Natural Ways to Make Your Home Smell Good

After several months of closed windows, your home may have acquired some weird smells over the winter. Pets, cooking, garbage disposals, dishwashers, dirty laundry, trash cans, and basements can all be odor sources.

You may be tempted to use a commercial air freshener to make your home smell better. However, some air fresheners can contain chemicals that are unhealthy, such as formaldehyde and benzene. Formaldehyde is used as a preservative in air fresheners but can cause cancer and respiratory problems. Benzene, used to disperse fragrance, is also a carcinogen.  

To make your home fragrant without the use of commercial air fresheners, here are some natural ways to control odors and spread pleasant scents.

How to Eliminate Odors

The first step to making your home smell better is to identify and eliminate potential odor sources.

• Vacuum regularly. Odors come from pet dander, food particles, and dust mites in carpets, rugs, and upholstery. Vacuuming floor coverings and furniture regularly will help keep your home smelling fresh. Many vacuum cleaners come with a HEPA filter, which captures tiny particles and keeps them from being released back into the air. If your vacuum has such a filter, replace it at least every six months to ensure it’s working properly.
• Clean garbage and recycling containers. Food waste that builds up on the inside of garbage cans and recycling bins can make them smell terrible. Clean these containers regularly by spraying them with vinegar solution (an equal mix of white vinegar and water), scrub with a brush or sponge, and rinse with water. Doing this outdoors or in a garage is best. To absorb odors between cleanings, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the trash can. An alternative is to put about a third of a cup of baking soda in the center of a cone-shaped coffee filter, close it up with a rubber band or twist tie, and place the pouch in the bottom of the trash can.
• Discard old food. Look through your refrigerator for food that’s old or spoiled and throw it out. Clean shelves and bins to remove food particles that have accumulated. Put about half a cup of baking soda in a bowl in the back of the refrigerator to absorb food odors, or leave an open box of baking soda in the fridge.
• Keep the dishwasher clean. A dishwasher can be the smelliest appliance in the kitchen, as food particles become trapped in its filter and spray arms. Clean your dishwasher’s drain filter regularly. Remove the bottom dish rack and locate the filter, which is usually next to the bottom spray arm. Remove the filter (typically by turning counterclockwise) and rinse in warm water. You may need to use an old toothbrush to scrub away food particles, after soaking the filter in a mixture of white vinegar and warm water for 30 minutes. To clean and deodorize the rest of the dishwasher, run a hot water cycle monthly with two cups of white vinegar placed in a dishwasher-safe bowl in the upper rack.
• Flush out the garbage disposal. Even if you use it properly, your kitchen sink’s garbage disposal can harbor food particles that decay and create odors. Keep your disposal from smelling by cleaning it every month (or weekly if you use it daily). To clean the disposal, turn off the power by unplugging it under the sink or activating the circuit breaker. Pull the rubber splash guard out and scrub it with a brush. While the splash guard is out, use a flashlight to look for food pieces stuck in the disposal and use tongs to remove any you find — never use your fingers. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the disposal and let it sit for 30 minutes. After that, pour in one cup of white vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes. Then rinse with hot water. After reinstalling the splash guard and turning the power back on, pour in two cups of ice and one cup of salt and run the disposal with cold water until the ice is ground up and gone. To keep your disposal smelling good between cleanings, grind up some citrus peels.    
• Do laundry promptly. Don’t let dirty laundry sit for long periods and stink. Wash and dry laundry right away. Drying clothes on a low-heat setting will help keep odors from being released. After doing a load of laundry, leave the washer door open to help it dry out fully and prevent mold growth. Clean your washer’s interior regularly by adding two cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and running a complete cycle.
• Keep your bathroom dry. Water that’s allowed to sit on bathroom surfaces can emit odors. Wipe surfaces like vanity countertops to keep them dry. Clean showers and tubs regularly to keep them free of mold, mildew, and soap scum. Run the bathroom exhaust fan as you’re showering and for at least 20 minutes afterward to remove moisture and prevent mold and mildew from growing.
• Hang up towels and change them frequently. Wet towels left in a pile can develop mold and mildew, creating a musty smell. Hang towels up immediately after use to let them dry. Replace towels with clean ones after three uses, or at least weekly.  
• Keep water in plumbing traps. Traps are curves in the pipes under sinks, showers, and toilets designed to keep sewer gasses from coming into the home. Water left in traps helps block odors, but the water can evaporate if a bathroom or fixture is seldom used and that will allow foul smells to waft in. Every month, run the water for a few minutes or flush toilets to make sure the traps are filled and working properly.
• Replace air filters regularly. Forced air heating systems have filters that remove dust, pollen, and smells as air circulates through the home. Change these filters regularly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, to help control odors. Consider using a filter with an active carbon layer for added odor reduction. If you don’t have a central forced air system, using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help make a room smell better.
• Maintain proper humidity. Too much moisture in the air can create an environment for mold and mildew to grow. Damp or wet basements are especially susceptible and can release musty smells into the rest of the home. To prevent mold and mildew growth, indoor relative humidity should be below 60 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A relative humidity between 30 percent and 50 percent is ideal. Run a dehumidifier to keep the humidity level in the proper range. Other ways to control humidity include running exhaust fans, using an air conditioner, or placing large silica gel packs that will absorb moisture.
• Prevent pet odors. If you have a dog, cat, or other indoor pet, be proactive in controlling odors they generate. Clean their food and water dishes often. For cats, scoop their litter box daily and completely empty and clean it weekly. Don’t let a wet dog get on carpets or furniture — dry your dog thoroughly after baths or walks in the rain. Use washable covers on places your dog likes to lounge or sleep and wash these weekly in hot water. Vacuum your pet’s favorite hangout spots weekly.  

Making Your Home Fragrant

Once you’ve eliminated odor sources, it’s time to make your home smell great by spreading natural scents. Here are some ways to do that:

• Heat ingredients in a pot. Combine ingredients such as orange slices, cinnamon, and cloves in a pot and cover them with water. Bring the mixture to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer. The pleasant fragrance will quickly spread throughout your home. Let it simmer for several hours, adding water occasionally to keep the ingredients covered. An alternative heating method is to use a slow cooker without the cover.
• Bake apple slices. Slice up a few apples, sprinkle with cinnamon, and heat in the oven at 250 degrees for up to an hour.
• Create a reed diffuser. Add a teaspoon of your favorite essential oil to a small glass jar and then fill the container with baby oil. Place several rattan diffuser sticks in the jar and gently stir. Set the homemade diffuser on a counter or table.
• Make natural air freshener. Mix two parts of water with one part of essential oil in a spray bottle. Shake well and then spray around a room. Essential oils that work well for this include eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, and rosemary.
• Hang eucalyptus in the shower. Take a small bunch of eucalyptus, wrap a string around the stems, and hang it from your showerhead. The steam from the shower will transport the fragrance through your bathroom and beyond.
• Make your own potpourri. Combine dried flowers, herbs, and spices in a large bowl. Add orris root powder and a few drops of an essential oil to enhance the fragrance. Place the potpourri in small bowls around your home, out of the reach of children and pets, as ingesting it can be toxic to them.
• Add houseplants. Some potted houseplants will add subtle scents to your indoor air, such as begonias, roses, orchids, geraniums, and lavender. Place plants near an open window so the incoming breeze will carry their scent through the house.

Opening Windows in Spring

We hope these ideas and tips will help you improve your indoor air quality and make your home smell better.

Opening windows in the spring to let in fresh air is a natural way to remove smells that your home has accumulated during the winter. However, be aware that opening windows in spring can worsen seasonal allergies by allowing pollen into your home.

If you or someone in your household has seasonal allergies, keep track of the pollen count. Open windows on days when the pollen count is forecast to be low, or in the morning when pollen levels are usually lower. Check out our blog for other seasonal allergy survival tips.