Seven ways to make your home smell really good
Try not to use any product comprised of chemicals that leave a stench
If a guest walks into your home and immediately asks, “What’s that smell?” it’s probably not because you’ve got a fragrant apple pie in the oven. Figure out where the offensive aroma is coming from then take action. Avoid using any product comprised of chemicals that leave a stench. Certain plants give off a sweet scent, like geraniums and orchids, but they’ll just mask the smells. A better solution is to get rid of the offending odour. Here’s how to:
Remove pet smells
Lola may be your best friend, but she’s kind of stinky and loves to curl up on the carpet. “Sprinkle carpet with baking soda, allow to sit for a few hours, and then vacuum,” advises Donna Smallin Kuper, a certified home cleaning technician and author of Cleaning Plain & Simple. If the source of the smell is urine, though, try an enzyme-digesting sanitizer from your local pet store.
Get rid of last night’s ominous dinner odours
The spicy meatballs were a hit, but the lingering smell the morning after? Not so much.
The next time you make a meal with bold flavours, place a bowl of vinegar and water on the kitchen counter overnight, says Kuper. The meatball smell will be gone by morning.
Give the whole house a fresh scent
“I personally avoid any plugin air fresheners since there are many health issues associated with them,” says Kuper. A more natural way to freshen the air: simmer a pot of water with cinnamon sticks on the stove. “Just be sure not to boil away all the liquid!”
Make your bathroom smell clean
If you’ve scrubbed and scrubbed but the unpleasant odour lingers, your towels may be the culprit.
“If they’re musty-smelling even after washing, rewash them but don’t add detergent — pour in a half cup of white vinegar instead,” says Kuper.
Help your refrigerator stay odour-free
The first step: Clean out the fridge and discard anything that’s expired, mouldy or unidentifiable. Then start scrubbing. “Use a nontoxic cleaning product,” says the expert. “Also place a small opened box of baking soda on a shelf to absorb odours; replace it every three months.”
Remove kitchen drain smells
If pouring a pot of boiling water down the sink to remove any trapped food doesn’t work, check the underside of the garbage disposal flaps because they probably need cleaning, says Kuper. Flip them upside down, and use an old toothbrush and kitchen spray cleaner to get rid of debris. Next, grind used lemon halves in the disposal, and the smell should be gone.
Say goodbye to microwave odours
It’s citrus to the rescue again! Put half a lemon in a bowl of water and microwave on high for five minutes. Use the residual steam to clean the microwave’s inside.