How do you "freshen" your house?

Jalissa Dominique - posted on 03/17/2013

yes this post was very helpful, thanks for all the ideas ladies

Judy - posted on 12/16/2012

put a little cinnamon in a pot of water on the stove. I think a few drops of oil of essence in a pot would work too.

Tomesa - posted on 12/14/2012

i use candle warmers and quality candles. i also use incense and potpourri, along with carpet freshener. i am a stickler for a home that smells good. i have the best results with the candle burners and walgreens brand wax melts (they are affordable and smell beautiful). hope this helps!

Dimitri - posted on 12/14/2012

I put pine sol deluted in water in a pot and turn it down real low, but air out the house first by opening windows and doors. Get your carpet steam cleaned atleast 3 times a year, then the carpet freshner will work :) Mop kitchen and bathroom every other day, light some incense in the house.

Daria - posted on 03/08/2012

you can use baking soda on your carpets instaed plus its cheaper. Grind lemons in your garbage disposal. There are these things called renuzits they are amazing with odors..there a solid deodarizer..you can find them anywhere.

Daria - posted on 03/08/2012

Use an old spray bottle fill with water and your fav pinsole cleaner and use everywhere on a daily bases. I keep it on the counter inthe kitchen so it makes it easy to always use it, plus it disinfects

Sumi12 - posted on 02/24/2012

Nice thinking but if it's cold out then it will be problem of your's then it will have some problem .

baby dresses

Brianna - posted on 02/23/2012

i have a scentsy and its works great! way better than any candle. also i like to use febreeze for fabric on the rugs and couches sometimes

Lady Heather - posted on 02/23/2012

Open windows. Not when it's -40. For the winter I do things like spray the household fabrics with a vinegar/water solution. I also have this nifty air purifying device that plugs into the wall and traps dust and other allergens. Its amazing. My bedroom seems so clean and my dog can sleep in there without me having an allergic reaction.



All that chemical crap doesn't freshen anything. Just gives me more to be allergic to.

Audra - posted on 02/23/2012

Where do you catch the offending smell(s)? I use a candle warmer because I worry about the fire hazard too. I'll throw orange peels and spices into a small pot with some water over a low heat and let it simmer---it's almost like lying to my husband because he comes home and thinks I've baked something ;). I pulled up all of our carpet for this reason...but that can be a drastic move...

Sofia - posted on 02/23/2012

I think opening windows is probably the best way. But I agree, what if it's cold? I live in New England area and my heating bill is already sky-high! We put plastic on our windows during winter to keep the cold air out. So in my case, while plastic is on, I use candles. Wheather permitting, I open a door.

Kirsty - posted on 02/23/2012

i use a thing called '1001 carpet fresh mousse' all you do is spray it on, you dont have to vacuum it off or anything and it makes the whole house smell nice, not everyday but if you have guests coming or just want it to feel nice (only for carpet and upholstery though) it comes in a few different scents, one for pet odours etc x

Karen - posted on 02/10/2012

Carpets are most definitely the worst when it comes to holding onto odors. I get mine steamed with a pet solution so that spot cleaning is easier.



Also, I must share this secret. I use PEROXIDE for everything carpet. I have even used it on my couch. It will remove urine, vomit, bile, poop... the list goes on. I have even used it to break up chocolate. I got myself a cheap squirt bottle.



Its been so amazing that I feel like I have to tell everyone who ever mentions cleaning. What a surprise it was! I had a professional cleaner tell me to use it. Can't beat the price either! I get giant bottles of it for less than $1!



I wouldn't recommend just getting some and going nuts. Definitely test an area of carpet in a closet first to make sure it doesn't harm the color. I haven't had any issues with that, but I wouldn't want to be responsible if someone does! I have used it on my dark purple microfiber couch without issues.

AnnMarie - posted on 02/09/2012

Baking soda on the carpets is good as has been said.you can also add a little essential oil in it if you want to add a smell. There are even certain oils that help keep bugs away. I do air my house out in the winter too. Even though it's cold in Northern Illinois. I do one or two rooms at a time I open the window(s) a crack turn on the cealing fan & shut the door. 30 min later close it up & do a different room. It's worth the small amout extra to reheat the rooms up to me. It also helps keep us all healthy! I also love glade candles they are small but pack a punch of lasting scent. The oil on a lightbulb is good too & some oils are great for your health & mood let alone their lovely smell.

Cassandra - posted on 01/24/2012

Glad candles do work real good. i have a small 3 bedroom apartment and its make the whole house smell like a pie is baking. im scared of fires too, but i only light them when im in the house cleaning and what not. other then that i use febreeze. i spray it a couple times a day. but im a clean freak so im always cleaning my house and taking the trash out and cleaning out the sink with bleach.

but i would look at glade candles they have different scents and some with two scents in the same candle.

Stifler's - posted on 01/23/2012

I use vanilla fresh instead of ajax or whatever to clean things. It kills any odours.

Chrystal - posted on 01/23/2012

I use baking soda on the carpets once a week (I let it sit overnight then vacuum it up), I stud an orange with cloves and place out of reach change it when it shrivels (could put it in a pretty lace bag or something to hide it mine are just up on high shelves so no one see them), I have a small bowl of baking soda in a decorative dish over my stove to help collect food odor (plus if I ever catch something on fire have something right there to put it out lol), I make a linen/room spray out of water and lavender oil that I use to freshen my sheets daily, and I place a drop of essential oil on the bathroom light bulbs so when people are in there with the light on it gives a nice scent.

Sal - posted on 01/19/2012

yes open doors and windows dont have wet washing around if possible i think you can use as many candles and spays you like but nothing beats fresh air

Tasha - posted on 01/18/2012

Open the windows on nice days. One the not so nice Ohio winter days I use one of the glade plugins. It's in an outlet behind the couch so the kids can't get it. I clean our carpets with the steam cleaner but I use vineager and clubsoda (carpet guy said that it cleans better and doesn't hold the soap of the chemicals. Does work wonders on ALOT of stains in clothes too). You can make your own air freshner with a babyfood jar filled 1/2 way with baking soda and add your own scented oil. And if worse comes to worse bake something lol. My kids love making apple sauce and cinnamon dough which smells really good when left in the 200* preheated off oven over night. (fun for the kids too lol)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 01/18/2012

I don't have a lot of carpet which I think helps, not suggesting you rip up carpet lol. Like Jane I open the windows on days where it's nice out. I use baking soda a lot. It can be used as a carpet freshener and it absorbs odors. I sprinkle it in the diaper pail and trash can too.

Jane - posted on 01/18/2012

@Rhonda - Put on a coat.



On another note, they are doing studies on the components given off by various air fresheners. Most of them contain some really awful stuff, very risky to your health. I cannot be around any Glade plug-ins without having an asthma attack.



"The conclusion of the study was that the use of some air fresheners can produce toxic pollutants when used in the presence of ozone (a form of oxygen). Even minimal ozone concentrations were enough to drive significant indoor chemistry. When the chemicals emitted from the air-fresheners are combined with ozone, pollutants of serious health concern are produced. These include formaldehyde (a known human carcinogen and a respiratory irritant with a very low threshold for health effects) and ultrafine pollutant particles. Also of concern is the production of acetaldehyde, organic acids, other oxygenated intermediates, hydrogen peroxide, secondary organic aerosol, and hydroxyl radicals." from http://www.care2.com/greenliving/air-fre...



And what is one of the first things the article says to do to freshen your home safely? Open your windows.

Amanda - posted on 01/18/2012

I open all the windows and let the breeze air the house out.

I have also tried a carpet foam. It comes in a spray can and it sanitizes and freshens your carpets and leaves a nice smell. I think the one I had lasted about 3 days before the smell went.

I also used it on the seats and carpets in my car.

Kyleigh - posted on 01/18/2012

the little glade candles aren't "big candles, i set one on my kitchen counter, and one on the fireplace mantel. usually does the trick and gives off a good smellin kick! :)

Kyleigh - posted on 01/18/2012

I buy the GLADE candles...they may be 3.50 or Febreeze (vanilla) but really it makes your house smell SO good! I have my neighbor over and she fell in love with it she had to go buy them for her own house.

Rhonda - posted on 01/18/2012

What if its cold out? Lol

Jane - posted on 01/18/2012

I open all the windows.