How to make your house smell amazing
October 14th, 2015
If you are having guests over for a barbeque, thinking of selling your house, or just want that dog stink to disappear, don’t use chemical sprays or deodorisers!
Instead, opt for natural remedies to make your house smell good this spring:
1. Make a stove simmer
source: Scott Veg on Flickr
Place water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, fresh bay leaves or pine needles, lemon and orange in a small pot on the stove or cooktop and let it simmer on low heat all day. The spicy scent will permeate throughout your house in no time, but make sure you add more water when needed.
2. Use candles but don’t light them
source: lindsay.dee.bunny on Wikimedia Commons
Store candles strategically in small areas such as kitchen or linen cupboards, so the fabric can absorb the scents. Bring the candles out when you have guests and place them near an open window or breezeway to catch the wind and push the scent around the room. Aim to use naturally potent scented candles such as soy or oil-based aromatherapy candles.
3. Indoor plants and flowers
source: HorsePunchKid on Wikimedia Commons
Keep a fresh vase of spring flowers from your garden on the dining room table and place indoor plants in every room.
The best scented indoor plants to consider include:
- Scented Geranium
- Arabian Jasmine
- Citrus Plants
- Eucalyptus
- Sweet Bay
- Gardenia
- Stephanotis
- Orange Jessamine
- Orchids
- Cuban oregano
- Passionflower
- Plumeria
4. Bake something scrumptious in the oven
source: Simon Law on Flickr
Turn on the oven if you have visitors. A fresh batch of baked cookies, brownies or something with sugar and cinnamon not only makes your house smell delightful, but feeds your guests too!
5. Homemade deodorising spray for room and furniture
source: Nevit Dilmen on Wikimedia Commons
Add 2-3 drops of your favourite essential oil/s (I prefer lavender and peppermint) and 1 table-spoon of baking soda with water to a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on old furniture and in rooms that smell stale.
6. Homemade spray to remove dog and pet stains
“It wasn’t me, I swear!” (source: Moshe Blank on Wikimedia Commons)
Dogs hate the smell of vinegar and baking soda, so a mixture of the two works best. Make sure to first remove as much as you can of the pet’s ‘do-do’ with a wet wipe or paper towel before spraying. Baking soda will lift and remove stains and the vinegar will sterilise the area and act as a deterrent to pets.
7. Homemade shoe deodorising spray
source: Barney Moss on Flickr
Add 2-3 drops of your favourite essential oil/s to a spray bottle with water. Spray both inside and outside of the shoe and wait for it to dry before wearing.
If your shoes smell terrible, don’t be afraid to put them in the washing machine and hang them on the line to dry. Make sure to place them in a large linen bag for protection and set the machine to cold wash. This is not recommended for leather shoes.
8. Vacuum carpet with baking soda
Sprinkle a mixture of baking soda and ground cinnamon on your carpet. Wait for 30-60 minutes and vacuum as usual.
This is a non-toxic, cheap and simple method that will leave your carpets smelling fresh and exotic!
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