Air that doesn’t smell fresh, most likely isn’t fresh, and while this isn’t pleasant for our nostrils, it’s also not so great for our health.
Contaminated air can wreak havoc with our health, and bad smells can make us embarrassed to invite friends or family around to our home, But, there are some cheap, effective and wholly natural solutions you can try, here are 9 of them:
- Aromatherapy
Helping to both freshen and purify the air, essential oils such as eucalyptus, lemon and tea tree, can be added to a pot of recently boiled water to help the entire home smell cleaner and more inviting. Scented candles, incense burners and reed diffusers will also have the same effect. Cheap and easy to find, simply select your preferred fragrance and start eliminating those harmful odors.
- Coffee
Whether you grind, brew or bake coffee beans, their aroma is sure to dispel any lingering odors in your kitchen, such as from cooking fish, onions or garlic (or all three!). You can sprinkle some coffee grounds in the bottom of an empty garbage bag to help break down smelly items that might be put in the trash, or simply place a bowl full of freshly ground coffee in rooms that are particularly pongy.
- Potpourri
Potpourri looks attractive when put in a bowl and placed on a coffee table or kitchen countertop, and works hard to make the air in your home more fragrant.
- Bouquets of fresh herbs
From peppermint and lavender, to rosemary and geranium, when snipped off, tied together and popped into little vases or any other type of vessel that they might look attractive in (perhaps teacups?), these herbs can liven up a home’s general aroma.
- Activated charcoal
Highly effective at absorbing a whole host of offensive odors, activated charcoal can simply be scattered into a trash can, mixed into cat litter, or poured into sachets that you can hang up in closets to neutralize stale aromas, and deodorize spaces. Because it has no smell and isn’t toxic, you can use it safely in a home with both kids and pets.
- Houseplants
There are a number of different houseplants with the ability to purify the air by minimizing pollutants and allergens commonly found inside homes, such as money plants, mother-in-law’s tongue and cheese plants, among others. Plants have even been found to reduce the amount of energy buildings consume, and reduce a number of heath risks.
- Simmer pots
Freshen up your entire home with a simmer pot filled with fruits, spices, or herbs. A tried and tested method of improving a home’s aroma, this is a cheaper alternative to scented candles, and can be just as effective at naturally disinfecting the air thanks to the essential oils that the citrus and spices release.
- Pomander balls
Having been used for centuries for the same purpose, pomander balls are made from dried oranges that have been studded with cloves and hung up. Put them wherever you need to combat nasty smells, and it’s worth noting that they also act as fantastic pest deterrents thanks to the clove buds chemical constituents.
- Vinegar
A bowl full of white distilled vinegar can be placed in a kitchen to absorb and eliminate cooking smells, and will also work well to freshen up any room when combined with water and spritzed in a spray bottle.
One other fantastically effective way to ensure that your home always smells fresh and inviting, is to have it professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Or, have it professionally cleaned and use the above methods to combat cooking smells in between sessions. Either way, you no longer have an excuse not to invite the neighbors round for dinner, so what are you waiting for!
