Freshening up a room might not need an air freshener at all. It might just need odor elimination. Is there a full trashcan, dirty dishes, or dirty carpet? Getting rid of the smelly source will automatically help the room!
Carpet can be freshened up by sprinkling baking soda all over it and letting it sit for an hour. The baking soda will absorb the bad smell and can easily be vacuumed up afterwards!
To freshen up smelly fabrics, mix a capful or two of your favorite fabric softener with a spray bottle full of water. Shake well and spray! This is safe to spray on any fabrics in the house, and you get to choose the scent!
Is there a smoky or fishy smell in the air? Vinegar naturally dissolves odors. Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray away. This is a great option for people with allergies, as the vinegar mix is unscented.
Baking soda can be used in spray fresheners, too. Dissolve in a cup of hot water, add lemon juice, and spray.
Some natural air fresheners can be as easy as simmering a pot of water on the stove. Sometimes, the yummy smell will carry throughout the entire house, so open all of the interior doors to share the scent! Just make sure your pot does not run dry, or that lovely smell will turn to a burnt food smell.
Peels of citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, and lemons will give your home that freshly-cleaned smell. Simply slice up the peels and drop in a pot of simmering water. It might also inspire your family to eat more fruit!
For those that don’t have fruit peels, add a generous portion of lemon juice to simmering water on the stove.
Slice up an apple and place in a pot of water with some ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks. Set to simmer and the house will smell like cooked apples!
A small amount of spices, such as cloves, cinnamon, or allspice, combined with a dash of flavored extract like vanilla, maple, orange, or almond, can create a delicious scent that will carry throughout the home. Experiment with different combinations of spices and extracts to create your own custom scent, or you can simmer them on the stove one at a time for a simple freshener.
Pomanders have been used as air fresheners since the middle ages. French for “apple of amber,” pomanders were typically a ball filled with perfume or sweet-smelling items. Today, pomanders usually refer to fruit such as oranges with dried cloves and letting it dry. These pomanders can be stored in closets or drawers or displayed in a table centerpiece with potpourri.
Other “homemade” fresheners include baking some bread, cookies, or good-smelling food. This will automatically make the air smell sweeter in the house.
Potted plants are actually long-term air fresheners, taking chemicals from the air. They also cost a lot less than most air fresheners, and nothing is more natural and homemade than plants!
Authored by Christina Morrison in Home Improvement< Prev | Next > |
---|