With these 10 brilliant tips to follow, along with basic upkeep, you will learn how to make your house smell good all the time.
We all know you can make your home smell good with candles, but you may not realize there are many other things you can easily do to make your home smell good.
1. STOVETOP POTPOURRI
Stovetop potpourri isn’t just for the holidays, it’s a great way to freshen the air in your home any time of year! Fill a pot with water, add sliced apples, lemons, orange rinds, cinnamon, cloves and your favorite herbs and simmer on low heat adding water as needed. A mini crockpot is also a great heat source!
Use what you have in your house for a homemade diy simmering potpourri. The heat will permeate the wonderful scent throughout your house. This is an easy trick that is great for a party or just because it’s Monday. ?
I like to set a timer to check on the simmering potpourri every 30 minutes to see if I need to add water or turn it off.
2. CANDLE WARMERS
Candles are great, but they’re not for everyone. If you have little kids or pets running around, they’re a legit safety concern.
Thanks to candle warmers, you no longer have to worry about soot, smoke or remembering to blow it out. In addition, scented wax will often retain their scent longer because you’re heating the wax rather than burning it.
There are thousands of different scents on the market (you can even pick them up at Target and most retailers that sell candles), so choose your favorite and your home could be filled with the aroma of pumpkin pie, sweet vanilla or fresh linen in a matter of minutes.
3. ESSENTIAL OILS DIFFUSER
Diffusers that contain essential oils are all the rage right now. I love my diffuser because it’s so easy to use! Simply fill it with water, add a few drops of essential oils , and turn it on. The diffuser creates a fine aromatic mist that gently wafts through your home.
Tip: Your personal tastes will determine the best smelling essential oils for home fragrances. Not sure where to start with scents? Try combining chamomile, lavender and vanilla or a mixture of different citrus oils. A blend of rosemary, lemon and lavender is a favorite of mine as is orange with peppermint.
Start small with just a few drops in your diffuser and work your way up to more, to find what strength you prefer.
Tackle Pet Odors Before They Start
Living with dogs doesn’t mean your house has to smell like the pound. We’ve always had multiple dogs in our home and I’ve learned a few things over the years for keeping our house looking and smelling clean.
Brushing your dog and vacuuming up pet hair on a regular basis will make a huge difference in how your home smells.
Make your own pet deodorizer that will keep your furball smelling sweet between baths or trips to the groomer. You can also use it to spray dog beds.
- 3 Tablespoons rubbing alcohol
- 2 cups distilled water
- 8-12 drops essential oils
- spray bottle
When accidents happen, clean them up as soon as they happen. You must stay on top of odors before they take over. If you leave a mess, it will spread, stain, and smell.
4. KEEP KITCHEN DRAIN CLEAN AND FRESH
Your garbage disposal can be a source of some weird smells, but there’s an easy way to clean it. Follow the link below to learn how to use white vinegar and baking soda to clean and deodorize your kitchen drain. You won’t believe the difference it makes!
I also keep my drain fresh smelling by running citrus rinds through the disposal, followed by lots of water.
5. USE SCENTED CLEANERS AND ELIMINATE STINKY CULPRITS
For a long-term good smelling home, you really do have to keep the odors from starting in the first place. Eliminate the stinky culprits; empty the trash, remove bad food from the refrigerator, stinky dog bed, litter box, musty throw pillows, damp laundry, dirty carpets, and rugs.
When getting rid of unpleasant smells in your home a good cleaning session is often enough to eliminate the source of bad smells. Using a cleaner that leaves behind a fresh scent makes it even better! Do a quick wipe-down with a great-smelling household cleaner – It’s easy and effective.
6. DEODORIZING ROOM SPRAY
Deodorizing room sprays are great for freshening up just about any room for a quick fix. I like to keep a pretty room spray in the guest bathroom. ?
If you’re not a fan of store-bought room sprays you can easily make your own with essential oils. This simple recipe is a snap to make and safe to use either by spritzing into the air or spraying directly on that smelly recliner.
Make your own homemade deodorizing room spray:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 2-3 drops essential oil – such as cinnamon, lemon, orange, or peppermint.
- 8-12 ounces of distilled water
- 8-10 ounce spray bottle
Mix the baking soda and essential oil thoroughly. Using a funnel to add this mixture to spray bottle. Add distilled water to bottle to fill and shake well. Now, it’s ready to use!
7. DIY HOMEMADE AIR FRESHENER
An economical and environmentally friendly way to keep your home odor-free and fresh. DIY Homemade Air Freshener with baking soda to absorbs odors, and essential oil to give a light pleasant fragrance.
I like to grab a few canning jars and some cute scrapbook paper to make my own cute little homemade air freshener in minutes! Perfect for the bathroom, bedroom, laundry room, or any room that you want to keep fresh!
8. CLEAN THE WASHING MACHINE
Musty, stinky smells in your home can often come from the washing machine. If you don’t clean your washer on a regular basis it can end up smelling worse than your sweaty workout shirt.
Mold and mildew in the washer lid and the door can be another cause of stink in your home. To save water and energy, HE washers incorporate designs such as low water use and air-tight seals that can create a higher potential for this build-up of residues. This causes not only an unpleasant odor but it can also reduce your washing machine’s efficiency and increase the likelihood of malfunctions.
9. FRESH FLOWERS AND PLANTS
As cliché as this might be, fresh flowers are always a beautiful way to bring a fresh scent to your space! Roses, lilies, lilacs, peonies or whatever you like really, there are varieties of assortments to choose from.
Flowering plants are also an awesome way to bring beautiful scents into your home. Try jasmine, hyacinth, gardenia or even a lemon tree.
Having fresh herbs in the kitchen can be heavenly. Who doesn’t like the refreshing aroma of mint, oregano, or basil?
BONUS TIP: A COMPLETELY FREE WAY TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE SMELL GOOD
Want a completely free way to make your house smell clean and fresh? Open several windows to help create a cross-draft and force the old air out and let the fresh air in! Fresh air not only moves out the stale air and lingering smells but who doesn’t love the clean scent of fresh air. Obviously, opening doors and windows is not a good option when it’s too hot or too cold, but I never pass up a beautiful day to air out the house.