We put a lot of time into making sure our homes look inch perfect. We pick the general decor theme, fine-tune the lighting, and keep it tidy, all in order to make sure that it also looks the part. But when it comes to our homes, the look is only one aspect. There are other senses, too, you know! That means that while it’s important to keep one eye on style, you should be keeping your nose on the smell of your home. Below, we take a look at ten ways you can ensure that your home is one that appeals to the other big human sense, the nose, and not just for the eyes.
Crack the Windows
There’s nothing quite like fresh air! If your home is beginning to smell a bit stale or musty, then simply crack some of your windows, and let mother nature’s breeze take care of everything. This is especially handy when it’s spring or summer outside, and that cool, sweet smelling air can radiate throughout your house. This will also have the bonus of letting in more natural light into your house. Your home will be as good as a walk through a field on a fine spring day…or at least it won’t smell as bad.
Deep Cleaning
You’ve spent enough time with a mop in your hand to know just how quickly dirt and grime can build up. But while you’ll be making sure your kitchen tiles and wooden floors are sparkling clean, have a think about all that carpet you’ve got around your home. A vacuum will make them look presentable, but they won’t provide the deep clean necessary to get rid of all the slow build up of dirt that can cause rooms to feel and smell musty. Every so often, treat your carpets to a deep clean, either through professional sources by looking for deep cleaning services near me or by buying a strong cleaner and doing it yourself.
Dog and Cigarette Smells
We sometimes inadvertently work against our homes, either because we can’t avoid taking home a cute puppy, or because we can’t quite stop smoking. A dog and cigarette smoke will both cause your home to smell but to varying degrees. A dog that’s well groomed and washed regularly will leave less of a smelly trail than one who is allowed to do whatever it pleases around the home! If you do have a pet, make sure you’re cleaning your sofas and carpets more regularly, or maybe even initiate a ‘no dogs on the sofa’ policy if you trust yourself to resist those sad puppy eyes. And as for the cigarette smoke…take it outside!
Remove the Bad Odours
Prevention is the best remedy when it comes to having a home that doesn’t make your guests gag! There are a lot of sneaky ways that smells can work their way into your home. Think of all the gunk that you throw down your kitchen sink, and you’ll quickly come to realise that there’s a lot of potential for gross scents. Sometimes the problem is more serious; if you smell sewer gas in your home, for instance, then you’ll need to call out drain specialists to take care of the issue. Also, while you’re in the kitchen, keep an eye on the dishwasher. It’ll have plenty of rotting food in its system if you’re not giving it’s monthly clean!
Get Cooking
Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly baked cookies? If you’re having guests coming around to visit, then get baking. The whole house will be filled with that sweet, sweet smell that we all know and love. And what’s more, you’ll have something to serve them when they arrive. This is an especially useful trick if you’re at all self-conscious about how your home smells, as those cookies should cover up everything for a while. But be aware, some foods will make your home smell worse. No-one’s quite as enthusiastic about the smell of boiled broccoli as they are cookies, while foods like curry and chili could be considered a little too overpowering. Stick with the cookie option!
Clean out the Fridge
We know what life is life. You go to the shops, buy loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, and then things just happen, and before you know it, you’re eating out for dinner, and you’ve more or less forgotten all about all that food that you bought. Well, you might want to incorporate it into your meal the following night, because if you don’t, there’s every chance that it’ll still be sitting there in a month’s time – but when time swings around, it’s not going to be quite as fresh. Every now and again, give your fridge a deep clean, and go through the cupboards to ensure there’s nothing hidden in the corner that’s rotting and causing a bad stink.
Get Spraying and Scenting
We mentioned cookies are a good way to get a great smell in the home quickly, but there are options that require much less effort (even if they’re not quite as tasty). Buy an incense stick and holder, and you’ll be able to get that sweet smelling, zen vibe in your home with the mere flick of a match. That’s more of a mood setter, however, and is instantly noticeable to visitors. For something more subtle, get one of those plug-in diffusers – they’ll go every when it’s needed, so your home always smells nice and clean!
Take it Outside
If you’ve got an active lifestyle, then you’re going to have many dirty clothes and shoes in your life. Bring them indoors, and they’ll be stinking up your home. Instead, keep them outside, or at least in the laundry room – if they’re there, the smell of the washing machine will overpower the bad scents, even if they’ve not yet been washed.
Be Attentive
Finally, remember to be attentive. It’s hard to get perspective on how our homes smell, so ask a trusted friend – they’ll give you their honest opinion, especially if it’s bad!
*Commissioned Post
15 Comments
These are all good ways to achieve that good smelling home. I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you
I love the smell of my kitchen when baking something like banana bread. Also having fresh flowers and like you said about the deep cleaning. Great tips
Laura x
Oh yum I would happily visit your house if I knew banana bread was being cooked!
Great advice! I love our home to smell nice, I am always lighting candles and spraying room scents!
I try and lit a candle whenever I know someone is coming over!!
I am looking forward to spring and some warmer weather so I can throw the doors open for lots of fresh air
Yes I know what you mean, it will be lovely to do that
Deep cleaning does help. I like to ensure my fridge is well cleaned too.
I love my house so much more when it’s had a good deep clean!
Nothing smells more appetising than fresh baking when you walk through the door. Some great tips x
I love that smell too!
Great tips here. I love the smell of baking, especially cookies, pizza and bread 🙂
Forgot to say, beautiful photos 🙂
Yes I agree! My husband cooked Roast Beef yesterday and that smelt pretty nice too!