Let’s start this off by being real- nose blindness is something we are all guilty of. Ever walk into someone else’s house and get hit in the face with the smell of their pets? But they seem totally unaffected? That’s because you get accustomed to your homes smells and don’t realize how pungent they can be to guests. And honestly that fear motivates me when cleaning more than anything else!!
As a pet owner, wife of a man who loves cooking every cuisine, and soon to be mom of a baby I have made it my personal mission to keep my home smelling good all the time. And no- that doesn’t mean with bath and body works wallflowers everywhere. Actually I hate those things (and they can be SUPER DANGEROUS! Trust me but google it if you doubt).
But there are real and effective ways you can actually have a good smelling home 24/7 and we are going to chat all about them today. So let’s get right into it so you can start making these changes and have the fresh smelling home you are dreaming of-
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How To Make Sure Your Home Smells Great 24/7
My best tips for a clean smelling house-
Tip 1: Get to the cause of any bad smells
Alright guys the first thing we all gotta do for a good smelling home is figure out the cause of bad smells within our home.
If you are feeling brave then I highly recommend inviting a trusted friend or family member over and getting their honest opinion on any areas bad smells are coming from. And remind them that you won’t be offended and their honesty is helpful!!!
A few key areas to investigate (even if you are by yourself) are-
- Trash: this seems obvious but trash cans are a huge root of bad smells. Often the plastic or other materials of the trash bin itself can also start to hold bad smells not just what is in the garbage bag.
- Pet areas: litter boxes, dog beds, toy bins etc can hold a lot of smells that your pet might be proud of (I know my dog is lol) but you want to be real and tackle those smells.
- Laundry hampers: a forgotten about spot is laundry hampers. The clothes are getting washed but rarely are the hampers so let’s give them a good cleaning and keep it up regularly.
- Drains: kitchen, bathroom, laundry room etc. anywhere with drains can build up funky smells that need addressed.
Tip 2: Frequently clean surfaces
This might seem obvious but wiping down surfaces daily makes a huge difference in smells building up. Of course this means the kitchen but also bathrooms, tables, and any other surface throughout your home that collect items, hand prints, etc. Especially focus on high traffic areas like your entryway or kids rooms!
Also- dusting surfaces regularly that aren’t really “used” but can still build up dust and dirt that floats in the air. Plus it will make your home FEEL cleaner too.
Tip 3: Prevent common stinky areas: be on the offense
Keeping your home smelling clean isn’t just cleaning after the smells build up, it’s about playing offense and not letting the smells build in the first place.
Regularly cleaning and DEEP CLEANING your home is the key here. And areas that are frequently the smell collectors? AKA what we chatted about in Tip 1- those are areas to be not just cleaning but preventing smells by doing things such as taking out the trash daily not just when it’s exploding.
Tip 4: Use scents but be careful
Artificial scents can be useful in emergency situations but using them constantly is just covering up scents not actually removing them. Plus- a scent that you might enjoy could be really obnoxious to others. Having a bunch of candles burning is a recipe for giving at least one guest a migraine. So be cautious and lean in the direction of clean scents and natural scents if you are going the artificial way.
I will say though that the place I will never give up artificial scents is in the bathroom- that is a situation where covering the smell is just needed lol!
Tip 5: Houseplants are your friend!
So yes I am biased here as a house plant lover but they are more than just fun and gorgeous decorations. House plants also purify your air which means they are taking scents out of the air and replacing them with clean, fresh air. Not only is this good for your health but it also helps your home smell fresh.
The best plants for purifying your homes air are:
- Snake plants
- Peace lily (and they are STUNNING)
- Pothos (the easiest plant out there imo)
- Spider plants
- Dracenas (there is so many varieties of them!)
- Aloe vera
Tip 6: Natural scents are always better
We briefly touched on this but natural scents are the better option compared to the harsh chemicals in artificial scents.
Opt for things like simmer pots with real ingredients (vanilla, oranges, apples, herbs etc), fresh flowers throughout your home, and using baking soda to eliminate smells rather than covering them.
Tip 7: Pay attention to high traffic areas more
High traffic areas seem like the obvious area to focus on but our human nature tends to tell us to space out our cleaning and efforts evenly throughout the home. But hallways, bathrooms, the kitchen etc. are going to have more people and pets in them and that is going to lead to more unwanted smells. So when doing daily cleaning really focus on those areas to keep the smells away.
Tip 8: Home maintenance matters
Changing filters, keeping on top of carpet replacement, not allowing pest infestations etc. is so important not only for the wellbeing of your home but for keeping those unwanted smells away!!
A home wide air purifying system is also an amazing maintenance option if you can afford it- not only is it great for your health and home smells but it is also useful for keeping your home in better condition in the long run.
Tip 9: Don’t let washing (dishes or clothes) sit
This is a two part tip-
Don’t let dirty dishes sit in the dishwasher for long. You’ll be amazed at how quickly those food smells can spread out of the dishwasher.
And don’t let wet clothes sit in the dishwasher. That stank is distinct and can spread quickly as well.
Tip 10: Clean out your fridge at least monthly!!!
I know…. I know… cleaning out the fridge is a dreaded chore. But here is the great thing about doing it regularly- nothing gets quite as nasty!
Set a reminder in your phone for a repeat monthly task.
Tip 11: Technology is cool- get an air purifier
Here is my favorite hack- air purifiers not only are amazing for getting rid of smells and making your air healthier to breathe. But they also work amazing as white noise machines in the bedroom!
Tip 12: Vent out cooking smells
If you have a hood over your stove that vents out then you need to use it to keep your home smelling good.
If you don’t? Then opening windows near the kitchen is key but an air purifier in the kitchen can help as well. Anything that circulates the smells and helps them dissolve. Trust me- as someone with a partner who loves experimental cooking and cooking every cuisine we have gotten darn good at getting rid of the lingering kitchen smells.
Tip 13: Carpets hold a lot of stink….
Vacuum regularly!!!
Carpets hold the smells from everything (humans, pets, who knows what else) that walks across them. And the answer for keeping it from smelling like a million nasty scents is to vacuum regularly. And like we talked about before- focus on high traffic areas in your home and really make sure to vacuum them. TBH if you want your house to smell great then I do recommend daily vacuuming of high foot traffic places and around areas your pets spend a lot of time.
Tip 14: Don’t ignore your walls
Yep your walls hold smells too. At least once a month I recommend literally mopping your walls. It doesn’t take as long as you may think and helps with smells as well as just keeping your home cleaner.
Tip 15: Open your windows frequently
Last but certainly not least- opening windows keeps your home smelling fresh! Even on days where it isn’t necessarily the best temperature out, opening your windows for just 30 minutes can air out your home and ensure it smells good!
Korra-Shay
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