Best kept secrets for clean, beautifully smelling and ordered house?

[manalice]

Just that really...I'm trying to keep on top of the household chores with a toddler and a baby so need quick effective tips.

Mine would be the plug in Yankee candle diffusers you can get from eBay, waitrose buster plug hole sanitiser in eucalyptus and blue flash gel.

Over to you...

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

Plants. Lots of plants.

Clean the air, give off a nice earthy scent, suck up odours and look lively and healthy.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Agree about the plants. We have two cats and an old house - I've increased the number of plants in the last six months and the difference is amazing.

[wobblywonderwoman]

I have two toddlers and my number one tip is .. Nappy sacks

Windows open as much as possible.
Bin out strictly daily.
Toilet gel down every night.
Wipe out fridge as often as possible

I can't have plants ... The week toddlers would eat them. They have ate most of the sandpit

[MILLYmo0se]

Plants.........my lord,that is so obvious,why has that never occured to me ?!
Any suggestions for cheap,easy to find,easy to care for indoor plants?

[ayeokthen]

Quick mad dash of tidying a few times a day (10 mins or so), an hour cleaning when they're in bed, and I swear by Scentsy warmers for a nice smelling home, after I've had the windows open for hours.

[Clankboing]

Get a decent long handled brush especially if you have hard floors and give dusty messy floors a quick brush.

[Missgraeme]

Keeping a tidy house when u have kids is like clearing snow when it's still snowing.

[Naicecuppatea]

Also interested in some hardy but attractive plant recommendations!

[StubbleTurnips]

House plants never survive here! We kill them all

[Clankboing]

Money plants, spider plants, devils ivy.

[ilovemilton]

I've just had a look at the Yankee candle diffusers...which are good scents?

[BrianButterfield]

Put your dish clothes/sponges/washing up brush to soak in a little bit of water and Zoflora overnight - keeps them clean and the kitchen smells nice in the morning.

[ChishandFips33]

Spider plants. Peace Lily. Devils Ivy have all survived my care surprisingly

Windows open. DH shoes outside!

[ginorwine]

Plants in most rooms here
The two rooms without are less fresh

[StrawberrytallCake]

Are peace lilys not poisonous for dogs, cats and small children?

[StrawberrytallCake]

*lilies

[elgol]

Open the windows. Especially during cooking. Shut shoes away. Clean loos. Put bins out.

I can't stand chemical smells. Room fresheners do not smell nice to me. Generally sort of icky. I walk into mil's house and get a strong waft of loo cleaner. Not nice. maybe she walks into mine and smells the loo

[allegretto]

Don't smoke, don't have dogs and don't cook curry in the house. Open the windows as much as possible. Don't use candles or air fresheners unless really necessary.

[allegretto]

Yes - peace lilies are quite toxic, would avoid with young children or pets.

[ShotsFired]

Windows and doors open as much and and as long as possible for me. Have never found an artificial fragrance that doesn't smell artificial unfortunately (and not willing to spend £££ on really fancy ones)

But everyone's house has its own human smell, whatever you do. Some nicer than others...

[VanillaSugar]

Did you know that you can buy used, empty Jo Malone reed diffusers on eBay? I.e. someone used it up, kept the packaging, and is now selling the lot (bar the actual smelly stuff) for QUITE A LOT of money...

[Lunar1]

I'm going to get more plants after reading this. Which are best that I won't kill?

[JasperDamerel]

I might stood at the garden centre today and get something. Although I suspect that actually doing housework would be more effective.

[newpup]

I have a lab so am obsessed about ensuring my house does not smell! I have the windows open as much as possible it really airs the house. I also burn candles, mostly Yankee Candles as the scent is beautiful and lasts. I use floral ones in the Summer; Kiku, Roses , White narcissus and warmer scents in the Winter, Cinnamon, Wild fig etc. I have fresh flowers in my kitchen, Stocks are great as they have a lasting scent. Lilies in the sitting room and hallway. I also vacuum daily to remove any dog hair.

[FiddleFigs]

I agree with lots of plants.
Also, my small handheld vacuum cleaner helps me keep up with the masses of crumbs generated by DH and DD.
Once a month I properly polish the wooden furniture (it doesn't take much time) and the lovely beeswaxy smell and warm glow lasts for ages.
Can't stand the synthetic smell of yankee candles - find it a bit much - but I make some room fragrance (lavender or sweet orange essential oil, mixed in with some cheap vodka and distilled water) - a quick spray of that on the upholstery, rugs (and in winter, on the radiator), leaves everything smelling subtly lovely.

For easy to care for plants: umbrella plants, money plants, jade plants, monstera (Swiss cheese plant) - I bought all mine from Homebase and they've lasted well, with fairly haphazard care.