Lovely smelling homes

[ToysRus56]

How do some homes smell so nice! Sort of across between clean laundry and freshly baked cakes?! I hate anything scented so don't like buying diffusers etc. We do washing several times a week and our home never smells like this!

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 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 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 😉

The essence vault

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

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.

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

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 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!

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

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).

@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!

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

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

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.

Brilliant! Thank you for the finding that! I will raid the spirits tomorrow and see if I have any vodka, its not one I tend to keep in.

Might still have the remains of an old bottle of malibu though 😄

I use valentte reed diffusers with no issue, I just keep them out the way of cat and make sure there’s a room with no scent he can go into
to be honest I mostly use them in the hall and bathrooms anyway

Windows open, doors open, wash cushion covers throws. I can't have candles, melts, diffusers, sets my asthma off. But the M&S fabric freshener spray I do use on the sofas.

Some houses smell gorgeous because their owner cleans like a dervish. I prefer getting rest, opening a window and keeping the sink fresh.

@lunalovegood25, thank you for the recommendation. I will check these out. Years back, I used to have oil burners, joss sticks and such like, but since DC (and then cats) came along, I've not used anything.

Worse thing, getting home from work and finding teenage DD has windows shit, has fried a big greasy breakfast for lunch, has the heating and overhead light on. A blue fug hangs in the air.

Yuch.

Before I even take my coat off I open a window and the back door, put heating and light off, tell DS to wash plate and trying pan then insist he has shower and puts PJ's in the wash.

Furniture oils and creams if you have timber furniture. Not the spray/wipe in the can type stuff.

This one smells absolutely gorgeous I love it my fave 🥰

On the back of this thread I’ve just put on my white company electric diffuser with the spa scent this morning.

The recommendations for valentte diffuser which scent is a fresh one please. Also any reasonably priced candles! I have loads of Jo Malone and white company and that type but it’s like burning money which I suppose it is!