One thing that I can't stand is when my house doesn't smell good. I have three kids, two dogs, and two cats.
I have two teenage boys sharing a bedroom. Trust me. There are smells.
I also have my ADHD kiddo in charge of trash and recycling. Perhaps that wasn't the best choice, but it's his daily chore for now.
My princess cat, Chloe, is picky about her litter box. She won't share with her sister, so she has to have her own in a different location. So I'm dealing with two litter boxes.
Then I have the dog and his huge bed that wouldn't fit in my washer even if I wanted it to.
Did I mention that my son has in home therapy three or four days a week, so I constantly have therapists in and out of my house?
I have a pretty good sniffer, but I'm super paranoid about smells. Here's how to make your house smell good all the time and some fresh smelling home tips.
How to Make Your House Smell Good
Instead of masking scents, make sure you get rid of bad odors first. When you learn how to make your house smell good by removing bad scents, it makes it a lot easier to smell good.
Remove Bad Odors
Empty Trash
If something smelly has to go in the trash, I try to put it in a container or bag before I throw it away. If something got hidden in the fridge and stinks, I toss it just before the trash is ready to go out.
My son isn't the best about taking the trash out. I started putting a piece of washi tape
a few inches from the top. When the trash hits that line, it needs to go out. It's a good visual cue for kids who are learning to do chores.You can also get antimicrobial trash bags
. If your trash can stinks, put some baking soda in the bottom to absorb odors or give it a good scrubbing to remove the smell.Litter Boxes
I love my cats, but I don't love the litter boxes. It took me some trial and error to find a litter that Princess Chloe would tolerate and that would absorb odors. We both compromised on Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal
.
I scoop daily and also sprinkle in some extra baking soda once a week. If you have cats, keeping it clean is one of my top fresh smelling home tips.
Clean Your Fridge
When my fridge died a few years ago, I bought a much bigger fridge. I loved it!
Then I realized what a blessing and a curse it was. Food just gets lost in there. And it takes forever to clean. I try to take 10 minutes a week to clean it out really quick and do a deep clean once a month.
Open Windows
If the weather allows, open the windows. I think that's the best way to get fresh air into the house and let it air out.
This does take a while, but there isn't a better smell than the first time you open the windows after a long winter.
Enzyme Cleaners
I love my enzyme cleaner
. It is the only thing that gets that smell out of the bathroom if you have boys.Moms of boys, you know what I'm talking about. If you only follow one of these fresh smelling home tips, do this one.
It's also great on floors for pet accidents or vomit. I add a little to the mop bucket for my wood floors each time I mop. It just makes the room smell fresher.
Air Purifier
My son and husband have allergies, so we've used air purifiers
off and on for the last 10 years. They do work to reduce odors and clean the air.Baking Soda
Baking soda
is one of best ways to how to make your house smell good. I sprinkle it on carpet and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before I vacuum.Learn more about cleaning with baking soda or make a homemade baking soda air freshener.
Musty Towels
If you have kids, then I'm sure you've found wet towels laying in heaps on the floor. After this happens a few times, they can smell musty.
Add a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. Hanging them outside to dry will also help.
Water and Dampness
Water and dampness can both cause odors. When we moved to our farmhouse, we weren't prepared for a musty basement. We had to run a dehumidifer all summer to remove moisture and odors. You can't learn how to make your house smell good if it's damp and musty.
Standing water can also smell. When life got busy, one time my garbage disposal stunk from water and debris. Make sure you clean it with some dish soap and running water.
Check for other standing water or wet wood inside sink cabinets or in mop buckets. One time I couldn't find a horrible smell.
A child was kind enough to mop the floor, but said child rinsed out the bucket and set the mop back in the bucket and put it away instead of hanging it up. Thankfully, that just required a new mop head for a fresher smelling house.
Freshen Fabrics
Couches, pillows, and pet pets can get funky after a while. I use Bio Kleen Bac Out Fabric Refresher
to keep mine smelling fresh naturally. It's safe for most fabrics and pet areas, so I can use it all over.Fresh Smelling Home Tips
Now that you've eliminated bad smells, you can add some pretty smells.
Potpourri on the Stove
A quick way to make your home smell good is to simmer fruits and herbs on the stove. This works quickly, so it's a great idea before a party or when company is coming.
Simmer water in a pan and add lavender, mint, cinnamon sticks, or even slices of a citrus fruit. You can use your choice of spices depending on your tastes.
Wax Melts
I use wax melts often. I try to use essential oils, but I do buy some scents that I can't get in essential oil blends. My favorites are Better Homes and Gardens wax melts
if I don't buy from a local store.
I don't like leaving mine plugged in all the time, so I got a timer to plug it into. I can set it for 2 to 8 hours and it auto shuts off.
Air Vents
If your air conditioning or furnace is running, make these car essential oil diffusers and clip them on the vents. When the blower turns on, it will lightly scent the room.
Eucalyptus Leaves
Eucalyptus leaves can freshen a small to medium sized area. Use them as a decoration in a vase or wreath to look pretty and give off a fragrance. This is one of the easiest fresh smelling home tips.
Essential Oil Diffuser
Use an essential oil diffuser
to diffuse oils into the air. My favorite blend to reduce odors is the Breathe Easy
blend. It has tea tree oil in it to kill germs in the air. You can also try using tea tree oil, peppermint essential oil, lemon essential oil, or lavender essential oil to kill germs in the air.DIY Air Fresheners
If you're crafty and want to learn how to make your house smell good, try one of these DIY air fresheners:
Now you know how to make your house smell good and got some fresh smelling home tips!
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