How to Make Your Home Smell Heavenly
These household tips will help you banish nasty odours in favour of a home that smells fresh, clean and lovely
All homes have their own smell and sometimes we don’t even notice it. There may be a top note of freshly laundered clothes, with a hint of muddy boots and damp dog lurking underneath. The kitchen may swing between smelling temptingly like an artisan bakery to having a distinct whiff of rubbish bin. So how can we improve the aroma of our homes?
There are two lines of attack: masking the odours and eliminating them altogether. As you can probably guess, the masking option is easier than permanently eliminating an unpleasant smell, but masking is a short-term fix. The best approach is to eliminate nasty stenches and then have fun filling your home with fresh, appealing scents. Here’s how…
There are two lines of attack: masking the odours and eliminating them altogether. As you can probably guess, the masking option is easier than permanently eliminating an unpleasant smell, but masking is a short-term fix. The best approach is to eliminate nasty stenches and then have fun filling your home with fresh, appealing scents. Here’s how…
Sort out your sink
If you can smell an eggy scent, it’s possible your sink waste pipes are clogged. To check, put some peppermint oil down the plughole. This helps locate any blockages and also temporarily masks the smell of a blocked drain.
Run hot water down the drain, then walk around the house. If you can smell peppermint oil elsewhere, it’s likely your sink trap is clogged up. Flush with more hot water to help eliminate the smell. You will still need to get the blockage addressed, but this will quickly refresh your home.
If you can smell an eggy scent, it’s possible your sink waste pipes are clogged. To check, put some peppermint oil down the plughole. This helps locate any blockages and also temporarily masks the smell of a blocked drain.
Run hot water down the drain, then walk around the house. If you can smell peppermint oil elsewhere, it’s likely your sink trap is clogged up. Flush with more hot water to help eliminate the smell. You will still need to get the blockage addressed, but this will quickly refresh your home.
Refresh carpets
Use baking soda (also called bicarbonate of soda) to absorb a bad smell. Sprinkle carpets and rugs with it and leave for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming.
You can also make a nifty odour-neutralising spray with it. Put one teaspoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of white vinegar into a spray bottle. Once the foaming has died down, add two cups of water and shake. You can then use this as an air freshener, or to spritz any fabric, upholstery or carpet that is water-safe.
Why baking soda is your new best friend
Use baking soda (also called bicarbonate of soda) to absorb a bad smell. Sprinkle carpets and rugs with it and leave for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming.
You can also make a nifty odour-neutralising spray with it. Put one teaspoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of white vinegar into a spray bottle. Once the foaming has died down, add two cups of water and shake. You can then use this as an air freshener, or to spritz any fabric, upholstery or carpet that is water-safe.
Why baking soda is your new best friend
Banish pet whiffs
Fabric holds on to smells, so wash your pet’s bedding and blankets. Sprinkle baking soda on the chair or sofa where your pet likes to curl up; leave it for 15 minutes, then vacuum off.
Fabric holds on to smells, so wash your pet’s bedding and blankets. Sprinkle baking soda on the chair or sofa where your pet likes to curl up; leave it for 15 minutes, then vacuum off.
Invest in good products
Bin any old kitchen cloths, sponges, mops and dusters, as these can harbour nasty smells, as well as being unhygienic. Then why not invest in some new cleaning products? If you’ve been using the same cleaners for years, it might be time to check out the huge range of eco-friendly and fantastic-smelling products now available.
Bin any old kitchen cloths, sponges, mops and dusters, as these can harbour nasty smells, as well as being unhygienic. Then why not invest in some new cleaning products? If you’ve been using the same cleaners for years, it might be time to check out the huge range of eco-friendly and fantastic-smelling products now available.
Harness the power of vinegar
Odour eliminators tend to be acidic, while odours themselves are alkaline on the pH scale, so the two cancel each other out, thus neutralising the smell.
White vinegar, which can be bought cheaply in supermarkets, is a brilliant odour neutraliser. Pour some into bowls and hide them behind curtains or furniture while they work. After a couple of days, you should notice a difference. Replace the vinegar every few days as it will evaporate.
Odour eliminators tend to be acidic, while odours themselves are alkaline on the pH scale, so the two cancel each other out, thus neutralising the smell.
White vinegar, which can be bought cheaply in supermarkets, is a brilliant odour neutraliser. Pour some into bowls and hide them behind curtains or furniture while they work. After a couple of days, you should notice a difference. Replace the vinegar every few days as it will evaporate.
Create a pleasant smell
Now you have eliminated some of the bad base notes in your home, it’s time to create a pleasant scent. Use an essential oil burner or try a scent diffuser. This consists of bamboo reeds in a bottle of scented oil. The reeds slowly draw the scent up and diffuse it gradually into the atmosphere.
Scented candles also work beautifully, but it’s worth splashing out on a quality candle made with essential oils, as cheaper options can produce a rather chemical-toned scent.
Now you have eliminated some of the bad base notes in your home, it’s time to create a pleasant scent. Use an essential oil burner or try a scent diffuser. This consists of bamboo reeds in a bottle of scented oil. The reeds slowly draw the scent up and diffuse it gradually into the atmosphere.
Scented candles also work beautifully, but it’s worth splashing out on a quality candle made with essential oils, as cheaper options can produce a rather chemical-toned scent.
Boil citrus peel
You can easily make your own, rapid-acting diffuser to spread delicious scent through your kitchen and beyond. Remove the peel, with as little pith as possible, from a couple of lemons, oranges or even grapefruits and add it to a pan of boiling water. The steam works as a natural diffuser, filling the air with citrus scent.
You can easily make your own, rapid-acting diffuser to spread delicious scent through your kitchen and beyond. Remove the peel, with as little pith as possible, from a couple of lemons, oranges or even grapefruits and add it to a pan of boiling water. The steam works as a natural diffuser, filling the air with citrus scent.
Use dried flowers
Potpourri has been out of fashion for some time, but dried flowers and spices are still a useful way of bringing scent into your home.
Lavender in particular retains its scent once dried. Try popping sachets of dried lavender into your chest of drawers and looping bags of lavender over hangers in your wardrobe to scent clothes. Or hang bunches around the house for subtle scent and a splash of purple.
Potpourri has been out of fashion for some time, but dried flowers and spices are still a useful way of bringing scent into your home.
Lavender in particular retains its scent once dried. Try popping sachets of dried lavender into your chest of drawers and looping bags of lavender over hangers in your wardrobe to scent clothes. Or hang bunches around the house for subtle scent and a splash of purple.
Get baking
Fill your home with the smell of freshly baked food, from biscuits and cakes to homemade bread. The aroma will linger in the air during the cooking process and for up to an hour afterwards.
Fill your home with the smell of freshly baked food, from biscuits and cakes to homemade bread. The aroma will linger in the air during the cooking process and for up to an hour afterwards.
Open the windows
Letting in fresh air from outside is a simple, effortless, inexpensive option that will instantly refresh your rooms, and even in winter it’s worth doing it every day. The only downside is that you may need to dust more frequently.
TELL US
Do you have any great tips for creating a fresh atmosphere at home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
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Letting in fresh air from outside is a simple, effortless, inexpensive option that will instantly refresh your rooms, and even in winter it’s worth doing it every day. The only downside is that you may need to dust more frequently.
TELL US
Do you have any great tips for creating a fresh atmosphere at home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
MORE
Greening Your Home: The Best Natural Products to Clean Your House With
Household Headaches: How to Clean Tile Grout
How to Clean the Glass in Your Home
Start by tracking down any sources of unpleasant smells. Check your kitchen sink, bathroom, laundry area, fridge and anywhere pets live, then read on for ideas for blitzing them.