Tired of your home’s stale air and dull (or even bad) smells? We have several solutions to make any space smell wonderful. Here are a few subtle tricks to make your home smell good all the time, from easy DIY cleaning solutions to simply lighting a candle or two.
Light a Candle or Reed Diffuser
Candles are an excellent way to make your home smell good all the time. Whether you are trying to get rid of a pet smell or need to clear the air of some pungent cooking smells, a natural soy-based candle can rid your home of foul odors without spreading soot or harmful toxins into the air. Be sure to incorporate seasonal candles or candles that reflect a particular place and time. Light a few beach candles with notes of sandalwood and plumeria that remind you and guests of walking along the shore at sunset with salty waves crashing in the distance.
If you want to ensure your home smells good all the time, even from the second you walk in the door, then a reed diffuser is the way to go. Reed diffusers offer a flameless option that is perfect for homes with pets and kids.
Open a Window
Another subtle trick to make your home smell good is to open up the windows. From spring to fall, open up a window or two in the home to create a healthy cross breeze, wafting out stale air and inviting in new.
Burn Incense
Burn some incense to give a boho-inspired look to a space and make your home smell good, too. Incense smells amazing while lending a hypnotic smoke trail, especially when lit beneath a carved burner globe hung from the ceiling.
Give Your Home a Spritz
But instead of using store-bought household sprays that often have synthetic fragrances and harmful toxins, create your own DIY version with water, an oil carrier and a few drops of essential oil. Voila! It’s that easy! Spray it on carpets, pillows and more to make your home smell good all the time.
Make ‘Cookies’ in the Microwave
There is a reason realtors and homeowners leave out fresh-baked goods when selling a home. But if you don’t have time to whip up a batch of homemade cookies, there’s an easier trick: Microwave a few tablespoons of vanilla extract in a bowl for roughly 30 seconds. Of course, if this just makes you crave a real treat, zap a cookie in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. That’ll do the trick, too.
Decorate with Citrus
Create a fruit bowl and place it as a centerpiece on a breakfast bar or dining table. Not only will it add a styled addition to your tablescape, but it will make your kitchen or breakfast nook smell wonderful and encourage family members to eat healthier.
Simmer Cider on the Stove
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Don’t just show off your citrus — slice it up and simmer it in a pot to create a cider or mulled wine around the holidays. Throw a few aromatic herbs and spices in the pot, too. Of course, you don’t have to make something drinkable. A simple pot of water with leftover orange slices will do just fine.
Sprinkle Baking Soda Around
Baking soda is a great household cleaning product to have on hand. It can absorb odors very well. Sprinkle some baking soda on just about anything to give a fresher scent, from trash cans to garbage disposals to cat litter boxes to carpet.
Vinegar Solutions
Like baking soda, vinegar is an all-natural deodorizer. Just make a solution of vinegar and water to clean countertops, bathroom faucets and more, making your home smell good all the time. This way, you don’t have to use straight-up vinegar that will leave behind a pungent smell.
Put Coffee Grounds in the Fridge
Kind of like baking soda, coffee grounds can absorb odors. So while you don’t want to sprinkle grounds on the carpet, per se, they can be used to absorb odors from the fridge or freezer. Once you clean the fridge, just add a small bowl of coffee grounds inside to finish the job.
Grind Citrus Peels in the Garbage Disposal
Not only can you simmer a pot of citrus on the stove, but you can also grind them in the garbage disposal. To make your home smell good, simply drop those leftover orange peels from breakfast into the disposal and it will give your kitchen a wonderful citrus scent.
Hang Eucalyptus in the Bathroom
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Want to transform your daily shower into a more spa-like experience? The next time you step into a steamy hot shower, be sure to hang a bunch of eucalyptus branches from the showerhead. The steam will instantly release the leaves’ natural oils and give your bathroom a Zen feel.
Add Vanilla to Fresh Paint
Afraid your fresh coat of paint will be overpowering? Before you go painting your walls, add a tablespoon of vanilla to the gallon can and mix it in with the paint stirrer. Adding vanilla can help cut the smell of paint. Just be sure to give the room time to air out, too.
Deodorize Shoes with Rubbing Alcohol
If you find that your entryway or bedroom closet smells, check to see if your shoes are the culprit. If your shoes are washable, throw them in a cycle. However, for heels and other more delicate shoes, you can deodorize them by wiping out the interior with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Now your shoe rack will smell good and won’t transfer to your clothes or hallway!
Add a Few Drops of Essential Oil to Filters
With any filters you have throughout the home — air conditioner filters, furnace filters and even the filter of your Roomba vacuum — add a few drops of essential oil to spread that good scent everywhere. Then, whenever you change the filter, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and allow those to waft and ventilate, making your home smell good with little effort.
Use one of these tips and tricks the next time you need to make your home smell amazing.
