Have you ever walked into someone’s home and was bombarded with a bad odor? Maybe it is the cat, his litterbox has gotten out of control. Maybe the dog rubs up on your couch leaving his smell and hair. Or maybe it was the seafood spread you made the night before, and while it was delicious as you were eating it, the pungent smell still remains. Whatever the case may be, a bad-smelling home is off-putting. Absolutely no one wants to walk into that. There are a few tips and tricks that you can keep up to keep your apartment, house, or space smelling fresh all of the time. Our olfactory systems alert us to possible dangers: rot and decay, spoiled food, toxic molds.
Most homes contain candles, plug-in smellies, air sprays designed to mask or remove bad odors within the space, however, there are many people who suffer allergic reactions to the fragrances found in most of these products. And as a side note to consider, some of these cleaning products and air fresheners contain harmful toxins that you are ultimately filtering into the air you breathe. If you are ready and comfortable, jump on the “create your own cleaning products” bandwagon and never worry about this problem again. Baking soda, white distilled vinegar, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and various natural oils are great natural substitutes for green cleaning products. Your home and your airways will thank you.
Get comfortable with consistently ventilating your apartment or house. Keep your windows and doors wide open for a few hours a couple of times a month, allowing the fresh air to spread throughout your home. While the doors and windows are open, begin your cleaning process. Disinfect your counters and cabinets, do not neglect a rub down on your cabinet handles, the refrigerator door handle, and the doorknobs throughout your place. Kill the germ spread right where it populates. Remember to consistently take out the trash and empty all wastebaskets within your home. Ninety percent of bad odors come from the trash, as decaying food and garbage brew within the trash bag, fumigating your place with unpleasantries. Clean out your fridge of any moldy, expired food, and wipe down the shelves and stickies you find within the fridge. Keep tabs on your laundry, making sure that you are getting to the laundry mat frequently, avoiding the dreaded dirty laundry pile up.
Get a bucket of water, disinfectant, and whatever cleaner you prefer, and scrub your floors. If you have the giddy-up, rent or invest in a carpet cleaner, banishing trapped dust, dirt, and hair from your carpet fibers. Do not let any dirty dishes pile up or food residue stick to the sides of your sink, find the motivation to hand wash or plop them right into the dishwasher. To perfume, the air naturally, cut a lemon in half and place it in the room with the odor. If you don’t have a lemon, find a box of baking soda, keep the lid open and let the soda absorb the fumes.
