Natural Tips To Tame Bad Smells

No home is immune to bad smells. From expired food to mold to garbage, our homes are rife with unwanted odours. Instead of plugging your nose and trying to live with it, try these natural tips to tame bad smells.

Open the windows

This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people overlook this. Open all the windows in your home to air it out. After about an hour, the bad smells should be gone. In the winter, if you’ve had the heat on for months, opening the windows for a bit can really make a difference and turn stale air into crisp fresh air.

The lemon cure-all

Lemons are nature’s air freshener. Cut a lemon in half and set it in a bowl in the middle of any room that needs deodorizing. If you can set the bowl near an open window, all the better.

strong>Vanilla lights

If you have vanilla oil, vanilla extract or even a stick of vanilla lying around the house, rub it gently on a lightbulb to create your own incense. Make sure the light has been turned off for at least five minutes before you touch it, the vanilla and, more importantly, yourself.

Baking soda is a must

You may already be keeping a box of baking soda in your fridge to eliminate odours. You can also sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of your trash can to keep your garbage from stinking up the whole kitchen. Baking soda also makes a great cleaning product. Mix half a cup of baking soda with two quarts of water and and scrub down the fridge, tiles, sinks, drains, toilet bowls and trash cans.

Vinegar gets the job done

Boil two parts water with one part vinegar in the microwave (in a microwave-safe bowl, of course) and unwanted microwave odours will disappear. You should also simmer half a cup of vinegar with a quart of water on the stove for about 5 to 10 minutes. This will get rid of any burnt or leftover food smells in the kitchen. Although white vinegar has a strong smell, it’s not one that lingers. Your kitchen will smell like vinegar for a few minutes, but it’s a small price to pay for getting rid of the smells that accompany cooking and food storage.

Anyone for coffee?

Fresh or leftover coffee grounds work as air fresheners because they are able to absorb odours. Place the grounds in an old container and cover it with plastic. Poke small holes in the plastic and put the container full of coffee grounds in the fridge, cupboard or wherever the unpleasant smells are.

Bad smells are everywhere but with these natural tips you’ll have the best smelling home home on your block!