writing lists, and planning three meals a day already, you probably don’t have time for that. Therefore I compiled a list of suggestions that won’t break the bank or take more than a few minutes of your time to set up and clean up.
Fridge
To combat odors in the fridge and freezer, the first trick is to make sure there isn’t any food causing the smell. Take time every now and then to toss out anything that’s gone south—there’s nothing worse than your fridge turning into its own compost bin.
If you’re still finding weird smells lurking about, try wiping down all the surfaces, inside and out with soapy water or a vinegar solution, to destroy any bacteria that are contributing to the smell. Then use activated charcoal, baking soda, or coffee grounds in open containers to absorb any remaining stench.
After that’s done, feel free to stock up on all the yummy snacks and more smelly cheeses your heart desires – just don’t forget to give it all another cleanse every once in a while, because you don’t want any suspicious fumes coming out of there if company stops by.
Soft Surfaces
Clean upholstery is essential for families with kids and/or pets, not only from a hygiene standpoint but also because it prevents your couch or chair from becoming a repository for all sorts of peculiar smells. Take it from someone who knows – kids and pets have ways of making messes that you’d never expect! Keeping the fabric clean can help all family members breathe easy and spend time in the living room without feeling like ‘something’ is in the air.
Getting rid of pet odors from soft surfaces can be a smelly job, but thankfully it’s made easier with a simple spritz from a spray bottle! To make a homemade deodorizer, all you need is a spray bottle and your favorite essential oil. Dilute the oil in water and give your furry friend’s sleeping and living areas a quick misting for instant pet odor-fighting power.
Don’t forget to check those hard-to-reach places like behind the couch and the cat tree! For extra odor elimination, throw in some baking soda to really get things smelling fresh. Your pet won’t know what hit them (literally!) when they find their favorite spots smelling great.
Carpet
Carpet is great for providing a soft, comfortable surface to walk on and giving your house a cozy feel, but it can also trap odors that linger for too long. Unfortunately, this often causes your house to smell musty or stale, especially if you’re living in a humid climate or if there’s been a lot of foot traffic in the area. Luckily, regular vacuuming can help trap the smells and make sure your carpet stays smelling fresh.
If you’re looking for a way to make your carpet smell better, there are some easy steps you can take. Start by doing a thorough vacuuming of the area – this will help remove trapped particles as well as any dirt and debris that may be causing odor.
In addition to vacuuming, mixing up an all-natural solution of white vinegar and baking soda is an effective way to absorb musty odors while also helping to clean the fibers of your carpet. Simply sprinkle it on the area (avoiding any fabric furniture), allow it to sit for 10–15 minutes, then vacuum it off. These two simple steps can help keep your carpets smelling fresh and clean!
For really funky carpeting, you can put a cotton ball with a couple of drops of essential oils into the vacuum bag.
Curtains
After taking care of the carpeting, don’t overlook the curtains, drapes, and blinds. Cleaning your curtains should not be a chore, but it is an absolute must! Beyond just being visually pleasing, curtains are huge absorbers of bad smells throughout the home, but are often overlooked.
You don’t want to dread sitting in sofas surrounded by dirty fabric, right? Plus, any germs or other allergens that find their way onto your curtains can be incrementally detrimental to everyone’s health. So pull them down, pop them into the wash, and ring them out – all while keeping allergies at bay and breathing in sweet filtered air. That’s why clean curtains are essential.
Shower
Have you ever uttered the words, “how did it get so dirty?” or maybe “who let this happen?!” (and we really know who it was) when faced with a shower that looks like it hasn’t seen a sponge since you moved in?
The truth is, daily cleanliness can be hard to keep up with, but in order to maintain a spotless shower, and keeping away smells of mildew, daily cleaning is essential. With just minutes of your time each day and a few common supplies, your daily shower could go from looking like an HGTV rustic farmhouse all the way to a 5-star hotel level of clean – all without needing to call in a mariachi band to help you scrub those corners!
Also, you can try hanging some eucalyptus from the showerhead and when you take a shower, the steam release the oils of the eucalyptus and release its scent throughout the bathroom.
Also See: How to Make Old Towels Smell Good Again
Garbage Disposal
One unmistakable sign that something’s not quite right in your kitchen is a smelly garbage disposal. It’s one of the last experiences you want to encounter when you enter your own cooking domain – but rest assured, you don’t have to summon an exorcist just yet. More likely than not, the smell is caused by mold or mildew coming from months old food that remains stuck after rinsing down the sink drain.
There are simple, effective approaches you can take to get rid of this unpleasant smell and restore order in the “kitchen jungle,” so you don’t need to build up your immune resistance against it anymore!
Try throwing some lemon or citrus peels down the drain the turn on the disposal, since the citrusy scent of lemons will neutralize bad odors and leave behind a pleasant smell. For something even more invigorating, try tossing in a handful of baking soda and turning on the running water for a few seconds. Not only will this freshen things up, but you’ll have an energizing citrusy-soda aroma around your kitchen! Last, if the smell is bad and you don’t have any of these ingredients, squeeze some lemon-scented dish shop down the drain and run the water and disposal and water.
Furnace Filter
This one may not sound like it will do much, but it’s all too easy to forget to change the heating and air conditioning unit filter. Let me tell you that if you leave one in too long, that dust and dander will blow back through your house, bringing household smells along.
The cheaper filters should be replaced every 30 days and there are nicer ones that you can spend extra on that last longer. The additional benefit of replacing your filters on time is that your unit will operate more efficiently, saving you some money in electric bills.
One of my tips to make changing your filter even more appealing is using a spray air freshener like Febreeze, or even a few drops of essential oils on the filter and it will slowly release great smells throughout the house every time the unit kicks on.
Trash Cans
Keeping a trash can clean isn’t just the polite thing to do for your guests, it’s also the humane thing to do for your nose. Whenever your bin starts to get full, you’ve got to empty before it morphs into some kind of gelatinous creature and starts emitting dangerous gasses that’ll melt your face off. You don’t want any of that now, do you?
While taking the trash out is all well and good, well, life happens and it may sit out a bit longer than it should. So one of my tips is to put a dryer sheet in the trash can, so those smells are at least hidden until I can get to it.
Besides taking out the trash, be sure to remember to periodically clean and wipe out the can, especially to clean up the kids splatters…
Keeping our homes tidy, has a lot to do with keeping our homes smelling good on the constant. They truly do go hand in hand. But it’s always a good idea to have an extra ace in the hole when it comes to making your house go above and beyond with the smells. Next time you want to venture outside of the old candle and spray deodorants give one of these a try and watch your house come alive! Bonus points for baking!
. Beard one is four, the perfect age for making mud pies and having tractor pulls in his bed with his new friend, the stink bug. Beard two is almost a year old, and now that he has transitioned to mostly solid foods, he has made a habit of daily blowouts and throwing food.
Pets
Finally, we will move on to the miscellaneous category. The dog, the bugs that get into anyone and everyone’s house. The old food you didn’t know was in the back of your pantry. They can’t open the windows to freshen up the house. Everything else you can think of. Smells are all around us, and I am here to tell you, just like my husband told me…. Forty dollar candles are not the fix.
Tools For Getting Rid of Bad Smells
Baking Soda
A primary weapon in the battle to make your house smell good is baking soda. Using baking soda is one of the easiest, safest, and most effective ways you can use to make your house smell better. For example, sprinkling some baking soda in the corners of each room creates a fresher aroma without any harsh chemicals. You can also make cleaning solutions with baking soda that will absorb odors and help them disappear quickly.
You can also try adding a tablespoon or two of baking soda to hot water and use it to mop your floors every few weeks – it not only cleans but also deodorizes pleasantly.
Finally, consider placing an open box of baking soda in strategic places like the kitchen, laundry, or bathroom to reduce unpleasant smells over time.
Vinegar
Vinegar is like that friend who’s always there to help out in a pinch! This versatile liquid can be used to make homemade cleaning products that are a natural alternative to harsh chemicals. Use by itself, or sprinkle in some baking soda, and you’re ready to tackle any mess with a chemical-free and affordable tool.
Essential Oil Diffuser
This option may cost a small amount up front but will last a long time and has the least amount of prep. My personal essential oil diffuser was bought on amazon and is small enough to sit on a shelf and in the boys’ small rooms. I fill it once every few days with some purified water and add three to five drops of thieves oil. From there, I press the power button, and my house smells like cinnamon and clove or lavender all day long. ( if you can’t tell from these suggestions, I love fall).
Apple Cider
I am a huge proponent of making apple cider, and if you never have before, don’t panic, it’s super simple, and I personally guarantee that not only will your house smell great for days, but your family will thank you for the delicious treat.
Making your home smell better with apple cider is both cost-efficient and easy. Start by filling a pot with water and adding one cup of apple cider vinegar. Simmer the mix on low heat on the stovetop for several hours to release the pleasant aroma of tart apples into the air. Apple cider can also be used in an aroma diffuser, sprayed in your home, or even heated up in a bowl if you don’t have a stovetop. No matter how you chose to use it, enjoy the scents of sweet autumn apples as it lingers in your home’s atmosphere.
Fresh Herbs
Keeping your house smelling fresh and fragrant can be a lot of work! Air fresheners and other chemical-laden sprays are sometimes too overwhelming, making it difficult to mask bad odors. That’s why using fresh herbs is a great alternative way to keep the air in your home smelling light and pleasant.
Whether you tuck them in a potpourri bowl or tie them together and hang it in the window, adding fresh herbs throughout your living area will uplift the energy and give off an invigorating scent. Not to mention, with this method, there’s the added bonus of looking misty-eyed at your fancy herb decorations like you’ve just been invited into an 18th-century French palace (it happens!).
Fresh Cut Flowers
In the summer months, this is my ABSOLUTE favorite way to keep my house smelling great. I am a fresh cut flower junkie. Now no, we’re not rich. No, I do not require my husband to go buy me fresh flowers once a week. I have come up with two ways to get flowers fairly cheap.
First, I plant a small flower garden each summer. At our home base, where we will eventually build I actually have an antique truck that I have converted into a flower garden. I grow the flowers each spring with the idea to have them in the house by the end of summer. Secondly, and lucky for me, you-pick flower gardens are ALL the rage right now. I would say that within the last three years, at least five have popped up within twenty miles of our house. I can typically run down the street to a flower farm, fill my own mason jars( they discount them if I bring my own containers), and get about three popping bouquets for about 10-15$. Your home will smell like the outdoors in no time.
Plants and flowers like Jasmine, Chrysanthemum, and Eucalyptus are great fragrances, but plants like Bamboo Palms, Dragon Trees, English Ivy, Spider plants, and other are effective at absorbing odors from the home. See plants that make great indoor air purifiers.
Baking
At 31 years old, I have sold three houses already and helped friends sell theirs too. I do LOVE to organize, but the visual is not always what seals the deal. When people shop, anyone in marketing will tell you that all the senses matter. When people buy a home, they want to feel at home. And the only thing better than walking in and seeing a decluttered house with clean neutral colors, is smelling fresh baked goods. Breads, cookies, pies, ALL proven winners. Whether you buy take and bake or go to the trouble of making whatever you decide to make from scratch, Baking is a sure winner. Show me anyone who doesn’t love the smell (and taste) of fresh baked cookies and I’ll show you a liar.
Another way to use your stove to get good smells moving through the house is to turn the oven on low, and then put a couple of teaspoons of ground cinnamon, or cinnamon sticks, and cloves on a baking sheet.
Air Purifier
The least affordable solution, but one that is effective and doesn’t take a lot of work on my part is an air purifier. Air purifiers assist with bad smells by circulating clean air throughout the entire home, trapping bad smell particles and releasing fresh air.
Not only do they make your home smell good, but they also help reduce allergies and enhance our overall health. Who knew a device could keep you so clean and healthy? So next time you’re trying to beat bad odor – bring in an air purifier to the rescue!
I got this little beast of an air purifier from Amazon, and I love it.
Scented Candles
Have you ever been feeling confident that your home smells great, only to realize foul odors were somehow lingering in the air? Usually, that’s when company is coming over, and you don’t have enough time to properly clean. It this case, a scented candle can be your saving grace! They are an easy, affordable solution for filling any room with delightful scents and leaving foul odors nowhere to be found.
Common Places Where Bad Odors Hide
First and foremost, keeping a tidy house will help keep your home smelling fresh. Is this the end all be all? No friend, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Honestly though, small things like making sure you take out the trash daily and taking out those extra smelly bits like dirty diapers right away can make a HUGE difference. I would also like to note here that cleaning your garbage cans on the regular will go a LONG way here.
Ok, so we have surpassed the obvious, clean up the mess. But how do we keep the house smelling nice instead of smelling like nothing? If you have nothing but time and energy, I suggest baking fresh sourdough bread daily….but if you’re like me and chasing kids, doing housework, writing lists, and planning three meals a day already, you probably don’t have time for that. Therefore I compiled a list of suggestions that won’t break the bank or take more than a few minutes of your time to set up and clean up.
Fridge
To combat odors in the fridge and freezer, the first trick is to make sure there isn’t any food causing the smell. Take time every now and then to toss out anything that’s gone south—there’s nothing worse than your fridge turning into its own compost bin.
If you’re still finding weird smells lurking about, try wiping down all the surfaces, inside and out with soapy water or a vinegar solution, to destroy any bacteria that are contributing to the smell. Then use activated charcoal, baking soda, or coffee grounds in open containers to absorb any remaining stench.
After that’s done, feel free to stock up on all the yummy snacks and more smelly cheeses your heart desires – just don’t forget to give it all another cleanse every once in a while, because you don’t want any suspicious fumes coming out of there if company stops by.
Soft Surfaces
Clean upholstery is essential for families with kids and/or pets, not only from a hygiene standpoint but also because it prevents your couch or chair from becoming a repository for all sorts of peculiar smells. Take it from someone who knows – kids and pets have ways of making messes that you’d never expect! Keeping the fabric clean can help all family members breathe easy and spend time in the living room without feeling like ‘something’ is in the air.
Getting rid of pet odors from soft surfaces can be a smelly job, but thankfully it’s made easier with a simple spritz from a spray bottle! To make a homemade deodorizer, all you need is a spray bottle and your favorite essential oil. Dilute the oil in water and give your furry friend’s sleeping and living areas a quick misting for instant pet odor-fighting power.
Don’t forget to check those hard-to-reach places like behind the couch and the cat tree! For extra odor elimination, throw in some baking soda to really get things smelling fresh. Your pet won’t know what hit them (literally!) when they find their favorite spots smelling great.
Carpet
Carpet is great for providing a soft, comfortable surface to walk on and giving your house a cozy feel, but it can also trap odors that linger for too long. Unfortunately, this often causes your house to smell musty or stale, especially if you’re living in a humid climate or if there’s been a lot of foot traffic in the area. Luckily, regular vacuuming can help trap the smells and make sure your carpet stays smelling fresh.
If you’re looking for a way to make your carpet smell better, there are some easy steps you can take. Start by doing a thorough vacuuming of the area – this will help remove trapped particles as well as any dirt and debris that may be causing odor.
In addition to vacuuming, mixing up an all-natural solution of white vinegar and baking soda is an effective way to absorb musty odors while also helping to clean the fibers of your carpet. Simply sprinkle it on the area (avoiding any fabric furniture), allow it to sit for 10–15 minutes, then vacuum it off. These two simple steps can help keep your carpets smelling fresh and clean!
For really funky carpeting, you can put a cotton ball with a couple of drops of essential oils into the vacuum bag.
Curtains
After taking care of the carpeting, don’t overlook the curtains, drapes, and blinds. Cleaning your curtains should not be a chore, but it is an absolute must! Beyond just being visually pleasing, curtains are huge absorbers of bad smells throughout the home, but are often overlooked.
You don’t want to dread sitting in sofas surrounded by dirty fabric, right? Plus, any germs or other allergens that find their way onto your curtains can be incrementally detrimental to everyone’s health. So pull them down, pop them into the wash, and ring them out – all while keeping allergies at bay and breathing in sweet filtered air. That’s why clean curtains are essential.
Shower
Have you ever uttered the words, “how did it get so dirty?” or maybe “who let this happen?!” (and we really know who it was) when faced with a shower that looks like it hasn’t seen a sponge since you moved in?
The truth is, daily cleanliness can be hard to keep up with, but in order to maintain a spotless shower, and keeping away smells of mildew, daily cleaning is essential. With just minutes of your time each day and a few common supplies, your daily shower could go from looking like an HGTV rustic farmhouse all the way to a 5-star hotel level of clean – all without needing to call in a mariachi band to help you scrub those corners!
Also, you can try hanging some eucalyptus from the showerhead and when you take a shower, the steam release the oils of the eucalyptus and release its scent throughout the bathroom.
Garbage Disposal
One unmistakable sign that something’s not quite right in your kitchen is a smelly garbage disposal. It’s one of the last experiences you want to encounter when you enter your own cooking domain – but rest assured, you don’t have to summon an exorcist just yet. More likely than not, the smell is caused by mold or mildew coming from months-old food that remains stuck after rinsing down the sink drain.
There are simple, effective approaches you can take to get rid of this unpleasant smell and restore order in the “kitchen jungle,” so you don’t need to build up your immune resistance against it anymore!
Try throwing some lemon or citrus peels down the drain the turn on the disposal, since the citrusy scent of lemons will neutralize bad odors and leave behind a pleasant smell. For something even more invigorating, try tossing in a handful of baking soda and turning on the running water for a few seconds. Not only will this freshen things up, but you’ll have an energizing citrusy-soda aroma around your kitchen! Last, if the smell is bad and you don’t have any of these ingredients, squeeze some lemon-scented dish shop down the drain and run the water and disposal and water.
Furnace Filter
This one may not sound like it will do much, but it’s all too easy to forget to change the heating and air conditioning unit filter. Let me tell you that if you leave one in too long, that dust and dander will blow back through your house, bringing household smells along.
The cheaper filters should be replaced every 30 days, and there are nicer ones that you can spend extra on that last longer. The additional benefit of replacing your filters on time is that your unit will operate more efficiently, saving you some money in electric bills.
One of my tips to make changing your filter even more appealing is to use a spray air freshener like Febreeze, or even a few drops of essential oils on the filter, and it will slowly release great smells throughout the house every time the unit kicks on.
Trash Cans
Keeping a trash can clean isn’t just the polite thing to do for your guests, it’s also the humane thing to do for your nose. Whenever your bin starts to get full, you’ve got to empty before it morphs into some kind of gelatinous creature and starts emitting dangerous gasses that’ll melt your face off. You don’t want any of that now, do you?
While taking the trash out is all well and good, well, life happens, and it may sit out a bit longer than it should. So one of my tips is to put a dryer sheet in the trash can, so those smells are at least hidden until I can get to it.
Besides taking out the trash, be sure to remember to periodically clean and wipe out the can, especially to clean up the kid’s splatters…
Keeping our homes tidy, has a lot to do with keeping our homes smelling good on the constant. They truly do go hand in hand. But it’s always a good idea to have an extra ace in the hole when it comes to making your house go above and beyond with the smells. Next time you want to venture outside of the old candle and spray deodorants give one of these a try and watch your house come alive! Bonus points for baking!