We’re always looking for new and improved ways to keep our homes smelling fresh, clean, and inviting. However, a lot of the traditional products we use to spice up our home’s scent can actually be harmful to our home, family, and pets. Did you know that candles contain toxins, and burn particulate matter potentially harmful to the environment? Air fresheners are just as bad. Many of them contain phthalates, a group of chemicals linked to kidney failure and other various health issues. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways to keep your home naturally smelling fresh, so you don’t have to worry about any unwanted chemicals or hazardous residue in your space. All of these alternatives are affordable, and you may even already have a few of them in your home. Whether you’re trying to mask odors, or just add a noticeable scent to your home, we’ve got you covered. Scroll below for our top 5 natural ways to make your house smell good
1.) Essential Oils
Essential Oils not only make your home smell great, but also can provide health benefits, including improved sleep, energy, and decongestion. They can be used in an oil diffuser, or diluted with water in a spray bottle. You can use the mixture around your toilet rim, or other surfaces that tend to collect odors quickly. These oils are natural and plant based, so there’s no need to worry about your pets inhaling or digesting them. You can usually get your desired scent strength with just a few drops, so a small bottle can last you a while. If you’re curious about the benefits of using essential oils in your home, check out our blog post to learn more about cleaning your house with Essential Oils here.
2.) Lemon
I love to leave a bowl of lemon water in the microwave when it’s not in use. The water absorbs the odors locked inside, and the lemon smell neutralizes the area. You can also clean your home with lemon to add a fresh scent to your surfaces. Are you looking for your guests to get hit with a fresh citrus scent as soon as they walk in the door? Clean your door frame and entrance way with a bit of lemon juice and water. The smell will last for several days. We also recommend you try to incorporate lemon into any DIY home cleaning products. Lemon’s antimicrobial properties make it an effective cleaning agent. This is why so many cleaning products are lemon scented. It not only works great, but is safe for your surfaces, family and pets.
3.) Non Toxic Wax Melts
Who doesn’t love a relaxing and delicious smelling candle? The problem is that A lot of the aromatherapy and scented candles contain paraffin, which is a byproduct of petroleum. The soot released from the candles can cause respiratory problems and can cause further harm to those who already have asthma or other breathing problems. Non-toxic wax melts are created from materials that are safe for the everyone in your home. Soy and beeswax are gaining a-lot more popularity now as more people are looking into safe and natural ways to keep their home smelling amazing.
4.) House Plants
You don’t need to have a special green room in your home to have greenery. Many indoor plants don’t even require a window or sunlight. Add a small plant in each room, or a bigger plant in the center of your home. Not only will it freshen up the scent in your home, but it will improve the air quality in the room and look great too. Spearmint is very aromatic, grows quickly, and keeps your home smelling minty fresh. You can even harvest the leaves and use them to brew a pot of tea. Rosemary has a similar scent to pine and grows great indoors.
5.) Stove Top Simmer
Have you ever woken up to find you still smell the lingering odor of last night’s dinner? If you’re cooking something potent, you can easily neutralize the smell with a stove top simmer. You can use coffee, cinnamon, or anything else you already have in your home. Feel free to experiment with different goods and spices until you find the ones you love. Why not get creative and concoct a few seasonal simmers? Try pine and cranberry during the holiday season or lemon and rosemary during the spring and summer seasons.
We hope you can find some of our tips useful and encourage you to experiment with different ways to make your home smell good naturally. Check out our blog for more cleaning and household tips and tricks like these.