It’s not easy to make your home smell great. With all the cleaning products, deodorizers and perfumes at our disposal, at times, many homeowners still can’t get their homes smelling fresh and fabulous, much more take care of air and odor management.
For other homeowners however, home scenting is an art. If truth be told, there are a number of ways you can look into to ensure your home smells great at all times. Keep in mind that some smells will fade over time, but with these tips you’ll be amazed at how long-lasting they will be.
You may want to refresh the scent every 1-2 weeks depending on whether anyone is noticing a change in the odor or if they’re saying it just doesn’t smell quite as fresh anymore.
If you find yourself using more natural ways to freshen up your house rather than relying on commercial products, you’ll be doing your family a great service. Not only will you be saving money but you’ll also be helping the environment.
Vinegar is one of the best natural deodorizers. It can help eliminate odors from food and tobacco smoke. You can spray it on doorways to hide other scents or add a few drops in the water left out for baking to make your home smell like fresh baked cookies instead of regular cooking smells that seep into everything else!
Essential oils are another way to freshen up any area of our homes including bathrooms, closets and garages. Mix 5-6 drops with 8 ounces of distilled water in an empty 16 ounce spray bottle (you can find these with the dish soap at your local grocery store in the kitchen area).
You can also try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to boiling water for an instant potpourri. Just be careful, not all essential oils are safe for consumption and some even have negative side effects if you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure.
If you decide to try this option, opt for using only 2-3 drops of lemon, rosemary or vanilla scented essential oils. You’ll want to stay away from citrus or lavender as they may cause nausea at higher concentrations.
Using baking soda is another great way to get rid of unwanted odors. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with 1 quart of hot water in a bowl and allow to sit overnight. You can then pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use it in places where you want to neutralize odors like the garbage, refrigerator or bathroom.
You can also try sprinkling baking soda directly on carpets or rugs as well as under your kitchen sink for those nasty food smells that seep in with all the grime. Allow it to sit for about 20-30 minutes and then vacuum up the excess. It will make everything smell fresher without having to resort back to commercial products.
You can bring furniture items like old wooden dressers or cabinets back to life by simply using lemon essential oil and water (3 drops of eo’s per 8 ounces of distilled water). You can then use a cotton ball or soft cloth to lightly rub over the wood (or furniture) and it will look great as well as smell fabulous!
Alternatively, you can mix up your own homemade potpourri. Combine one cup of water, 12-15 drops of either lemon essential oil or cinnamon bark oil with 3 tbsp. of glycerin for an immediate solution that smells delightful.
You can also opt for making a larger batch by using ¼ cup each of dried orange, apple chips, juniper berries and cinnamon sticks in a quart mason jar. Pour 1 ½ cups vinegar on top and allow this to sit for 2 weeks before straining out the ingredients. Place the remaining liquid into a spray bottle and use when needed.
