What Cleaners Do to Make Your Home Smell Fresh: 10+ Pro Secrets

The secret to a space that pleases your nose doesn’t lie in candles, diffusers, herb sachets or fresheners. “A clean house doesn’t smell like anything, so the first thing to do is to neutralize possible sources of unpleasant odors,” says Melissa Maker, cleaning company owner and blogger. Here’s what she and other professionals recommend doing about it.

“Excessive humidity is one of the most common causes of musty odors,” says Cleaning Industry author Rachel Hoffman. – Get a hygrometer and check all the rooms with it. Are there any where the humidity is above 60%? Try to understand the reasons: for example, don’t forget to air the bath after taking a shower. If local water sources are not an issue, consider purchasing a dehumidifier.

The cat’s litter box, the trash can, the dog’s bed, the drain holes, all these places can give off unpleasant odors. As Leslie Stein, a researcher at the Monell Center for the Chemistry of the Senses in Philadelphia, explains, we are constantly near these things and therefore stop realizing that they stink – this “olfactory blindness” to habitual stimuli is adaptive.

Remember that you may not notice that some things smell bad – in this case, you just need to strictly follow the cleaning rules. Disinfect your trash and litter box, wash your pets’ bedding regularly and bathe them yourself, clean your drains once a week – create a checklist that will help you account for any problems and to process them in a timely manner.

Also read: How to get freshness in your home: the main sources of unpleasant odors and effective ways to eliminate odors in each case

Do you want to know how to get rid of dust odors? First of all, let’s remember what dust collectors are called – usually these are carpets, decorative pillows, curtains and soft toys. Chairs and sofas covered with fabric are less often remembered, but in vain: they are also capable of accumulating an unpleasant odor.

Don’t forget to refresh your textiles: for this, cleaner Marla Mock recommends preparing a homemade spray by mixing water and medical alcohol in a one-to-one ratio in a spray bottle (or simply pouring vodka in a container). The product is simple to use: spray it on upholstery or curtains and let them dry.

Also read: How to eliminate odors in the house if their source is a dirty carpet

Fresh air is very important: rooms that do not receive enough air can hardly be called clean. Here’s how to properly ventilate a room: open the windows for 10 to 20 minutes every two hours. In winter, you can do this less often, in summer – more often (unless, of course, there is a busy highway near your house).

Before you learn how to use room fragrances, consider other odor-absorbing devices. The simplest ones with absorbent granules will cost you only 100-150 rubles – they can be placed in the refrigerator, on the shelves in the closet or in the basket with dirty laundry. You can make a neutralizer yourself: just throw a few activated charcoal tablets into a bag.

These home maintenance tips can be heard not only by interior designers, but also by professional cleaners. Marla reminds us that flowers not only look great and decorate the apartment, but also remove various toxic substances from the air, from formaldehyde to benzene.

Also read: How to purify the air in your home: 5 indoor plants that do it best

Thus, “zero” odor is installed! It’s time to talk about how to add scents to a clean background – for example, how to use air fresheners and make your own.

Here’s a proven way to make your refrigerator smell nice: put a cotton pad soaked in vanilla extract. It’s done – now every time you go shopping, the kitchen will be filled with a pleasant aroma (do not forget to throw away “expired” food in time and wipe off sauce stains on the shelves) .

Pomanders are dry citrus flavors. They are considered the traditional decorated Christmas tree in the UK, but there is no reason not to make them any other day. The recipe is simple: paint a pattern of dots on an orange, then make a hole in each place with a toothpick and insert a clove bud.

Dried herbs, flowers and spices can change the aroma of a room in seconds. Collect a mixture you like, turn it into cotton or muslin bags and place them in different parts of the house – their aroma will last for a week or two (don’t forget to crumple the bag with your hands if necessary) .

Don’t want to bother with the bag? There is another aroma that can be assembled in a minute: pour rice into a bowl or small glass and add a few drops of essential oil there – the cereal absorbs it perfectly, and then slowly dissipates, due to which your house will smell divine. for a long time.

Mix water (preferably distilled) and medical alcohol in a spray bottle in equal proportions, add 10-20 drops of your favorite water-soluble essential oil (this is important!). Use this mixture to spray fabric curtains, sofas and armchairs. This way you will not only destroy harmful microbes, but also fill your house with pleasant aromas.

This is another natural air freshener that is particularly effective in fall and winter. Fill a saucepan with water, add the orange and apple slices, cinnamon sticks and a few cloves. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat and leave the pan on the stove for a few hours – and soon your whole house will be filled with a delicious aroma.

Baking soda is an excellent absorber of unpleasant odors, and the essential oil can also make it a room scent. Pour the powder into small jars, add 5-10 drops of essential oil, make several holes in the lid and place glass “bags” in the apartment.

Do you want your bathroom to smell like a garden? A very simple tip will help you achieve this: apply a few drops of essential oil to the inside of a roll of toilet paper and only then hang it on the holder. When the paper is used up, add another drop of oil to the pouch and place it in the trash bin under the bag – this way it will fulfill its function again.

We’re going to tell you how to get rid of the dust smell that appears when you vacuum! First, replace or wash the filter. When it is completely dry, apply a drop or two of essential oil to it – this is enough to make the whole house smell fragrant while cleaning. There is another option: apply the oil to a cotton pad and place it in a dust bag.

Chemist and blogger Alexis Rochester loves this way to flavor your kitchen: mix water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio, squeeze the juice from a lemon, then add the remaining zest. Place the mixture in the microwave and turn it on for 10 minutes. Open the door carefully: steam will escape, which will immediately fill the kitchen with a fresh citrus aroma.

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