I was at an appointment in an office building recently and the worst smell was coming from
one of the trash cans. I'm sure it was a rotting banana. I could not believe that nobody in the office seemed to notice...or if they did, they certainly weren't doing anything about it.
I mentioned it to the receptionist and she promptly took care of it, throwing
out the trash, adding a fresh bag, and spraying some deodorizer in the trash bin. Instantly, the bad smell was significantly reduced.
This made me think of back when I was a kid. My mother was a stickler about never leaving anything that could rot and begin to
smell in the indoor trash bin. She, or my dad, would always bypass the indoor trash bin and put anything that could potentially end up rotting and smelling into the outside one.
These days, some of us use our garbage disposals or composting systems before heading
to the trash container, but even doing that doesn't always get rid of bad smells. Most of us don't want bad odors lingering because they're not delightful, and they almost always get a whole lot worse the longer we ignore them.
Here are 7 organized ways to keep
your home smelling fresh.
1. Handle the Issue at the Source: First and foremost, it's important to figure out what's causing the bad odors and to eliminate those. If the odor is coming from your carpet, you're likely in need of carpet
cleaning.
If it's coming from your cat's litter box, not only does the litter likely need to be changed, but the entire box probably needs a good scrubbing.
Perhaps it's coming from piled-up dirty laundry? If you catch up with that, the smell may magically disappear.
If it's something
worse, like mold, that challenge will have to be dealt with...either by you or a professional.
Zoning in on the source is the most effective way to begin helping your home smell fresher.
2. Trash Can Trick: Say goodbye to unpleasant odors emanating from your trash bin. To start, don't put anything in the indoor trash bin that's going to end up being super-smelly, super-quick (like fish, banana peels, onion, etc.)
Second, instead of relying solely on trash bags, once the new bag is inside your bin, place a couple of sheets of newspaper at the bottom of the bag. The newspaper will absorb and neutralize any potentially bad smells.
3. Dishwasher Delight: Before starting a cycle, remove any lingering food particles from
the filter. Then, sprinkle two cups of white vinegar on the top rack and run an empty, hot cycle. Your dishwasher will be odor-free and ready to tackle the next load of dishes.
4. Fridge Freshener: Start by getting rid of any old, smelly food. Second, place an open box of baking soda (opened) in the back of your
fridge. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber and will help eliminate any lingering smells.
Finally, infuse your fridge with a delightful scent by soaking a cotton ball in vanilla or almond extract and placing it in a small dish near the back of the top shelf.
5. Stove-Top Potpourri: In a saucepan, combine slices of fresh citrus fruit like oranges and lemons with a handful of fragrant herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and mint. Fill the pot with water. Set the stove to low heat and allow the mixture to simmer gently. Aim for a temperature where the water is just barely bubbling.
Let the potpourri simmer for at least 30 minutes to an hour to fully release its aromatic essence into your home.
6. Eliminate Toilet Odors: Eliminate bathroom odors quickly and effectively with a product like
Lysol Toilet Cleaner immediately after using the toilet. Scrub the entire bowl, including under the rim, thoroughly. Let sit for 30 seconds. Then
flush. 7. Open the Windows: When the weather is nice, air out your home by opening up the windows. The airflow will allow old, stale odors to leave and invite fresh air in.
Also, open the windows before cooking anything that has a smell that is likely going to linger in your home afterward.
