How Do you Keep Your Home Smelling Nice?

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the helpful advises. The windows are open, ceiling fans on right now. I am going to try some ideas tonight. I don't have pet but does have an older home.

[Anonymous]

O.P also do not forget to TAKE A REAL LONG SHOWER tonight

[Anonymous]

I keep my house clean and also do not have any carpet, which I think makes a difference.

When I'm in the mood, I attach a air freshener built for furnace filters to my filter and it sends a subtle scent through the house. Probably dropping some essential oils on the filter would have the same effect and be more natural.

[Anonymous]

I have the windows open most of the years, during the winter months, I open a little crack - just for some O2, and during days like this weekend, the windows in all the house are open all day / and in the bedroom all night long. I also have a diffuser in the bathroom, and light some candles after I cook. But open windows are key for me.

[Anonymous]

Clean with natural products (7th Generation and Mrs. Meyers), dust and vacuum with a HEPA filter, no pets, windows open most of the time, lemons down the dish disposal periodically, laundry in hampers only and washed every week.

I don't think synthetic air fresheners smell good at all, and sometimes our house smells like dinner for a while (it's older and we don't have central air) but I prefer to open the windows and wash the towels than spray stuff around or light a candle or whatever.

[Anonymous]

not smartass boys

just smart posters who think OP's question is ridiculous

Seriously - keep your house clean. Smoke outside if you must. Vacuum. Keep the kitty litter free of shit. Wash your dog. Clean the toilet bowl.

Do you think that the rest of us wave a magic wand and presto - CLEAN HOUSE?!?!?

And those Glade plugs ins (and what not)? It's like covering cystic acne with foundation.

Anonymous wrote:I've wondered the same thing OP. You're getting a lot of smart ass comments from people who are obviously bored 12 yr old boys. I recently bought a plug in scent diffuser from Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day and it's OK, but like you am curious about how people with nice smelling homes keep them that way all the time. I do have cats which doesn't help, and when I vacuum I sometimes sprinkle the carpet with baking soda to absorb odors.

[Anonymous]

bath and body works sweet pea air freshener. Yeah Yeah I know chemicals, but the scent makes me happy.

[Anonymous]

I tried the baking soda trick once, and it killed my vacuum. Killed it dead. When I called Dyson about it, they said "yeah, fine mineral particulates like chalk, talc, and baking soda will do that." So approach with caution.

[Anonymous]

Regularly clean kitchen and take out the trash. Clean the rest of the home as well, of course, but those two problem areas typically cause the most stink (as well as diaper pails if you have small children).

Open windows for lots of fresh air (especially when the weather is nice). As someone else mentioned the past few days have been perfect for that. I did cleaning this past weekend and opened up the windows in all the rooms all the way in order to get the fresh air in.

[Anonymous]

And those Glade plugs ins (and what not)? It's like covering cystic acne with foundation.

I just had a home inspector tell me that the plug-in air fresheners are serious fire hazards.

And, now I know why our former cleaning lady killed two of our vacuum cleaners.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the open windows. However, I can only do that during certain times of the year b/c of my allergies. So what I do is buy an essential oil that I like and dilute it with some water. I put it in a spray bottle and do a light misting. Like an all natural fabreeze...

[Anonymous]

Open the windows! As often as possible.

[Anonymous]

8:49, where you do buy essential oils?

[Anonymous]

You can buy essential oils at Whole Foods.

-Scents linger in fabric--so if you have carpet, get a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Synthetic carpets hold odor more easily than natural fiber carpets (wool, cotton).
-If you have hardwood, an occasional mop with Murphy's Oil Soap and warm water.
-Clean out your stove and the vents.
-Wipe down your bathrooms with disinfecting wipes.
-Open the windows and keep the doors in your home open (don't close bedroom doors)

BTW, the baking power thing is a myth. It does not absorb odors.

[Anonymous]

Careful with the open windows trick if you have allergies. I had ours open this spring - and was all happy with the fresh air - and ended up having such a horrible allergy attack I ended up on 3 medications and was still miserable. Hard to get allergens out of your house once they are in there.