Who doesn’t like their home to smell fresh and clean? The scent in your home is typically one of the first things guests notice when walking in – so you certainly want it be a pleasant one. However, between kids, pets, cooking, bringing home smelly gym clothes/sport gear, and just living everyday life, at some point you’re bound to have a combination of lingering odors.
For those who spend most of their time at home, it’s easy to become nose blind to the mixture of scents, but guests will definitely be able to detect it. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to illuminate unpleasant odors. Here are some of the best and easiest tips to help keep your home smelling nice and clean.
- Open the Windows and Air it Out
It’s the easiest and simplest way to bring freshness in your home. If possible, open a couple windows (kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms) of your home to get fresh air all around. Even during the colder seasons, cracking a window for a little while can make a difference.
2. Clean Your Garbage Disposal & Add a Fresh Clean Scent
If you’re smelling a stench odor in your kitchen, after cleaning and throwing out the trash, the culprit could be your garbage disposal. You’ll want to check it out, as there may be food buildup causing the smell. To add a clean fresh smell, you can gather old citrus peels, and put them in ice cube trays with water to freeze. Once frozen, run the ice cubes through your disposal. The ice cubes are naturally abrasive and help sharpen/clean the blades, and the citrus peels offer a natural fresh scent. Alternatively you could use a few drops of essential oil, along with the ice cubes.
3. Add Baking Soda in Your Trash Can
Sprinkle some baking soda into your trash can to prevent smells from worsening. If you have food that will leave an awful smell, try putting it in another smaller trash bag, such as a grocery bag, and tying a knot before throwing in your trash can.
4. Scented Trash Bags
Scented trash bags are also a great addition to keeping your kitchen smelling clean. I personally really like Walmart’s Great Value Strong Flex Minted Scented trash bags. You smell it as soon as you open the bag, and the the minty scent works as a rodent repellant.
5. Clean Out Your Fridge
Make an effort to clean out your fridge every so often, by getting rid of old and spoiled foods, and wiping down shelves of any spills/residue. Another tip is leaving an open box of baking soda in your fridge, as it helps eliminate odors – and replace as needed.
6. Fresh Laundry
I think most folks would agree that one of the best smells are freshly laundered clothes. If you have guests coming over, you can start a load of laundry before they arrive, to fill your home with a nice clean smell. You can boost the fresh scent by using a laundry softener and/or dryer sheets. The Downy Infusions line is one of my favorites to use.
7. Spray Smelly Shoes with Dry Shampoo
Spritzing dry shampoo onto the soles of your shoes, can help eliminate bad lingering smells.
8. Tape Dryer Sheets on a Fan Box
This tip makes a quick, cheap and easy diffuser. Just tape 1-2 dryer sheets to a fan box and turn it on for instant freshening.
9. Save Your Used Dryer Sheets to Help Deodorize Other Areas
Don’t throw away your used dryer sheets. You can still make use of them by putting them in your drawers so your clothes keep a fresh smell. Keep in mind, you want to place used ones in drawers, as new ones have oil in them that could possibly stain your clothes. You can also use them to stuff inside your shoes when you’re not wearing them to keep them smelling fresh.
10. Sprinkle Baking Soda on Carpets / Rugs
Try sprinkling a bit of baking soda on carpets/rugs, and letting it sit for at least 15 minutes. Vacuum and enjoy the odor-free clean air.
11. Simmer Herbs and Fruit on the Stove
Simmer water in a small saucepan and add a few citrus slices and herbs. The wonderful scent will travel throughout your house.
12. Bake Some Sweets
This method is both effective and deliciously rewarding. Fill your home with the sweet scent of cookies or cupcakes (or whatever you have). Bake up a batch (or two) and that warm sweet scent will prevail and take over.
13. Add an Air Freshener to Your Air Vent
Those car air fresheners can make your home smell just as wonderful. Try clipping a car air freshener onto your air vent’s metal slats to disperse the scent throughout your home.
14. Add Essential Oils to Your Air Filter
If you have essential oils, add a few drops on your air filter. The scent will travel throughout the house and make everything smell great. Another great thing is that essential oils are free from chemicals, and said to have natural relaxation benefits and healing properties. It’s a win-win!
15. Place Candles Throughout Your Home
This is a given – candles are, of course, an obvious way to fill your home with a scent that you love. However, strategic placement can also increase their efficiency (without lighting them), by placing a few where you least expect them to be, such as a closet.
16. Scented Cotton Balls
Soak a few cotton balls with one of your favorite scented oils or perfume, and tuck them in hidden areas around the house. Make sure to keep them out of sight and/or reach, from younger kids or pets.
17. Save the Remaining Solution From Your Scented Disinfecting Wipes
When you run out of your disinfecting wipes, try pouring the remaining solution into an empty spray bottle. This allows you to get the most of your product, and your home will continue to have a fresh scent as you clean. Spray the areas that need cleaning, and use a paper towel or cloth to wipe.
18. Create Your Own Freshening Spray
Store bought freshening sprays can not only be on the pricey side, but they’re also made with potentially harmful chemicals. However, you can easily make your own – with your own customized scent. In an empty spray bottle, simply combine water, alcohol, and real essential oils. Make sure to label it if you have other DIY sprays, in similar spray bottles, at home.
