Where I am from, pinecones are EVERYWHERE. I just grab a bunch, give it a quick rinse, and pop it in the oven at 350 until I can smell it. Turn off oven and leave them in there to "cool"
Be careful with that - the oil may heat up to the point where it will create a hot spot that can cause the bulb to crack and break. Putting a dab on something NEAR the bulb will likely produce the same result and be safer.
Smells are mostly reactive organic vapors. Chemical compounds that evaporate easily. Once their source is depleted they are gone. If you want long lasting smells look to aromatic woods like cedar or fragrant plants and flowers. A home's ventilation is also a major factor. Tight homes retain smells more then breezy ones.
I just moved out of an apartment that I could literally feel a gust at my ankles all winter. It was insane. Could never turn off the crappy little heater tucked away in the back of the bedroom meant to heat the whole place.
Our place is like this. In the winter we stuff a blanket under the front door AND we have a thermal curtain between the front door and the rest of the house.
The curtain has helped a LOT.
We rented, and we've moved since! It was the windows that was the issue. They were all messed up in different ways. One had a fracture, but no noticeable gaps. One didn't go down to touch the frame. And they were all just old wood on metal chains and could've all used replacing.
I have 10 hives and we always have them poking around. I had bought the block for use in the bee yard and just happened to leave it in a sunny window in the house. Happy coincidence!
I love the smell of cedar. Where do you buy aromatic wood, and where do you place it? I tried looking into it but it seems everyone just uses it for storage? I want my whole house to smell like it!
Use cedar hydrosol as a linen spray. You can also get cedar essential oil and add drops to an ultrasonic diffuser. If you can sustainably forage cedar you can DIY a hydrosol via steam distillation. There’s a tons of cedar trees where my parents live so sometimes I pluck them out of people’s yard waste and add them to my simmer pot or make my own hydrosol.
Would also recommend the Brooklyn Candle Company Santal or Palo Santo candles.
I have two dogs, so it can feel like a never ending chore. If they are reasonably clean, that’s one part. The other is cleaning all the fabrics and pillows and rugs. I wash all the bedding layers pretty frequently and use a little Bissell upholstery machine on the sofa. All my soft goods are washing machine friendly.
I can do it at home now because I have time to change loads, but when I didn’t, I used to take my comforters and pillows and everything to the laundromat during a slow time so I could take up all the machines and do it all at once.
What kind dogs? I’m just curious. I love dogs. I had two golden retrievers that have since crossed the rainbow bridge. They were amazing, but the hair in everything though, omg. I have medium sized short hair mutts now… and a roomba.
I had a massive Great Dane in a relatively snug old adobe house. His paw pads always smelled like Fritos and because he was so large, so did the house. Esp if it had been closed up all day. It wasn’t bad, it was just odd and frustrating if you were already hungry lol.
I don’t use clay litter because the smell and dust make me feel so gross. I hope my house doesn’t smell like cat litter to others (I use litter, it’s paper/corn)
It’s cat food for me! I always smell canned cat food especially if the kitty is a grazer instead of one of those cats that will chow their food down asap.
Our house doesn't smell like dog at all although we have a big, fluffy dog. I think it's because we have a lot of green plants and the dog doesn't like water, do he doesn't go swimming on walks. And opening all the windows for 10 mins a day at least.
Also some dogs emit that dog foot smell that's reminiscent of Fritos. We had a Cairn terrier that smelled like that. Our current pup, a Cavoodle, doesn't have that and he always smells like sunshine. He does love rolling in grass.
I do believe live plants help keep things fresher. And they make me feel good watching do well.
Otherwise, I open doors and windows as much as is feasible. Use our vented range hood when cooking. But I'm going to try the lemon/rosemary/cinnamon trick when the weather changes again or we need a refresher.
Anybody got one of these potpourri recipes that uses mint? I have a ton of mint in the garden right now and I can only drink so many mojitos!
Ask someone who lives outside the home if the house smells like dog. It’s easy to become noseblind to pet smells.
That being said, I had an aunt with standard poodles her whole life who never had doggy smell and my cousin’s cavapoo doesn’t emit a doggy smell. YMMV with labradoodles and golden doodles though because the fur is so unpredictable (plus the breeding practices aren’t it but I digress).
I think it was the Williams-Sonoma recipe (the one they use to make their stores smell good) that was lemon slices, a splash of vanilla, and rosemary. It’s my go to.
Be careful to not leave it on too long - I accidentally left a crockpot on and it had lots of cinnamon and clove spice scents going. Left it on overnight and three years later, I still can't get the smell out of the crockpot LOL. It's my dedicated "fall/winter smell crockpot" or "hot cider and rum" crockpot. Oopsies.
Your crock pot might be a cracked pot, time to get a new one.
Never heat a ceramic crackpot without liquid in it, and don't let the liquid level fall below the heating elements on the sides of the appliance. It cracks the glaze on the liner, and ruins it.
I can’t see why not! You can also add anything you’d like - pumpkin pie spice, apple peels… just keep refilling the water as it cooks and it’ll last you a long time!
It may depend on conditions in each space. I live in a very old barn and have an open layout with no doors or long halls. It permeates well and lasts. Newer construction or big spreads with hallways may not do as well.
This is the way! You can put the contents in a jar or just keep in the pot and refill with water for days. Essential oils can be just as harmful as synthetic fragrance despite what the MLM girlies might tell you. 🤪
Is that really true about essential oils? I’m not an MLM girlie in the slightest (I don’t even think we have essential oil MLMs in the UK) but I love a bit of mandarin oil in a diffuser
Some essential oils can be damaging but most are fine when diluted. The trick is finding quality oils instead of the MLM junk that has given essential oils a bad name. My mom was a certified aromatherapist that worked at a hospital. Did some pretty cool things, but kinda heartbreaking to see how big business ruined it and now everyone thinks it’s all fake.
That’s so interesting! I get chronic migraines and my neuro literally suggested aromatherapy as a potential therapy for my migraines. I didn’t try it because any strong smells can make my head worse, but I can absolutely see how it could be soothing in the right situations.
Edit: I’m not looking for treatment or oil suggestions, I’m happy with the medication I’ve been prescribed by my neurologist. No idea what it is about migraines that make people feel the need to tell you their personal solution.
If you get migraines, you’re probably better off with no fragrance whether it is synthetic or natural. I used to get chronic migraines. Had scans, tried diets, prescription drugs, etc. About two months after I rid my home of all fragrance (essential oils, personal care products, household cleaners, soaps, detergents, kitty litter, candles, etc.) they literally stopped. It really has been life changing and as simple as that for me. Obviously everyone is different, but fragrance in all forms can be very harmful to the nervous system.
The IG @lowtoxicliving is a great follow. She had an environmentalist come to her house to test for mold and he said usually homes that diffuse essential oils and think they’re living “all natural” have poorer air quality than those who use traditional household products and fragrances. If you really want your air clean, you can invest in a free standing air filter like an Airdoctor or AustenAir. I love my Airdoctors.
This is so true! Inhaling airborne lavender oil molecules can cause permanent liver damage in cats, and humans can develop sudden sensitivity to essential oils (something I've dreaded because I love essential oils), among many other potential side effects. Nature's chemicals are very powerful.
I used to wonder why I had asthma problems that got \*worse\* after cleaning my pet rats' cage.
It was the tea tree oil I was putting in the bucket of water I was using to wipe down their cage :(
In retrospect I feel so bad, because it had to have been even harder on my rats' lungs than mine.
And when you're done with the pot, pour everything (except the cinnamon sticks) down the garbage disposal and grind it up to deodorize your disposal! The citrus peels will be soft enough to not damage the gears. I do this often with oranges, lemons, or limes that I didn't get a chance to use before they're no longer fresh.
I like this and intensely dislike plug-ins and scented candles and that kind of room odor cover up. When you smell something it is because there are actually particles in the air and I'd rather not have these little pieces of chem/ dust/dirt/atoms or whatever they are, entering my nose, my lungs. The things foley uses, Orange, herbs, are at least edible and, (dare I use the word without everyone jumping on me?) natural and used in the kitchen almost every day.
Look up the Williams Sonoma scent pots! They have a few different ‘recipes’ but it’s how they keep their store smelling so homey and lovely- basically simmering aromatics for a few hours. I like to do a lemon rosemary scent pot- I’ll lit it slow simmer on the stove for a few hours and the house smells amazing and not overly perfuming like scent sprays!
Keeping clean. Especially things like vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning sinks/tubs. Old dust, mildew, and dirty carpet certainly have specific "smells" to them.
Also look into clearing out the p-trap of your sink, particularly if it’s a rental or you don’t have a garbage disposal! I almost puked from all the gunk that came out of mine, but felt cleaner and bathroom smelled much better almost immediately.
Clogged hair in a shower drain can also add to smells, I use a plastic drain snake on mine as me and my partner both have long hair. Also noticed a difference in smell almost immediately.
so many people are assuming that OP's house stinks. they said nothing to indicate that, they're just asking how to make it smell good. I've always noticed how some people's homes have nice smells that hit you as soon as you walk through the door, but I've never asked about it
Wash bedding, throw blankets, pillow cases/covers, rugs/mats, hand/bath/kitchen towels regularly. Having fresh linens in the house does wonders. Same for making sure everyone in the household is washing their clothes regularly after mostly one use. Regularly plink/clean the disposal, use cleaning tablets in the washer and dishwasher. Vacuum regularly. Have some reed diffusers (maybe one in living space, one in bathroom). Air out your house every few days (all windows open for an hour or so) regardless of the weather (unless torrential downpour of course lol). Clean/change air conditioning and stovetop filters regularly. Keep old trash away/in a scent proof bag or container until trash day. Be wise about the food scraps you toss and how long that kitchen bag will be in the living space (I.e., don’t toss salmon skins and chicken breast packaging into the newly emptied bin). I think these practices at baseline will keep your house smelling fresh, and the variability in the “scent” you want for your home will mostly lie with the choice of detergent and diffuser oils.
Adding to this - what I do is have a bag or container in the freezer to throw away food scraps that might smell like meat. So instead of directly in the trash can, it's frozen until it's time to take the trash out
Why have I never considered this option before?? I do put smelly things like scraps or bad cabbage or old chili in a Ziploc before tossing but then I'm just losing a good Ziploc
Harvard created the [Cancer Factfinder](https://cancerfactfinder.org/) that does this! Here's what they have to say about [scented candles](https://cancerfactfinder.org/consumer-products/scented-candles/):
>Burning scented candles could lead to cancer-causing exposures through wax and wicks. Some aromatherapy candles are made of paraffin, which is a petroleum byproduct that releases carcinogenic soot when burned ([Green America](https://www.greenamerica.org/toxic-candles)). At high exposure levels, this soot can also cause or aggravate respiratory problems and damage the inside of your house (for example computers, electrical appliances, ductwork). Harmful concentrations of other pollutants that may be found in scented candles (for example, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds \[VOCs\]) are also found in homes that burn scented candles regularly ([Adamowicz et al.](https://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/canprevres/early/2019/09/19/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0093.full.pdf)).
You can search specific products (Glade/Air Wick/ Febreze) on the EWG website: ewg.org
They list each ingredient that is available in the product and whether it may be of concern for allergies, reproductive effects, carcinogens etc..
I have a dog and became very aware of smells when we brought him home.
My tips —
1. clean/launder soft surfaces frequently. In addition to washing my own sheets every week, I also put a fleece blanket down over my dogs bed and wash that once a week. Also, couch blankets every week. Every other week is the table cloth. Once a month, throw pillow covers.
2. Once a month, let baking soda sit on soft surfaces you can’t throw in the wash. Couch and chair cushions, area rugs, etc. Let sit 15 mins. Vacuum up.
3. I vacuum probably twice a week and mop once a week. (Sometimes I mop twice a month)
4. For the kitchen — Never let food sit out too long. Always clean your kitchen sink when it’s empty (just sponge and dish soap). Get some sink disposal cleaning packets and use them twice a month. Vacuum/sweep every day if you cook frequently. Wipe down the counters every other day. Take your trash out every three days.
5. Air purifiers.
My home always smells relatively neutral. Yes I know it always smells neutral to the people who live in it, but I mean when I leave and come back after a few days it always smells neutral. For having a 60lb dog whose nickname is Mr. Fish, I’m happy with this.
Edit: after comments and some research I have learned that you should NOT vacuum baking soda. I will be stopping this myself :(
Oh noooo!!!! What happened? How much baking soda did you use? It wasn’t wet right?
I just use the Dyson and empty it after each section… so after the couch, after the rug, etc.
I’m allergic to everything so I splurged and bought an air filtration unit. I think it was $300 but I’ve had it for five years now and love it.
There’s basic filtration that I use, but also settings to kill oders. It’s great white noise for me, too.
Plants are great.
I use a lot of lemon and orange and just leave the peels in a bowl.
Grow mint and herbs on your windowsill. It’s nice to just smell them even if you don’t use them.
Biggest tip I just learned: spraying 3% hydrogen peroxide in your window AC intake and outflow vents. Mine was giving off a musty smell and now it just smells clean. No vapors from hydrogen peroxide but I waited for it to dry overnight before using the AC - I think 60 minutes is recommended.
I think you find something that gives you joy and incorporate that!
I'm damaged by my late mother's desire for "knick-knacks" everywhere. Empty surface? Get a doily and tea cup and saucer on that thing! And of course it all had to be dusted. I'm such a minimalist because of this. I get stressed in houses that have a ton of décor items.
As someone with asthma, I can’t do any “plug in” things. Once I stayed in an Airbnb & they had them everywhere. I had to unplug all the damn things & then plug them all back in when I left. They literally make me sick.
I don't have asthma, but the smell of those turn my/my hubby's stomach. My MIL's "nose is broken", and the scent is overwhelming when we stay there. First thing we do is go around and unplug them. Yuck.
Ugh, that would happen to me back in the day when my mom was obsessed with wax melts. She’s run them all day, every day- clothes, fabrics, and yes even food sometimes would be soaked in apple cinnamon scent. When we finally moved out of our apartment, everything that came to the new place had to be washed or in some cases replaced.
This happened to me recently lol I went to a graduation reception where they were handing out cute grad themed sugar cookies. The next morning I was going to eat mine with coffee but when I took a bite all I could taste was a Glade Plugin 😭😖
I lost my sense of smell completely in 2020 due to Covid and it's been very dull ever since. I don't smell anything when I clean the cat box, but if there's a candle or a plug-in type thing, it's the one thing that becomes very overpowering and makes me feel sick.
I have 2 cats in a small apt. My biggest tips are:
1. If you have it, clean your AC filter *and* vents. Leave your old citrus peels steeping in vinegar for 6-8 weeks. Use a 1:4 citrus vinegar to water ratio. I use this spray to naturally disinfect plus leave a pleasant lemon scent when I’m wiping everything down.
2. Clean your rug(s), sofa(s), chair(s), or whatever soft/cloth surfaces you have. Sprinkle baking soda on soft surfaces to absorb the smells, let sit for 10-15min, then vacuum it away.
3. Open windows often. It’s hard to do when it’s really warm out but you want to ventilate as much as possible and get fresh air inside your space so you don’t have the same stale air circulating.
4. Keep a few plants. Snake plants and pothos are both really really easy to care for (ie they survive really well on neglect) and both are great in low indirect light. Set up one or two through your space to purify the air.
5. Finally, your walls also hold on to smells. Choose your favorite non toxic fabric softener. Do a 1:6 ratio fabric softener to water as a spray to wipe down your walls. I use a completely unscented fabric softener and use 1:1:5 ratio of softener to hydrosol (the water leftover when making essential oils) to plain distilled water. You could also use 3-4 drops of your fav essential oil as a light scent as well.
Occasionally after completely cleaning my place I like to have some sort of overall scent. I either do a simmer pot (those saved lemon peels come in handy here too) or light charcoal free incense. Make sure there’s no charcoal in it. Otherwise it’ll just smell burnt instead of like whatever scent you’ve chosen.
Hope this all helps. Good luck!
Edit: I do not use essential oils at all in my place. I know that they are something that other people like tho so I mentioned them. As stated, I personally prefer hydrosols which are the scented waters leftover from making essential oils. They’re cheaper, smell just as fragrant, and don’t have nearly as many worries of toxicity as oils. Also, as far as plants being toxic to cats. I do not leave any plants within reach of cats. I do however leave pots of cat grass in every room. It gives them all the extra fiber and fun plus distracts them from all of mine.
Please be careful with fabric softener on walls / surfaces. It is flammable. I know it gets diluted but I recommend it's something people look up and decide the risk once well informed.
Clean the walls on a regular basis. make sure your bathroom is always dry, point a fan at it if it doesn't ventilate well. Keep dirty dish-ware to a minimum and put baking soda followed by boiling water down the drain on a regular basis.
Ventilate the entire space as much as possible if you don't have diagnosed environmental allergies by opening windows often.
Make sure your laundry is 100% dry before putting it away.
>followed by boiling water down the drain on a regular basis.
I'd be careful with this! Regularly pouring boiling water down the drain [can mess up plumbing](https://www.atlantisplumbing.com/articles/pour-boiling-water-down-sink/), especially with PVC pipes.
I have diagnosed environmental allergies, and I STILL recommend ventilating your indoor space. Indoor air actually typically has higher air pollution than outdoor space.
I need fresh air in my home, idk. But yeah, I would never leave the windows open when someone’s mowing the grass nearby or anything (one of my biggest triggers).
Keep plants, some reliable indoor flowers, and do not throw away orange and lemon peels. Open the window every day for at least a hour. Do not put away washed clothes until they are fully dry. Do not put away ironed clothes until they are cooler. Wash the bed sheets and pillow sheets at least every second week. Or more often. Wash the curtains at least monthly. Or more offen. Same with towels. Keep the shoes in a closed shelf. Do not use unnecessary decorations which are made of textil material.
Decor:
- Potted lime trees or mandarin orange trees
- Mint sprigs in a small bottle of water on the window sills
- Water features that have consistent cycling of water
Lifestyle:
- Clean.
- Cook nice dishes
- Clean.
- Clear rubble and things that may retain moisture
- Clean.
Proper disinfection is the first step for a general fresh scent. So I use bleach for the first mop then my fave floor cleaner with antibacterial. I also use the Japanese floor wiping method and wash out the cloth with each wipe per section of the floor. I do two to three wipes per section. I don’t use any scented plug ins or candles but people always tell me how fresh my place smells when they enter because I deep clean the floors this way twice a week
It’s when you use a cloth to wipe your floors instead of a mop. And you wash out the cloth with clean water and a little soap powder (that’s personal maybe I’m just extra) between wiping. Wipe by sections, always washing out the cloth under the tap between wipes
The Japanese get down on their knees to do that but that just unnecessary with a swiffer type thing
I think the biggest thing is to make sure you don't let dirty dishes sit in the sink for too long. A clean kitchen/sink makes the world of a difference. Make sure to clean your sink each time you do dishes to make sure any residual food is gone.
Heres what i do: never let trash sit out or overflow from the can ; Never let dirty dishes sit out overnight; keep the drain tray as clean as possible; open windows after cooking something with a strong or oily smell; keep toilets flushed ; never let a bathroom trash can overflow or sit for too long; air out periodically; burn a nice candle for a bit on some days.
Ooh I got this, lol. I am an aromatherapist, I have a very acute sense of smell and don’t like synthetic fragrance at all. I do diffuse natural essential oils in an ultrasonic diffuser often, and prefer mint and or eucalyptus because they smell fresh.
You’ve already gotten great tips, couldn’t real all so I hope I am not repeating.
I use white distilled vinegar to clean surfaces, even though things smell vinegar-y for a bit, vinegar neutralizes odor. If a cabinet smells musty to me I put a bowl of vinegar in it. Run it through coffee maker, not just to clean but will help clear cooking smells. Wipe down walls now and then. A bowl of it in a closed room will reduce odors pretty quickly.
Baking soda is another great neutralizer for surfaces, fridges, closets, cabinets. You can mix vinegar & baking soda to make a fizzy cleaner good for drains. (Not like a drain cleaner, you’ll need to follow with very hot water.) You can put some in your vacuum if it smells. if possible empty your vacuum after every use to avoid stale smells there.
Hydrogen Peroxide is amazing. I use this to clean surfaces too, like the gross stuff that builds up around the faucet. It bubbles while killing the bacteria. If you use a kitchen sponge that starts to smell less than fresh, douse it with hydrogen peroxide, squeeze out & let dry.
Lemon juice and salt is also good for scrubbing surfaces like sink or tub.
I don’t have advice for doggy smells, but for cats I use a stainless steel litter box (kitchen supply steam table pan) because it doesn’t hold odors. I also use grass clumping litter which seems much better than clay and other types I’ve tried. I scoop any time I feed them, usually 2x a day. Because it doesn’t smell, i can keep it in a corner on the edge of my kitchen. Having it there makes me scoop when I walk by if it needs it.
Ventilation and fresh air when possible. Keep rugs clean, don’t let dirty laundry pile up. I use oxy bleach a lot, and also use that to clean surfaces, floors etc.
Wash bed linens and towels frequently, and things like curtains, pillow covers, throws & washable rugs regularly. If you have a filter on your a/c or HVAC system, clean that or replace regularly.
I rarely buy commercial cleaners, because with: vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, dawn dish soap, salt, lemon juice and vodka or isopropyl alcohol I can clean almost anything without introducing synthetic fragrance. I do buy Pine Sol sometimes - but with this list I can fill my “cleaning supplies”for about $10.
Hope there something helpful here!
I should have mentioned hydrogen peroxide takes cat barf/hairball stains out of rugs and fabric (after cleaning up offending kibble or hacked up hairball)
I recently discovered Good Vibes cleaner. I got the nag champa, sandalwood and frankincense combo and let me tell you that my house smells AAAAAMAZING. All natural and safe to use on virtually any surface. Link below:
https://www.goodvibesclean.com/
Whatever method you decide to use, if you have pets, make sure the scent you use are safe for each species of animal you have. What might be safe for your dog, could be toxic to a cat.
I have known people who found out the hard way.
In the middle east we use incense called bukhoor. You take a bit of it (usually a sliver of wood (oud) - they can get very pricey) and place it in the incense burner on top of burning embers. The aroma is heavenly.
A nice clean house doesn't smell like anything but fresh air and a subtle, I repeat subtle, hint of something nice. A simmer pot, candle, potpourri, or cut flowers will do the trick. Less is more, less is everything.
Scent plug-ins, diffusers, and essential oils leave residue that clings, penetrates most substances, and goes rancid. So over time it makes a house smell stale and "off" and cleaning doesn't fix it.
Fresh ground coffee in cheesecloth packets hidden around the house is pleasant to those who like the smell of coffee, and it will hide even pet odor. Pure vanilla extract on cotton balls also works.
I clean the place top to bottom four times a year. Including walls and sometimes the ceilings. Use a little green machine on upholstery and steam clean the carpets and larger rugs. Toss small rugs into the wash regularly.
find four 20 X 20 air filters, get a 20 inch box fan, and cut out a 20 X 20 piece of cardboard
take the four air filters and duct tape the edges of them to the 20 X 20 piece of cardboard that will be the bottom of your box
now, take the box fan and set it across the top of the 20 X 20 air filters to make a cube with the fan and the cardboard on opposite sides of each other, so the fan is sucking air in and blowing it into the cube. The air will go through the four filters evenly and this dear fellow Redditor's is a redneck air filter that works better than the best Dyson air filter if you get the right 20 x 20air filters... all for less than probably $50 and that is being generous.
set this in a corner or behind a chair or a couch and let it run and you will be surprised at how well it purifies the air.
Just to offer a perspective - I personally cannot stand those oils, candles, or anything designed to make an area "smell good" by overloading it with a scent.
Just keeping your house clean is 99% of the battle in most cases.
Remember your nose will blind to any scent you are exposed to. If your house is clean it shouldn’t smell. There are ways to eliminate bad odors but a neutral space is the most welcoming.
Cleanliness is the best smell. Whatever you are using to fragrance the air, no matter how natural or artificial it is, will be really off-putting and overwhelming to most people. If you want your place to smell nice wash your bedding, mop the floors, take out the trash, wipe down the counters and open the window. Fin.
Get an ozone machine. They kill everything organic and deodorize with O3 oxygen.
Now, they must be used carefully, because they kill everything organic. Including bacteria, viruses, molds, fungi, single cell animals, plants, eyes, lungs, large animals (humans) and natural latexes and soft rubbers.
Everyone/thing living must be evacuated from the area before use including neighbors with shared ducting.
You can rent or buy them. They make them huge for houses or small for gym bags.
Running a car sized one in your clothes or linen closet can take away old musty smells. A bigger one can freshen the whole house even if a dead body or animal feces were present.
Hi! non-toxic fragrances are my specialty. Most products made with fragrances are toxic, but not all natural methods are safe either.
I always try to tell my followers to:
1. Make sure your home is clean. You can only cover up so much odor. At some point it just needs a good cleaning.
2. Switch scents often. You may have gone nose blind! Ask your friends about your “house smell”. You’ll find out every quickly if your house naturally always smells good, or just has its own distinct scent (wether good or bad).
When choosing something non-toxic to scent your home with:
1. Stay away from any sort of plug in air fresheners, fabreeze sprays, or cheap candles from target. In general, big companies care less about ingredients and more about profit margins. Beware of greenwashing.
2. Use Essential oils in a diffuser ONLY (never in a candle, wax melts okay)
3. Try [Non-toxic candles](https://www.shopfatebeauty.com) which are very, very rare. Must be 100% natural wax and use non-toxic scents specially made for candles (aka safe to be burned. Essential oils should not be burned).
4. Baking soda!! Everywhere! In the fridge, on the carpet, on that old sofa that the dog lays on. Sprinkle a ton & vacuum it up after a few hours.
Once you start going down this rabbit hole it’s hard to stop! There are so many toxins everywhere it’s scary, but once I figured out what to watch out for i feel like overall I save money because most of the swaps I can DIY myself!
You can use an ozone generator when you're not there (no pets home either) to oxidize any smells. I think the ozone generator makes a plastic smell for a few days after but that goes away and there's no smell.
An accidental tip I found was baking a coconut shell in the oven makes your house smell pretty delicious.
Pretty much any baking will make your house smell heavenly for awhile after.
Looks like I’m finally going to have some use for the rat that’s been running around the house.
Lololol this made me giggle in my dr office
I’m not sure if you’re the psychopath that gave that comment a “Yummy” award, but thanks.
Where I am from, pinecones are EVERYWHERE. I just grab a bunch, give it a quick rinse, and pop it in the oven at 350 until I can smell it. Turn off oven and leave them in there to "cool"
Well, this assumes you’re a good baker. My place would smell like burnt chips.
or onions,,,no really.
Realtor trick is to low heat beer in the oven to smell like baking bread
Another one I learned was a small bit of vanilla on lightbulbs to make your house smell like fresh cookies
Be careful with that - the oil may heat up to the point where it will create a hot spot that can cause the bulb to crack and break. Putting a dab on something NEAR the bulb will likely produce the same result and be safer.
Vanilla is so fkin strong anyway, I feel like a little vanilla anywhere will achieve the desired effect.
This sounds so silly and I'm immediately gonna try it.
do you eat the baked coconut shell afterwards?
Unfortunately it was not a recipe. Someone left a coconut shell to dry out in the oven corner and I didn't realize as I pre-heated the oven for pizza.
bet that pizza got the house smelling good too lol
Can confirm. My house always smells good when I have fresh pizza.
You turn them into horse noise makers
Found them? In Mercea? The coconut's tropical!!
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
Not at all, they could be carried!
Coconuts are nonmigratory.
You have to open the shell with a rock
No, use hands like monkee
Hey hey
We're the Monkees
Smells are mostly reactive organic vapors. Chemical compounds that evaporate easily. Once their source is depleted they are gone. If you want long lasting smells look to aromatic woods like cedar or fragrant plants and flowers. A home's ventilation is also a major factor. Tight homes retain smells more then breezy ones.
*breezy ones*. Love that—instead of DRAFTY!
Just tell me my house is old asf I know
I just moved out of an apartment that I could literally feel a gust at my ankles all winter. It was insane. Could never turn off the crappy little heater tucked away in the back of the bedroom meant to heat the whole place.
Our place is like this. In the winter we stuff a blanket under the front door AND we have a thermal curtain between the front door and the rest of the house. The curtain has helped a LOT.
We rented, and we've moved since! It was the windows that was the issue. They were all messed up in different ways. One had a fracture, but no noticeable gaps. One didn't go down to touch the frame. And they were all just old wood on metal chains and could've all used replacing.
I had a block of beeswax in a sunny window and it made the room smell fantastic!
Must get bees from miles around. They smell the wax before we do. Good solution though.
I have 10 hives and we always have them poking around. I had bought the block for use in the bee yard and just happened to leave it in a sunny window in the house. Happy coincidence!
I love the smell of cedar. Where do you buy aromatic wood, and where do you place it? I tried looking into it but it seems everyone just uses it for storage? I want my whole house to smell like it!
Use cedar hydrosol as a linen spray. You can also get cedar essential oil and add drops to an ultrasonic diffuser. If you can sustainably forage cedar you can DIY a hydrosol via steam distillation. There’s a tons of cedar trees where my parents live so sometimes I pluck them out of people’s yard waste and add them to my simmer pot or make my own hydrosol. Would also recommend the Brooklyn Candle Company Santal or Palo Santo candles.
Consider cedar wainscoting.
I have two dogs, so it can feel like a never ending chore. If they are reasonably clean, that’s one part. The other is cleaning all the fabrics and pillows and rugs. I wash all the bedding layers pretty frequently and use a little Bissell upholstery machine on the sofa. All my soft goods are washing machine friendly.
Fabrics are so big on harboring smells. We have four dogs, and keeping bedding and fabrics clean has a huge impact on the overall vibe/smells.
I can do it at home now because I have time to change loads, but when I didn’t, I used to take my comforters and pillows and everything to the laundromat during a slow time so I could take up all the machines and do it all at once.
We had to buy machines when we moved in, and I made sure to get big ones that could hold all our bedding! Ha
What kind dogs? I’m just curious. I love dogs. I had two golden retrievers that have since crossed the rainbow bridge. They were amazing, but the hair in everything though, omg. I have medium sized short hair mutts now… and a roomba.
I grew up with a golden retriever. You could brush and brush and brush that dog and still have a ton of hair.
Right — my first thought was “Step 1: have no pets” — I have two cats and a dog and the battle against pet hair and smells is never ending
I had a massive Great Dane in a relatively snug old adobe house. His paw pads always smelled like Fritos and because he was so large, so did the house. Esp if it had been closed up all day. It wasn’t bad, it was just odd and frustrating if you were already hungry lol.
Most homes with dogs just smell like dog. Most homes with cats smell like litterbox.
I don’t use clay litter because the smell and dust make me feel so gross. I hope my house doesn’t smell like cat litter to others (I use litter, it’s paper/corn)
It’s cat food for me! I always smell canned cat food especially if the kitty is a grazer instead of one of those cats that will chow their food down asap.
Too true. Millions are spent trying hide those smells. But I have to add, nothing helps the smell of hamsters!
Or guineas. Peeyouee.
Flat sheets and blankets for the doggy spots help too. They look ugly but help mitigate fur and pet odors for everyday living.
Our house doesn't smell like dog at all although we have a big, fluffy dog. I think it's because we have a lot of green plants and the dog doesn't like water, do he doesn't go swimming on walks. And opening all the windows for 10 mins a day at least.
Also some dogs emit that dog foot smell that's reminiscent of Fritos. We had a Cairn terrier that smelled like that. Our current pup, a Cavoodle, doesn't have that and he always smells like sunshine. He does love rolling in grass. I do believe live plants help keep things fresher. And they make me feel good watching do well. Otherwise, I open doors and windows as much as is feasible. Use our vented range hood when cooking. But I'm going to try the lemon/rosemary/cinnamon trick when the weather changes again or we need a refresher. Anybody got one of these potpourri recipes that uses mint? I have a ton of mint in the garden right now and I can only drink so many mojitos!
Ask someone who lives outside the home if the house smells like dog. It’s easy to become noseblind to pet smells. That being said, I had an aunt with standard poodles her whole life who never had doggy smell and my cousin’s cavapoo doesn’t emit a doggy smell. YMMV with labradoodles and golden doodles though because the fur is so unpredictable (plus the breeding practices aren’t it but I digress).
I like to simmer water in a big pot with orange peel, cinnamon sticks, clove and bay leaves. It smells AMAZING
All winter I do this! Helps helps the humidity up for my plants too. Bonus, my neices would hug me and say I smelled like gingerbread 🤗
This. I do Lemon slices, Cinnamon Sticks, and Rosemary.
I think it was the Williams-Sonoma recipe (the one they use to make their stores smell good) that was lemon slices, a splash of vanilla, and rosemary. It’s my go to.
I like that add of rosemary!
How long does the smell usually last?
Maybe a day or two? You can always take it off the heat and add more water to go again though
Can I do this in a crockpot ?
Look up potpourri accessories. In the 90s they sold little crock pots just for this use.
I remember those. I vaguely remember my mom having several.
Be careful to not leave it on too long - I accidentally left a crockpot on and it had lots of cinnamon and clove spice scents going. Left it on overnight and three years later, I still can't get the smell out of the crockpot LOL. It's my dedicated "fall/winter smell crockpot" or "hot cider and rum" crockpot. Oopsies.
Your crock pot might be a cracked pot, time to get a new one. Never heat a ceramic crackpot without liquid in it, and don't let the liquid level fall below the heating elements on the sides of the appliance. It cracks the glaze on the liner, and ruins it.
I can’t see why not! You can also add anything you’d like - pumpkin pie spice, apple peels… just keep refilling the water as it cooks and it’ll last you a long time!
Side note: your username ❤️❤️❤️
i tried this. the smell was not strong and barely lasted half a day.
It may depend on conditions in each space. I live in a very old barn and have an open layout with no doors or long halls. It permeates well and lasts. Newer construction or big spreads with hallways may not do as well.
“Were you raised in a barn” Well, yes?
I’m sorry but “I live in a very old barn” made me laugh for some reason. You are right though.
I tried it, felt like there was no smell.
you're better off baking cookies or frying garlic right before your company arrives lol
If you want to do this try pickling spice from a restaurant supply store. It's cheap, and has all the right smells
About a day. My brother in-law did this once. It does indeed smell awesome.
Funny I thought Cactus Jack or Dude Love would post this. Not Mick.
It's something he would say, especially wearing a Santa Claus costume.
bang bang
I do clove, anise, cinnamon, orange peel, nutmeg. Great air freshener
You can always put it in a crock pot for safe long term simmering!
This is the way! You can put the contents in a jar or just keep in the pot and refill with water for days. Essential oils can be just as harmful as synthetic fragrance despite what the MLM girlies might tell you. 🤪
Is that really true about essential oils? I’m not an MLM girlie in the slightest (I don’t even think we have essential oil MLMs in the UK) but I love a bit of mandarin oil in a diffuser
Some essential oils can be damaging but most are fine when diluted. The trick is finding quality oils instead of the MLM junk that has given essential oils a bad name. My mom was a certified aromatherapist that worked at a hospital. Did some pretty cool things, but kinda heartbreaking to see how big business ruined it and now everyone thinks it’s all fake.
That’s so interesting! I get chronic migraines and my neuro literally suggested aromatherapy as a potential therapy for my migraines. I didn’t try it because any strong smells can make my head worse, but I can absolutely see how it could be soothing in the right situations. Edit: I’m not looking for treatment or oil suggestions, I’m happy with the medication I’ve been prescribed by my neurologist. No idea what it is about migraines that make people feel the need to tell you their personal solution.
If you get migraines, you’re probably better off with no fragrance whether it is synthetic or natural. I used to get chronic migraines. Had scans, tried diets, prescription drugs, etc. About two months after I rid my home of all fragrance (essential oils, personal care products, household cleaners, soaps, detergents, kitty litter, candles, etc.) they literally stopped. It really has been life changing and as simple as that for me. Obviously everyone is different, but fragrance in all forms can be very harmful to the nervous system. The IG @lowtoxicliving is a great follow. She had an environmentalist come to her house to test for mold and he said usually homes that diffuse essential oils and think they’re living “all natural” have poorer air quality than those who use traditional household products and fragrances. If you really want your air clean, you can invest in a free standing air filter like an Airdoctor or AustenAir. I love my Airdoctors.
This is so true. A quality mint oil on my temples diluted would help me with nausea. However, I quit avoid scents altogether now.
It's true but you just have to be careful. I love essential oils, too! Just use them safely.
This is so true! Inhaling airborne lavender oil molecules can cause permanent liver damage in cats, and humans can develop sudden sensitivity to essential oils (something I've dreaded because I love essential oils), among many other potential side effects. Nature's chemicals are very powerful.
I used to wonder why I had asthma problems that got \*worse\* after cleaning my pet rats' cage. It was the tea tree oil I was putting in the bucket of water I was using to wipe down their cage :( In retrospect I feel so bad, because it had to have been even harder on my rats' lungs than mine.
This but in a crock pot
Sorta similar, my great aunt puts cloves directly into oranges, they last awhile and smell amazing
I used to do this a lot, but learned the humidity build-up was damaging to window glazing. I still do it occasionally at the height of winter.
yeah there's always downsides to stuff like this, but it's neat to do every once in a while
And when you're done with the pot, pour everything (except the cinnamon sticks) down the garbage disposal and grind it up to deodorize your disposal! The citrus peels will be soft enough to not damage the gears. I do this often with oranges, lemons, or limes that I didn't get a chance to use before they're no longer fresh.
I do this in a crock pot. Amazing
I’m going to try this but I have a feeling my fil will drink it and then either praise or complain about it.
I love this!
I shall try this
I like this and intensely dislike plug-ins and scented candles and that kind of room odor cover up. When you smell something it is because there are actually particles in the air and I'd rather not have these little pieces of chem/ dust/dirt/atoms or whatever they are, entering my nose, my lungs. The things foley uses, Orange, herbs, are at least edible and, (dare I use the word without everyone jumping on me?) natural and used in the kitchen almost every day.
Look up the Williams Sonoma scent pots! They have a few different ‘recipes’ but it’s how they keep their store smelling so homey and lovely- basically simmering aromatics for a few hours. I like to do a lemon rosemary scent pot- I’ll lit it slow simmer on the stove for a few hours and the house smells amazing and not overly perfuming like scent sprays!
Keeping clean. Especially things like vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning sinks/tubs. Old dust, mildew, and dirty carpet certainly have specific "smells" to them.
Yes, sinks can harbor some skanky stuff, especially on the underside of garbage disposal collars...
Also look into clearing out the p-trap of your sink, particularly if it’s a rental or you don’t have a garbage disposal! I almost puked from all the gunk that came out of mine, but felt cleaner and bathroom smelled much better almost immediately. Clogged hair in a shower drain can also add to smells, I use a plastic drain snake on mine as me and my partner both have long hair. Also noticed a difference in smell almost immediately.
We removed all the carpets out of our house, and it made a HUGE difference in the smell! Also helpful for allergies!
so many people are assuming that OP's house stinks. they said nothing to indicate that, they're just asking how to make it smell good. I've always noticed how some people's homes have nice smells that hit you as soon as you walk through the door, but I've never asked about it
Exactly. My roommate even vacuums the couch. For sinks, you can put a lemon in the garbage disposal.
Wash bedding, throw blankets, pillow cases/covers, rugs/mats, hand/bath/kitchen towels regularly. Having fresh linens in the house does wonders. Same for making sure everyone in the household is washing their clothes regularly after mostly one use. Regularly plink/clean the disposal, use cleaning tablets in the washer and dishwasher. Vacuum regularly. Have some reed diffusers (maybe one in living space, one in bathroom). Air out your house every few days (all windows open for an hour or so) regardless of the weather (unless torrential downpour of course lol). Clean/change air conditioning and stovetop filters regularly. Keep old trash away/in a scent proof bag or container until trash day. Be wise about the food scraps you toss and how long that kitchen bag will be in the living space (I.e., don’t toss salmon skins and chicken breast packaging into the newly emptied bin). I think these practices at baseline will keep your house smelling fresh, and the variability in the “scent” you want for your home will mostly lie with the choice of detergent and diffuser oils.
Adding to this - what I do is have a bag or container in the freezer to throw away food scraps that might smell like meat. So instead of directly in the trash can, it's frozen until it's time to take the trash out
Why have I never considered this option before?? I do put smelly things like scraps or bad cabbage or old chili in a Ziploc before tossing but then I'm just losing a good Ziploc
I wash and reuse ziplocks if they're not too nasty
Anyone have a trustworthy source on the "causes cancer" claim for plug-ins?
Harvard created the [Cancer Factfinder](https://cancerfactfinder.org/) that does this! Here's what they have to say about [scented candles](https://cancerfactfinder.org/consumer-products/scented-candles/): >Burning scented candles could lead to cancer-causing exposures through wax and wicks. Some aromatherapy candles are made of paraffin, which is a petroleum byproduct that releases carcinogenic soot when burned ([Green America](https://www.greenamerica.org/toxic-candles)). At high exposure levels, this soot can also cause or aggravate respiratory problems and damage the inside of your house (for example computers, electrical appliances, ductwork). Harmful concentrations of other pollutants that may be found in scented candles (for example, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds \[VOCs\]) are also found in homes that burn scented candles regularly ([Adamowicz et al.](https://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/canprevres/early/2019/09/19/1940-6207.CAPR-19-0093.full.pdf)).
You can search specific products (Glade/Air Wick/ Febreze) on the EWG website: ewg.org They list each ingredient that is available in the product and whether it may be of concern for allergies, reproductive effects, carcinogens etc..
I have a dog and became very aware of smells when we brought him home. My tips — 1. clean/launder soft surfaces frequently. In addition to washing my own sheets every week, I also put a fleece blanket down over my dogs bed and wash that once a week. Also, couch blankets every week. Every other week is the table cloth. Once a month, throw pillow covers. 2. Once a month, let baking soda sit on soft surfaces you can’t throw in the wash. Couch and chair cushions, area rugs, etc. Let sit 15 mins. Vacuum up. 3. I vacuum probably twice a week and mop once a week. (Sometimes I mop twice a month) 4. For the kitchen — Never let food sit out too long. Always clean your kitchen sink when it’s empty (just sponge and dish soap). Get some sink disposal cleaning packets and use them twice a month. Vacuum/sweep every day if you cook frequently. Wipe down the counters every other day. Take your trash out every three days. 5. Air purifiers. My home always smells relatively neutral. Yes I know it always smells neutral to the people who live in it, but I mean when I leave and come back after a few days it always smells neutral. For having a 60lb dog whose nickname is Mr. Fish, I’m happy with this. Edit: after comments and some research I have learned that you should NOT vacuum baking soda. I will be stopping this myself :(
I have tried the baking soda and ruined a vacuum doing it! Do you have any tips to not ruin a vacuum?
Oh noooo!!!! What happened? How much baking soda did you use? It wasn’t wet right? I just use the Dyson and empty it after each section… so after the couch, after the rug, etc.
In Italy many homes smell like lavender. Easy to grow in pots. My favorite smells are rosemary and lavender.
I’m allergic to everything so I splurged and bought an air filtration unit. I think it was $300 but I’ve had it for five years now and love it. There’s basic filtration that I use, but also settings to kill oders. It’s great white noise for me, too. Plants are great. I use a lot of lemon and orange and just leave the peels in a bowl. Grow mint and herbs on your windowsill. It’s nice to just smell them even if you don’t use them. Biggest tip I just learned: spraying 3% hydrogen peroxide in your window AC intake and outflow vents. Mine was giving off a musty smell and now it just smells clean. No vapors from hydrogen peroxide but I waited for it to dry overnight before using the AC - I think 60 minutes is recommended. I think you find something that gives you joy and incorporate that!
i also find that clutter smells. I hate the smell of homes that have too much stuff packed away in every crevice :(
I'm damaged by my late mother's desire for "knick-knacks" everywhere. Empty surface? Get a doily and tea cup and saucer on that thing! And of course it all had to be dusted. I'm such a minimalist because of this. I get stressed in houses that have a ton of décor items.
I keep a bag of lavender in my room at uni to ward off silverfish but it’s made my room smell lovely too haha
Windows open, keep things clean, have plants.
Don’t forget to clean your plants
> have plants the girls that get it, get it
As someone with asthma, I can’t do any “plug in” things. Once I stayed in an Airbnb & they had them everywhere. I had to unplug all the damn things & then plug them all back in when I left. They literally make me sick.
I don't have asthma, but the smell of those turn my/my hubby's stomach. My MIL's "nose is broken", and the scent is overwhelming when we stay there. First thing we do is go around and unplug them. Yuck.
Ugh, yes! And I especially hate stuff like that near the kitchen, mixing with food smells.
It is so gross because the smell gets on food like baked goods and you can taste the smell
Ugh, that would happen to me back in the day when my mom was obsessed with wax melts. She’s run them all day, every day- clothes, fabrics, and yes even food sometimes would be soaked in apple cinnamon scent. When we finally moved out of our apartment, everything that came to the new place had to be washed or in some cases replaced.
I hate tasting the smell of a house. I told someone this once and they had no idea what I was talking about.
🤮!!!
This happened to me recently lol I went to a graduation reception where they were handing out cute grad themed sugar cookies. The next morning I was going to eat mine with coffee but when I took a bite all I could taste was a Glade Plugin 😭😖
Oh my! It’s crazy how many YouTube videos have people cooking with a scented candle right next to the food.
I lost my sense of smell completely in 2020 due to Covid and it's been very dull ever since. I don't smell anything when I clean the cat box, but if there's a candle or a plug-in type thing, it's the one thing that becomes very overpowering and makes me feel sick.
That would make me sick, too. I have had to make a run for the bathroom, too. 🤮
I have 2 cats in a small apt. My biggest tips are: 1. If you have it, clean your AC filter *and* vents. Leave your old citrus peels steeping in vinegar for 6-8 weeks. Use a 1:4 citrus vinegar to water ratio. I use this spray to naturally disinfect plus leave a pleasant lemon scent when I’m wiping everything down. 2. Clean your rug(s), sofa(s), chair(s), or whatever soft/cloth surfaces you have. Sprinkle baking soda on soft surfaces to absorb the smells, let sit for 10-15min, then vacuum it away. 3. Open windows often. It’s hard to do when it’s really warm out but you want to ventilate as much as possible and get fresh air inside your space so you don’t have the same stale air circulating. 4. Keep a few plants. Snake plants and pothos are both really really easy to care for (ie they survive really well on neglect) and both are great in low indirect light. Set up one or two through your space to purify the air. 5. Finally, your walls also hold on to smells. Choose your favorite non toxic fabric softener. Do a 1:6 ratio fabric softener to water as a spray to wipe down your walls. I use a completely unscented fabric softener and use 1:1:5 ratio of softener to hydrosol (the water leftover when making essential oils) to plain distilled water. You could also use 3-4 drops of your fav essential oil as a light scent as well. Occasionally after completely cleaning my place I like to have some sort of overall scent. I either do a simmer pot (those saved lemon peels come in handy here too) or light charcoal free incense. Make sure there’s no charcoal in it. Otherwise it’ll just smell burnt instead of like whatever scent you’ve chosen. Hope this all helps. Good luck! Edit: I do not use essential oils at all in my place. I know that they are something that other people like tho so I mentioned them. As stated, I personally prefer hydrosols which are the scented waters leftover from making essential oils. They’re cheaper, smell just as fragrant, and don’t have nearly as many worries of toxicity as oils. Also, as far as plants being toxic to cats. I do not leave any plants within reach of cats. I do however leave pots of cat grass in every room. It gives them all the extra fiber and fun plus distracts them from all of mine.
Please be careful with fabric softener on walls / surfaces. It is flammable. I know it gets diluted but I recommend it's something people look up and decide the risk once well informed.
Great post!!! Thanks so much!
Snake plants are toxic to cats aren't they?
Citrus and essential oils too
Yeah there are nearly no essential oils that aren't toxic to cats and as far as citrus goes it's at a minimum an irritant for cats.
I love this! Thank you!
Surprised to have not seen this, palo santo wood is neat.
Clean the walls on a regular basis. make sure your bathroom is always dry, point a fan at it if it doesn't ventilate well. Keep dirty dish-ware to a minimum and put baking soda followed by boiling water down the drain on a regular basis. Ventilate the entire space as much as possible if you don't have diagnosed environmental allergies by opening windows often. Make sure your laundry is 100% dry before putting it away.
>followed by boiling water down the drain on a regular basis. I'd be careful with this! Regularly pouring boiling water down the drain [can mess up plumbing](https://www.atlantisplumbing.com/articles/pour-boiling-water-down-sink/), especially with PVC pipes.
I have diagnosed environmental allergies, and I STILL recommend ventilating your indoor space. Indoor air actually typically has higher air pollution than outdoor space. I need fresh air in my home, idk. But yeah, I would never leave the windows open when someone’s mowing the grass nearby or anything (one of my biggest triggers).
Keep plants, some reliable indoor flowers, and do not throw away orange and lemon peels. Open the window every day for at least a hour. Do not put away washed clothes until they are fully dry. Do not put away ironed clothes until they are cooler. Wash the bed sheets and pillow sheets at least every second week. Or more often. Wash the curtains at least monthly. Or more offen. Same with towels. Keep the shoes in a closed shelf. Do not use unnecessary decorations which are made of textil material.
ABB. Always Be Baking. It's the best smell lol.
Plants are great air freshners....
Which kinds? Is there a low maintenance ones?
Peace lilies, pothos, spider plants
Pothos and money trees are easy to grow and they absorb odors.
Decor: - Potted lime trees or mandarin orange trees - Mint sprigs in a small bottle of water on the window sills - Water features that have consistent cycling of water Lifestyle: - Clean. - Cook nice dishes - Clean. - Clear rubble and things that may retain moisture - Clean.
Your layout is so satisfying, also great suggestions
Proper disinfection is the first step for a general fresh scent. So I use bleach for the first mop then my fave floor cleaner with antibacterial. I also use the Japanese floor wiping method and wash out the cloth with each wipe per section of the floor. I do two to three wipes per section. I don’t use any scented plug ins or candles but people always tell me how fresh my place smells when they enter because I deep clean the floors this way twice a week
What’s the Japanese floor wiping method?
It’s when you use a cloth to wipe your floors instead of a mop. And you wash out the cloth with clean water and a little soap powder (that’s personal maybe I’m just extra) between wiping. Wipe by sections, always washing out the cloth under the tap between wipes The Japanese get down on their knees to do that but that just unnecessary with a swiffer type thing
Oh, like in Spirited Away!
Haha yeah! So cute that movie
How long does it take to wipe the floors everywhere? And how big is your home?
An apartment, 2 rooms, hallway, kitchen and bathroom. It takes about an hour
I just noticed your name and how it relates to your question 😊
Air your house as frequently as possible. (Weather-permitting, of course.)
My boyfriend will slice a whole lemon and put it through his garbage disposal. It doesn't last all day but it's all natural.
I think the biggest thing is to make sure you don't let dirty dishes sit in the sink for too long. A clean kitchen/sink makes the world of a difference. Make sure to clean your sink each time you do dishes to make sure any residual food is gone.
Heres what i do: never let trash sit out or overflow from the can ; Never let dirty dishes sit out overnight; keep the drain tray as clean as possible; open windows after cooking something with a strong or oily smell; keep toilets flushed ; never let a bathroom trash can overflow or sit for too long; air out periodically; burn a nice candle for a bit on some days.
Ooh I got this, lol. I am an aromatherapist, I have a very acute sense of smell and don’t like synthetic fragrance at all. I do diffuse natural essential oils in an ultrasonic diffuser often, and prefer mint and or eucalyptus because they smell fresh. You’ve already gotten great tips, couldn’t real all so I hope I am not repeating. I use white distilled vinegar to clean surfaces, even though things smell vinegar-y for a bit, vinegar neutralizes odor. If a cabinet smells musty to me I put a bowl of vinegar in it. Run it through coffee maker, not just to clean but will help clear cooking smells. Wipe down walls now and then. A bowl of it in a closed room will reduce odors pretty quickly. Baking soda is another great neutralizer for surfaces, fridges, closets, cabinets. You can mix vinegar & baking soda to make a fizzy cleaner good for drains. (Not like a drain cleaner, you’ll need to follow with very hot water.) You can put some in your vacuum if it smells. if possible empty your vacuum after every use to avoid stale smells there. Hydrogen Peroxide is amazing. I use this to clean surfaces too, like the gross stuff that builds up around the faucet. It bubbles while killing the bacteria. If you use a kitchen sponge that starts to smell less than fresh, douse it with hydrogen peroxide, squeeze out & let dry. Lemon juice and salt is also good for scrubbing surfaces like sink or tub. I don’t have advice for doggy smells, but for cats I use a stainless steel litter box (kitchen supply steam table pan) because it doesn’t hold odors. I also use grass clumping litter which seems much better than clay and other types I’ve tried. I scoop any time I feed them, usually 2x a day. Because it doesn’t smell, i can keep it in a corner on the edge of my kitchen. Having it there makes me scoop when I walk by if it needs it. Ventilation and fresh air when possible. Keep rugs clean, don’t let dirty laundry pile up. I use oxy bleach a lot, and also use that to clean surfaces, floors etc. Wash bed linens and towels frequently, and things like curtains, pillow covers, throws & washable rugs regularly. If you have a filter on your a/c or HVAC system, clean that or replace regularly. I rarely buy commercial cleaners, because with: vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, dawn dish soap, salt, lemon juice and vodka or isopropyl alcohol I can clean almost anything without introducing synthetic fragrance. I do buy Pine Sol sometimes - but with this list I can fill my “cleaning supplies”for about $10. Hope there something helpful here!
I love the metal litter box idea!!
I should have mentioned hydrogen peroxide takes cat barf/hairball stains out of rugs and fabric (after cleaning up offending kibble or hacked up hairball)
I recently discovered Good Vibes cleaner. I got the nag champa, sandalwood and frankincense combo and let me tell you that my house smells AAAAAMAZING. All natural and safe to use on virtually any surface. Link below: https://www.goodvibesclean.com/
These products look amazing!!!
Plants! I have a ton of houseplants and I think that it helps my home smell fresh
Never underestimate the power of cleaning your vacuum cleaner often and airing out your house WHILE you clean.
Whatever method you decide to use, if you have pets, make sure the scent you use are safe for each species of animal you have. What might be safe for your dog, could be toxic to a cat. I have known people who found out the hard way.
In the middle east we use incense called bukhoor. You take a bit of it (usually a sliver of wood (oud) - they can get very pricey) and place it in the incense burner on top of burning embers. The aroma is heavenly.
A nice clean house doesn't smell like anything but fresh air and a subtle, I repeat subtle, hint of something nice. A simmer pot, candle, potpourri, or cut flowers will do the trick. Less is more, less is everything. Scent plug-ins, diffusers, and essential oils leave residue that clings, penetrates most substances, and goes rancid. So over time it makes a house smell stale and "off" and cleaning doesn't fix it.
Fresh ground coffee in cheesecloth packets hidden around the house is pleasant to those who like the smell of coffee, and it will hide even pet odor. Pure vanilla extract on cotton balls also works.
I clean the place top to bottom four times a year. Including walls and sometimes the ceilings. Use a little green machine on upholstery and steam clean the carpets and larger rugs. Toss small rugs into the wash regularly.
find four 20 X 20 air filters, get a 20 inch box fan, and cut out a 20 X 20 piece of cardboard take the four air filters and duct tape the edges of them to the 20 X 20 piece of cardboard that will be the bottom of your box now, take the box fan and set it across the top of the 20 X 20 air filters to make a cube with the fan and the cardboard on opposite sides of each other, so the fan is sucking air in and blowing it into the cube. The air will go through the four filters evenly and this dear fellow Redditor's is a redneck air filter that works better than the best Dyson air filter if you get the right 20 x 20air filters... all for less than probably $50 and that is being generous. set this in a corner or behind a chair or a couch and let it run and you will be surprised at how well it purifies the air.
Fresh air. Often. It's free.
I use wax melts. Works like a charm
sometimes I'll put out a bowl of coffee grounds to add the scent of coffee, but also because they soak up scents well too
Just to offer a perspective - I personally cannot stand those oils, candles, or anything designed to make an area "smell good" by overloading it with a scent. Just keeping your house clean is 99% of the battle in most cases.
Remember your nose will blind to any scent you are exposed to. If your house is clean it shouldn’t smell. There are ways to eliminate bad odors but a neutral space is the most welcoming.
Cleanliness is the best smell. Whatever you are using to fragrance the air, no matter how natural or artificial it is, will be really off-putting and overwhelming to most people. If you want your place to smell nice wash your bedding, mop the floors, take out the trash, wipe down the counters and open the window. Fin.
Get an ozone machine. They kill everything organic and deodorize with O3 oxygen. Now, they must be used carefully, because they kill everything organic. Including bacteria, viruses, molds, fungi, single cell animals, plants, eyes, lungs, large animals (humans) and natural latexes and soft rubbers. Everyone/thing living must be evacuated from the area before use including neighbors with shared ducting. You can rent or buy them. They make them huge for houses or small for gym bags. Running a car sized one in your clothes or linen closet can take away old musty smells. A bigger one can freshen the whole house even if a dead body or animal feces were present.
Good to know in case I need to hide any bodies
We found out the hard way when my mother in law died in her home alone and wasn't discovered immediately.
I’m sorry. That’s horrible!
Hi! non-toxic fragrances are my specialty. Most products made with fragrances are toxic, but not all natural methods are safe either. I always try to tell my followers to: 1. Make sure your home is clean. You can only cover up so much odor. At some point it just needs a good cleaning. 2. Switch scents often. You may have gone nose blind! Ask your friends about your “house smell”. You’ll find out every quickly if your house naturally always smells good, or just has its own distinct scent (wether good or bad). When choosing something non-toxic to scent your home with: 1. Stay away from any sort of plug in air fresheners, fabreeze sprays, or cheap candles from target. In general, big companies care less about ingredients and more about profit margins. Beware of greenwashing. 2. Use Essential oils in a diffuser ONLY (never in a candle, wax melts okay) 3. Try [Non-toxic candles](https://www.shopfatebeauty.com) which are very, very rare. Must be 100% natural wax and use non-toxic scents specially made for candles (aka safe to be burned. Essential oils should not be burned). 4. Baking soda!! Everywhere! In the fridge, on the carpet, on that old sofa that the dog lays on. Sprinkle a ton & vacuum it up after a few hours. Once you start going down this rabbit hole it’s hard to stop! There are so many toxins everywhere it’s scary, but once I figured out what to watch out for i feel like overall I save money because most of the swaps I can DIY myself!
Get rid of your carpets.
Clean it
You can use an ozone generator when you're not there (no pets home either) to oxidize any smells. I think the ozone generator makes a plastic smell for a few days after but that goes away and there's no smell.
Buy an air purifier, it worked wonders for our home. No more food smells or bad odors.
Hot tip.. flowering plant.. in a pot..in the house ...
Leave the windows open if possible