Lovely smelling homes

I would agree this is where you are going wrong.

I grew up in an home with 2 parents smoking and a cat but it never smelt, windows were opened as soon as my DF woke up (3/4am). Back bedroom windows left open all day. Every Sunday my DF would have all the curtains washed and rehung before anyone woke up, cushion and seat covers washed, carpet was hoovered twice a day, cat only allowed on certain furniture. Kitchen was scrubbed clean every night, we were a fry up family and had the old chip pan on the go most nights but all cooking was with the windows open and everything cleaned with hot soapy water.

I’ve carried on some of these habits, mainly open windows as much as possible. I very rarely close certain windows in the house and our back door is open most of the time even in winter. Keep house clean. We have a dog and I worried we’d become a dog smelling house but we haven’t. We keep her bed and blankets clean. The area I fall down on is keeping on top of keeping coats/bags clean, there is also always a collection of muddy shoes by the back door but no one has really smelly feet so I don’t worry too much about that.

@Leafy3....check this out...
www.mobilezerowasteshop.co.uk/blog/diy-post-poo-drops

My DH gets really annoyed about having windows open. I'll have to show him this thread. Even in summer he doesn't like doors and windows open!!

@Leafy3 this is a great idea! I'm going to google and see if there's any "recipes"

@TicTac80 I'm thinking about making my own loo drops. They're just essential oils! Easy enough to pair lemongrass and lime (hello purdy & figg).

Just working out which is the best carrier oil to use because I'm wary about clogging pipes. I also want to check if any of the aromatherapy essential oils are likely to react badly with bleach. If anyone knows please say!

This thread gave me the reminder/kick up the bum that it's actually time to sort curtains, sofa covers, throws etc, particularly now that weather is getting better :) Quilt washing is also underway. Laundry pile is mountainous, but I'll work my way through it. I wish I had a larger place...with a massive laundrette style washing machine and dryer!

Talking of home fragrances....does anyone know of any (reed diffuser or maybe oil burner) ones that are ok for cats? I don't really use anything as I don't want the cats affected but it is nice to have something like that in use every so often. Also...I checked out the Aesop toilet fragrance stuff....it's ££!! Does anyone have a good alternative? I know Purdy and Fig do one.

Thinking on stinky houses...in my case, it's less the cats (unless they chuck up hairballs or bring in lovely things) and more the teenage boy (who actually showers daily and is pretty fastidious about personal hygiene, but weirdly his room still reeks, despite windows being open etc).

I shampooed the carpets sofa and curtains this weekend and it smells great. Mattresses are for it this weekend.

We have a clean house (everyone says so). I have a lab and a baby and do the housework myself. Dog beds, towel, toys, rugs washed weekly. Floors hooved and wiped daily (with the pet friendly flash) I open windows first thing - everyday. I also take out recycling and rubbish every night. Clean the kitchen and put the dishwasher on as we set off to bed.
in the bedrooms (3 guests ones) and the main living room - I am impartial to Chloe jade scents.
use the white company diffusers and hand wash and hand cream in the bathrooms - towels and bath mats washed weekly.
i do a ‘deep clean’ on one room a week. To stay on top on cob webs, dust, wiping the skirting, radiators etc.
love a clean home!

Do not just open the windows a crack and leave them all day. That doesn’t air the house and wastes heat.

no - what you must do is open a back and a front door or window at the same time and let the air blow through for about 5-7 mins (shorter if it’s windy!)

then close it all up again (if you need to conserve heat)

We mop daily too. The curse of a stinky dog!

I'm definitely led by my nose too! I spend too much money on St Eval candles, Norfolk Natural room sprays and my essential oils diffuser (Neals Yard Remedies). I'm as skint as they come but I love my house to smell nice. It really affects my mood. I open windows and doors a lot; even in winter. Cleaning hard floors with a lovely smelling cleaner seems to work well too.

I've even tried to let lemon ,orange peel and cinnamon simmer in a pot of boiling water to scent the air during Christmas time.

I can't stand the cold curry or fish smells the morning after the dinner the night before.

Good ventilation, clean house, lack of carpets, non smoking, clean soft furnishings.

The essence vault

I sympathise. When I was much younger I wouldn’t even think about washing cushion covers but I do now. 2 tips: remove cushion covers and wash in machine. While they are washing peg the cushion inners on the washing line in the sun for a few hours.
I buy M& S Clothes Freshening Mist. Wonderful! Spray on towels, cushions, bedding when they are nearly dry on the line. Good luck 😉

I agree. Buying nice smells won’t cover up lack of deep cleaning and regularly washing cushion covers, throws, towels and dishcloths. Plus washing roasting pans and grill pans.
Unfortunately , my DS and partner ( + 2 under 5s) don’t do this so their house often smells funky - they have loads of cushions and throws but I honestly think they never wash them. I daren’t say anything of course lol 😀

I agree with lots of pps here. The key things are:

lots of ventilation/fresh air - even in winter
clean textiles
general hygienic habits
no pets
minimise strong cooking smells (eg we only have things like steak on a BBQ or when we go out - I don't think you can fry meat etc or make chips frequently and not have the smell permeate the house)
flowers around the house

You have to compromise a bit on personal freedom to have a non-smelly house!

I can't bear air fresheners, reed diffusers, scented candles etc, but my grandson says he loves the smell of our house. I put it down to clean clothes- we use lightly scented laundry detergent and no fabric softeners or fragrances, we wash our sofa throws and cushion covers frequently, I open our windows to freshen the air, neither of us use very strong perfumes/aftershaves or deodorants, but we do use them lightly. I also try to have scented plants in the garden, and I make my own bath salts with essential oils.

You mop the floors every day!

Yes to - you can always smell when a dog is resident and open the windows!

I've always hated air fresheners but got a free reed diffuser when ordering perfume from Gallivant. It's 'East end boys, West End girls' and despite the terrible name is exactly how I want my house to smell.

Method Rhubarb anything reminds me of lockdown. It was the only thing left in the supermarket...

When I'm cleaning I wipe surfaces with a damp cloth with a couple of drops of essential oil dripped on it.

Tallow and ash washing liquids and fabric sprays are amazing 😍

I had a loo-cleaning revelation a few months back and started giving ours a good spray with Simple Solution every few days. It's for cleaning up dog wee and it has enzymes specifically to break down urine, as well as being a disinfectant. Total game-changer for a lovely clean-smelling bathroom!

I don't dust, I wash down everything with hot water and fairy liquid and polish dry. Polish smells pretty horrible and just builds up. I think that makes a big difference. Windows, tops of wardrobes, inside wardrobes, skirting boards, doors and handles. Massive fan of hot soapy water.

Airing your home, even in Winter. When I do the weekly clean, I open all windows throughout the whole house and leave them open for at least half hour-all morning (weather dependent). I give everywhere a good spray of air freshener as well during this airing.

We don’t have pets, but my Mum does, she’s always airing her home and I think this really helps (hers doesn’t smell with the pets).

Also washing throws/bedding/curtains and wiping any spills round ovens, bins, etc.