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Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Housekeeping

How do people have such nice smelling houses

87 replies

Archersandlemonade · 16/01/2021 20:55

I have friends who when they open the door you can smell how lovely their house smells inside. More apparent since last year as I have fair few door stop visits. Do you know the type I mean? They just have a lovely smell. Mine smells of house - I think. It’s isn’t dirty- I do clean but it’s just smells ordinary , no lovely whiff. I have tried getting plug in air fresheners but after a while I find them over powering .
I know ..... it’s a Saturday night ..... I need more in my life

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Gliblet · 16/01/2021 21:08

All the people who I've known who have lovely smelling houses have them because something like lovely beeswax polish or really nice carpet or upholstery shampoo has become ingrained through long regular use, and they've managed to find something that compliments the scent well in terms of fresh flowers or similar. It's never air fresheners or plug ins.

They're also usually the people who don't have a lot of clutter sitting around catching dust and pet hair, and stopping surfaces from airing.

I do wonder if some houses, like some people, are just better at holding on to scents (you know how some people's skin just doesn't seem to hold perfume?).

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partyatthepalace · 16/01/2021 21:35

Plugs ins are grim... beeswax polish, flowers, fires, scented candles/diffusers etc. And not having too much dust around.

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SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 16/01/2021 21:38

DH bought me one of those plug in add your own scent/essential oil diffuser things among my Christmas stuff. I really like it. Had secretly lusted after the Neom one, but was far too spendy to justify. I think if you have proper essential oil, its not overpowering, and you can have the smells you like, or blend them.

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Edgeoftheledge · 16/01/2021 21:39

Diffuser with essential oils/wax melts

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Wornout12108 · 16/01/2021 21:59

A good blast of fresh air windows open for a short period even on cold / bad weather days and no pets are good starts.
I can't stand houses that have plug ins or similar to hide a pet / dirty smell as it's always rank.

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StealthRoast · 16/01/2021 22:03

My house always gets comments over it’s nice smell. I use wax melts in an electric burner in the living room and kitchen. My kitchen is at the front of the house.

Also I air the house all year round. It makes such a difference.

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Coldhandscoldheart · 16/01/2021 22:12

Lots of fresh air helps. But I am seeking a similar thing.

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Coffeeandcakee · 16/01/2021 22:41

Neom diffuser. Worth every penny. It's like walking in to a spa when it's on. You'll never look back!

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VirtualLearning · 16/01/2021 22:45

I agree fresh air makes any house better. I get comments when I’ve cleaned as use a Method cleaners which all smell really nice. I love the blue bathroom one !

One of my relatives uses expensive diffusers and I always find that gives their house a lovely feel but for me nothing beats airing a house as makes it immediately more pleasant !

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Angel2702 · 16/01/2021 22:47

My house smells of coffee according to my door stop visitors.

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BonnieLisbon · 16/01/2021 22:48

When people have said mine smells nice it's been washing powder from washing drying

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indemMUND · 16/01/2021 22:50

We have 4 rats (thanks DD) and no matter how often I clean them out, the smell is overpowering as soon as you walk in. Following for tips.

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MrsWildermac · 16/01/2021 22:55

A diffuser (or several) around the house - everyone comments on how lovely our house smells whenever the step inside - I usually have at least one going somewhere in the house! Best thing is you can choose the scent to suit your mood!

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Love51 · 16/01/2021 22:56

I went to view a house a few years ago and I nearly bought it because it smelled amazing. It was scented candles, pricey ones. If I could source them I would buy them. I nearly dropped the price of a house on that smell! Luckily DH pointed out the myriad problems with access and only one floor being fully usable, and us not having the budget to buy the house AND do the work.
I think they were Jo Malone before Jo Malone sold it, and dipthque, and something else from the bathroom.

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Ntwa · 16/01/2021 22:58

I get comments on how nice my house smells. I air it daily and unless freezing windows are open. I've a neom diffuser and a cheaper one upstairs and between them they keep the house smelling fab. I am also pretty minimal and love cleaning so that probably helps!

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Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 16/01/2021 23:03

Our house ,I'm convinced,smells of various pets flatulence. Apparently visitors don't think so, or they are too polite to say

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Atalune · 16/01/2021 23:04

Air the house regularly.

Clean floors- I steam mop with a drop of peppermint essential oil in there. Vacuum every couple of days.

Soft furnishings such as cushion covers and those washed weekly.

Fairy fabric softer.

White company candies- great long lasting scents

Also just got an electric diffuser. Love making blends in there. Lavender, mint and sage is very nice. .

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OneEpisode · 16/01/2021 23:07

Op, it’s possible that your house smells fine, but you are used to it and can’t smell it. Some nice tips on the thread. I’m afraid most plug in synthetic scents give me headaches.

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Londonmummy66 · 16/01/2021 23:13

I have diptyque candles in the same fragrance throughout the ground floors so one in the hall by the front door, one in the sitting room and one in the dining room that I sometimes move to the kitchen

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Whiskysoda · 16/01/2021 23:16

You must get some of those Febreeze bathroom fresheners. I have two, one in the family bathroom, one in my en-suite shower and they permeate the whole house, not too overpowering, just clean smelling.

They’re on offer at three for a fiver at Asda right now. The fresh cotton/clean linen are lovely.

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Woodlandbelle · 16/01/2021 23:20

We don't have carpets so I wash the floors regularly. Sometimes every other day.
I also open window and burn citronella oil. Tonight I burned clove oil left over for christmas. I think washing cushion etc covers regularly helps.

Also I batch cook so it's not everynight that had that lingering smell.

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CantBeAssed · 16/01/2021 23:20

I wash radiators down with fabric conditioner..smells nice when heatings on

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Archersandlemonade · 17/01/2021 08:22

Thank you everyone -
Looks like I’m not alone. I will look up those neom diffusers. I have a sanctuary diffuser in my hallway but even that doesn’t hit you when you walk in - it’s almost like everything I put in the house just evaporates.

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Archersandlemonade · 17/01/2021 08:23

Ooo they’re £90. Out of my price range .

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RAINSh0wers · 17/01/2021 08:39

I have a neom diffuser downstairs but also got a M&S one for Christmas which I use upstairs. Much cheaper and still does the job!

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