You might not have noticed, but nearly everyone’s home has its own unique smell that is different from everyone else’s. Unfortunately, some homes can smell better than others.
Often it’s a little tricky to keep those day-to-day odors you amass in your home completely in check. But, it’s a fact that there are quite a few ways you can make sure your home won’t become the “talk of the neighborhood” because of the way it smells.
Of course, an overflowing trash bin will require a bit of elbow grease and some patience to take care of properly. Pet messes, of course, need to be cleaned up immediately, especially before they set. Musty chairs or sofas, soiled carpet, and even a bedroom mattress that hasn’t been cleaned for a while can create a sneaky smell that you might not have noticed but others will.
Take a look at some of our timely tips below. You’ll find it can be easy to keep your house smelling great all the time.
Clean out the garbage disposal
If you’ve noticed a sneaky lingering smell in your kitchen, check the sink. If the smell is coming from your garbage disposal, squirt a bit of lemon-scented dish washing soap down into the unit. Next, run the water for a few seconds and then turn the switch on to loosen any smelly particles inside and leave the unit clean and fresh.
Another idea is instead of the dish washing liquid, run some lemon or lime rinds through the disposal. Then, flush it out with a good amount of water. If you still notice a bit of an odor, pour in about a half cup of baking soda. Run some warm water through the unit and any lingering odors should be flushed away.
Refreshing rugs and carpets
Plush carpets are magnets for moisture and can easily absorb smells, especially when you’ve spilled some food from your plate or the family pet has a messy accident.
The solution is to sprinkle a fine layer of baking soda over the entire carpet. Let the powder sit for a few hours and then vacuum it away. The same method will also work wonders for beds, mattresses, upholstered sofas, and chairs.
Take care of the trash can
It’s a given that leftover food in the trash will cause unpleasant odors. But often it’s not only the trash but the can itself that causes the problem. While you’re cleaning the kitchen, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your empty trash can. Then, to make sure no bacteria remain, finish the project off with a disinfectant spray.
Simmering herbs and fruit slices
Give the air that circulates throughout your home a boost by simmering a small pan of water in the kitchen. Then, add some flavorful herbs like lavender or mint, or even a few slices of citrus or citrus rinds. Allow the pan to simmer for a few hours. You’ll find that your entire home will begin to have a wonderful new smell of what you’re simmering back on the kitchen stove.
Scented candles
Another simple way to fill your home with an aroma you’ll love is to place a few scented candles strategically around the house. Place them in areas where the scent will be picked up by absorbent material, like in the linen closet, or wherever you store heavy fabrics or material. Do not light them.
The scent will be absorbed all by itself and you don’t want to risk starting a fire. By the end of the day, you’ll find that when you open the front door, you’ll be greeted by a nice fragrant surprise. Plus, your linens will also have just the slightest hint of the aroma every time you use them.
Bring in the outside
A lot of outside plants can do wonders with the indoor smell of your home. You probably know about jasmine, but gardenia and eucalyptus also have great aromas. Check with your local florist, garden store, or go online and visit Amazon where you can order everything from Arabian and French jasmine to honeysuckle and Corsican mint.
There are many others you’ve probably never heard of that will give your home a unique burst of fragrance unlike no one else’s. But there’s one thing you need to remember, and that is that you always need to be prepared to take care of them.
Freshen up those air vents
Anywhere in your home that air blows is usually a perfect spot to place an object that will bring in a new fragrance to your home. Drive over to Walmart and pick up some car deodorizers. Next, attach them to the metal slats where the air blows out from your air circulation system.
The scent will begin filling the room and continue throughout the rest of your home. Once the block is used up, replace it with a different scent to add variety to the fragrance of your entire living quarters.
Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets can be used for lots of different and unusual things but one, in particular, is to add a new fragrance to different areas of your home. Place a few dryer sheets around the house in dressers, closets, and other small places to give portions of your home a fresh, out-of-the-laundry scent even if the box has been hiding in your laundry room for several months.
Unpleasant odors in your home can be frustrating. Especially when your home’s scent is one of the first things that visitors notice when they walk in the front door. Between cooking, the kids, pet accidents, or something you forgot you spilled, getting your home to smell fresh and inviting can be easy.
Let Us Hear from You!
Try out some of our ideas above and please let us know what you (or your friends) think about the new way your home smells. Please let us know if any of these 8 fun ways to keep your home smelling better have been useful to you and your family. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about other unique ways to add fresh and inviting fragrances to your home, be sure to let us know and we’ll add them to a future list!
