Calling all people with nice-smelling houses....

[confused247]

OK, this is a bit of a random question, but I was wondering what things people do to make their houses smell nice. Mine doesn't smell bad (I don't think!) - it's generally pretty clean, bins emptied regularly, windows opened every day - but it just smells of, well, my house.

Sometimes I visit people whose houses smell all fresh & lovely & I want mine to be like that too! I don't mean the so-strong-it-makes-your-eyes-water smell that you get from plug in/ spray air fresheners. I've tried the posh (White Company etc) scented candles but they only seem to be effective while they are actually burning, and with 2 small children in the house that is not always a safe/ practical option. So does anyone have any great tips that I could try or products that they recommend? :)

I've just put some cotton wool with essential oil in the dyson & hoovered the house but I can't smell anything :(

I think dysons might filter the smell out too well! I use this tip sometimes but I have a miele which uses dustbags.

My sister bought me a present yesterday - a lemongrass scented candle from the Isle of Skye Candle Company. It smells amazing - so lovely and fresh.
I put it in the hall and lit it for a little while last night. And when I came home from work today I could smell it as soon as I opened the front door - lovely.

Just remember that what you think smells fresh might smell foul to someone else. Classic examples are coffee + bread, smells I personally don't like. Along with most things fruity.

Please don't put essential oils on light bulbs they are highly flammable!

Sprinkle a few drops on a tissue or cotton wool ball & leave tucked behind something or in winter behind the rads. Change every few days.

Boots Botanics is a good one,not too pricey.

Tea-tree & Lemon together are a lovely clean smell & great antiseptic.

Marking place...love tips on a fresh smelling house. :)

Will read full thread tomorrow so apologise if I am repeating any ideas! I used to put j cloths soaked in fabric conditioner on the rads. Not much good in summer (!) though.

Can report that the bicarb air fresheners work really well. Even in the show cupboard.

Can report that the bicarb air fresheners work really well. Even in the shoe cupboard.

I agree with others - it is the soft furnishings which hold on to the smells.

I have 4 cats but a non smelly house as i have no soft furnishings other than several cushions and the beds. No curtains, carpets, rugs. Hoover and mop the house every day.

I think if your carpets smell of cat it is difficult to remove - i would prioritise new carpets above anything else tbh.

And the windows are open all the time (including winter, which XP hated as I had the heating on and the windows open, but bollocks to him, I paid the gas bill) as airless houses can be whiffy.

It's not very MN, but shake'n'vac works a treat.

I don't have essential oils but do have food flavourings... do you think the lemon one will work the same as an essential oil?