10 Practical & Healthy Ways to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh

A home that smells fresh not only feels more welcoming but also contributes to your sense of well-being. Odors can make a space feel dirty and uncomfortable, affecting your mood and enjoyment.

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If you’re looking for ways to keep your home smelling fresh, we’re about to explore ten practical methods that will help you maintain a fresh-smelling living space.

1. Clean Regularly and Get Rid of Clutter:

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The first step to a fresh-smelling home is regular cleaning and decluttering. Dust, dirt, and clutter can trap odors, making them stick around longer in your space.

Develop a cleaning routine that includes dusting surfaces, vacuuming carpets and furniture, mopping floors, and wiping down frequently touched areas like countertops and doorknobs.

Also, keeping your home tidy by getting rid of unnecessary items will help eliminate hiding spots for unpleasant smells.

2. Let Fresh Air In:

One of the easiest yet most effective ways to refresh the air inside your home is by opening windows regularly. By allowing fresh air to circulate, you can get rid of stale air carrying odors from cooking or pets.

Try to open windows for at least ten minutes every day or whenever weather permits.

3. Bring in Some Natural Air Purifiers:

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Plants act as natural air purifiers by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen while filtering out toxins from the air.

Adding indoor plants like peace lilies, spider plants, or snake plants not only enhances the look of your home but also improves air quality naturally.

Another option is using bamboo charcoal bags as natural odor absorbers that can be placed around your house.

4. Use Potpourri Instead of Scented Candles, Incense or Essential Oils:

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While scented candles, essential oils, and incense can make your home smell better, they may also pose some potential risks.

Scented candles often contain paraffin wax which when burned releases potentially harmful chemicals like toluene and benzene. These chemicals have been linked to asthma and lung cancer.

Burning incense produces smoke that contains fine particulate matter which can reach deep into lungs causing respiratory issues. It also releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have been linked to heart disease.

Full disclosure: I do still burn Japanese incense, which is known for being low smoke, in bathrooms and very rarely the kitchen. I burn 1/3 of a stick at a time and have the exhaust fan running.

Many commercially available essential oils marketed as “natural” emit VOCs, too.

So I recommend using potpourri. You can make homemade potpourri, to use as either dried or simmering. Put a pot of it on the stove, and you’ll quickly fill your home with a wonderful scent. And with no VOCs or other toxinx

5. Freshen Up Carpets and Fabrics:

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Carpets and fabrics can trap odors easily, especially if you have pets or smokers in the house. To keep them smelling fresh, sprinkle baking soda generously over carpets, rugs, and upholstery before vacuuming thoroughly.

Baking soda sprinkled on carpets helps neutralize unpleasant odors absorbed by these surfaces. For a more fragrant touch, mix baking soda with a few drops of essential oil before sprinkling.

6. Control Kitchen Odors:

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The kitchen is often a source of strong smells due to cooking activities. To effectively combat lingering cooking odors:

• Clean up spills and food debris right away.
• Use range hoods or exhaust fans while cooking to remove smoke and odor.
• Simmer water with citrus peels and spices like cinnamon on the stove to fill the air with pleasant scents.
• Keep an open box of baking soda inside the refrigerator to absorb any unwanted smells.

7. Air Purifiers:

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Air purifiers are designed to remove particles from the air and neutralize odors present in your home. They work by circulating air through filters that capture dust, allergens, pet dander, and other pollutants responsible for stale odors.

Be sure to get one with filters that include a charcoal layer, as that will filter out odors amazingly well. The main point of HEPA is not to remove odors, but to clean your air – great for allergy and asthma sufferers!

8. Regularly Clean Your Appliances:

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Household appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines can develop odors if they don’t get cleaned regularly.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to clean these appliances thoroughly. For example, cleaning the filter and wiping down the inside of your dishwasher can eliminate food particles that cause bad smells.

Leave your washing machine’s door open for a few minutes after use, and it will prevent mold or mildew growth, which leads to musty odors.

9. Use Odor Absorbing Materials:

Several household items work well as odor absorbers:

• Sprinkle baking soda in garbage cans or diaper pails to neutralize bad smells.
• Place a small bowl filled with vinegar on countertops overnight to absorb strong cooking odors.
• Put coffee grounds in a container in the refrigerator to eliminate unwanted smells.
• Use cat litter at the bottom of trash cans to soak up any liquid and control odors.

10. Take Care of Your Pets:

Pets are part of our families but their presence can contribute to lingering pet odors if not properly cared for. To keep your home smelling fresh with furry friends around:

• Bathe and groom your pets regularly.
• Wash their bedding frequently.
• Vacuum upholstery and carpets to remove pet hair and dander.
• Use pet-friendly odor neutralizers or sprays specifically designed for eliminating pet odors.