Have guests coming over, but your house smells funky? Moving to a new apartment and can’t handle its smell? Wondering how you can make your place smell clean and good? Read on to find out our top tips!

Your house is your sanctuary; it is where you grow, spend time with your loved ones, and relax after a long day of work. Our home environment should be pleasing to the senses and practical for daily life. But one aspect of your home might be underwhelming or overwhelming for you or your guests, i.e., the smell. Some houses smell warm and cozy, making you want to spend the whole day there, others not so much. How do some people have great-smelling houses? In this informative post, we will share with you some tips on how to make your house smell good.

Our sense of smell is one of the first senses to develop and can distinguish between countless scents in any given moment. However, the brain dulls out the scents it encounters daily, a process called sensory adaptation. So, if someone were to enter your home, they would immediately smell any odor that you have grown accustomed to over time. Or, you yourself might be encountering a strange smell in your space. You might think of all kinds of scenarios behind this mysterious smell. Fret not, follow our advice, and live in an odor-free place.

Identify the culprit

First things first, is there something causing an unpleasant smell? If yes, then what could it be? Read on to find out some common causes for smell in different parts of the house.

The Obvious Ones

It might be pretty obvious, but for those who have been putting it off: take out the trash! Clean out the diaper pails, the bins, the laundry basket filled with stinky clothes, and anything alike. What’s more, you should also wash the waste containers every two months. Make sure to use garbage bags in your bins- you could even get scented bags to make the area smell fresh.

Pets

If you have a pet, they could be carrying the smell of a place they passed during their walk outside. In that case, give your furry friend a thorough bath- even if they object. Secondly, check the litter box, as it may need some cleaning as well. It is best to hang an air freshening device near your pet’s litter box to neutralize any smell. If you still feel something is off, look around the room or house for places other than the litter box where your pet might have done the deed.

Carpets

You probably have carpeting in one of your rooms. Over time, carpets tend to look in moisture and dust, creating a musty smell in your house. If you don’t have the time or energy to wash your carpets or rugs, there is a quick fix you can use to get rid of the smell. Professional house maintenance expert Donna Smallin Kuper advises spritzing your carpet with a baking powder solution and letting it sit for a few hours or overnight, and then vacuuming it to freshen your room. You can check out her book “Clear the Clutter, Find Happiness” for more great tips. Make sure to wash out all carpets, rugs, and mats in and outside your house every once in a while.

Garbage Disposal

Perhaps the smell is coming from your kitchen, specifically from the garbage disposal. You could open it up, cleanse the splash guard, and remove any food debris if you have the time. If you are short on time, then follow these steps to remove any odor coming from your disposal system:

  • Switch on your waste disposal and pour in about half a cup of baking powder into it. 
  • Then add a cup of distilled white vinegar. 
  • Let it foam for 10 minutes, after which you can turn on the water and wash it all out. 

This process will ensure a fresh-smelling kitchen for you to cook. Remember to do this every two weeks or so.

Tips for a Fragrant Home

We hope you are able to find the reason behind any unwanted smell in your house. If you want to neutralize an odor in your home or add some fragrance to your life, follow the following recommendation to getting a nice smelling home.

Boil out the fragrance

Get your trusty pot out and boil a good amount of water in it. Now you can do two things with this boiling water- you could buy some potpourri and simmer it in the pot, or; you could add ingredients of your liking. If you go with the latter option, we recommend adding cinnamon and fruit peels. Try to experiment with the ingredients to get the scent of your liking.

Air Freshener

Getting an air freshener is a quick fix to your odor problem. There is a large variety of scents in air fresheners for you to choose from. Febreze is one prominent name in the market with quality scented freshness in a bottle. But, if you would like something more personal, you can make your own air freshener as well. All you need is some water, alcohol, and essential oil. You can browse some easy recipes here.

Vanilla Paint

When you decide to paint your walls, add a dash of vanilla essence into your paint can. Test out the amount of fragrance you can handle by adding a small amount of essence into a bottle of water and spraying it around the house. Alternatively, you can add any other essence or essential oil of your liking.

Bake it up

One fun way of making your house feel warm and cozy is to bake some cookies. Not only will your house smell like heaven, but you will also get a delicious treat to munch on. Or, you could place an oven-friendly dish containing vanilla essence in your oven to achieve the same effect.

Crack a Window

If nothing else, open a window to let the fresh air in (if the weather allows). It will carry out all the humidity and stale air trapped inside your house, allowing you to breathe easier.

Conclusion

Who doesn’t love walking into a good smelling home? With these tips on how to keep your house smelling good always, we hope your home environment is converted into the relaxing space you need it to be. Be sure to bookmark this page for when you decide to transform your living experience.

Do you have a super neat trick for making your house smell great? Share it with us in the comments below!