how do you make your house smell good?

americanada

sorry if this gets posted a lot. i'm not a regular on this board. i have a 6 mo old and want the house to smell good in a safe way both for baby and the environment. i used soy candles during pregnancy. i know you can boil some oils/spices. what do you do? where do you get your 'supplies'? thanks.

mominatrix

americanada:

sorry if this gets posted a lot. i'm not a regular on this board. i have a 6 mo old and want the house to smell good in a safe way both for baby and the environment. i used soy candles during pregnancy. i know you can boil some oils/spices. what do you do? where do you get your 'supplies'? thanks.

I bake. Nothing smells as good as bread!

 

If I'm having guests and really want a good smell, particularly in the fall, I'll set a little pot simmering with some autumnal spices - - cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, etc.  I do that rarely, though, as it feels a bit wasteful. I'm likely, though, to do the same thing with cider, then drink it!

doglove

We use a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle with a few drops of essential oils (lavender or jasmine) and we spray throughout the air in the apartment. Vinegar absorbs odors in the air and isn't harmful.

LolitaC

I simmer plain white vinegar.   It removed any smells, even the leftover smell from frying food.

Pescalita

My first trick is to open all the windows. When we have a nice day in the winter I make sure to take advantage of it and air the house out as much as possible.

Honeybumble

LolitaC:

I simmer plain white vinegar.   It removed any smells, even the leftover smell from frying food.

I do this in my microwave also, but I add water (& it uncooks the gook inside).... clean and fresh. For an air freshener you can also do tsp/tbsp/cup of baking soda/vinegar/water into a spray bottle... I like PPs suggestion of adding natural fragrance.

Vinegar is awesome! I make ice cubes, too & they have a myriad of uses

jebuell

I have these round metal things that sit on top of lightbulbs that I put some essential oils in.  When the light is on they heat up and make the house smell yummy.  I like Jasmine and Lavender.

JessicaLovesBrian

doglove:

We use a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle with a few drops of essential oils (lavender or jasmine) and we spray throughout the air in the apartment. Vinegar absorbs odors in the air and isn't harmful.

I am thinking you have pets (or a pet) based off your signature and name... does this work well to combat pet smells as well in your experience?  I'm looking for a way to rid our home of the constant doggy odor lingering in the air.  I want to give this a try and hoping it helps.

Lanerbell

I use one of these with Essential Oils.  I usually go with Clove and Peppermint right now because it makes me think of fall. 

 

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/aroma/soapstone_floral_diffuser.jpg

littlefootann

Vodka and your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle

GreenTea101108

littlefootann:

Vodka and your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle

I make a few variations of this. I add distilled water (maybe 3:1 alcohol) then add essential oils. I use this to freshen clothing as well (just like Febreeze)

I work for a children's theatre, and I didn't feel comfortable carting in a bottle of vodka, so I used the same ratio with rubbing alcohol (65% potency I think). It stinks like a doctor's office for a quite minute, but after the alcohol evaporates all that's left is the EO smell.

This also kills germs in fabric.

I don't know if you answered about having pets or not-but just a fair warning that if you have cats EOs are poisonous to them. Something simmering on the stove would be safer in that case.

mon.petit.chou

all of you mentioned essential oils - where do you buy them?

wldktz10

We have a lavender plant, so when I prune I put the stuff I'm drying out in one room then cut up the other bits and put little bits in tealight candle holders in rooms around the apartment.

thew8isover

Whole Foods and my local coop carries them.

SomethingNewEveryDay

For doggy smell, first I brush my dogs every other day and that helps a lot. I also leave out little ramekins full of white vinegar around the house and the vinegar soaks up the smell.  So if I'm having company I'll put a few out the day before and then put them away before company comes.  Sounds weird, but it *really* works.

I also air the house out year round. In winter it's only for a few minutes every few days, and I'll do one area of the house at a time.    

misscarolb

My mom always believed in sunshine (cheesy, I know). After washing (either to dry or not) or just for a spruce up, hang sheets, blankets, pillows etc out on a warm sunny day. They'll smell a lot fresher than you'd think. This is also great for all those seasonal clothes that have been locked up for months.