Our sense of smell is a powerful memory trigger and our homes should be filled with pleasant scents.
Some smells around the home, however, are more pungent than pleasant and these smells generally get worse during summer.
We’ve found five great (and natural) ways you can get on top of those stinky smells and get your home smelling fresh again.
How to Naturally Remove Smells Around the Home
What You Need:
White Vinegar
Bi-Carb Soda
Lemons
Essential Oil (optional)
Borax (optional)
Stinky Bin Problems
It’s a real chore keeping bins disinfected and the warm weather can really cause a stink. There are a few ways you can stop the smell and they’re all really easy!
Cat litter is great at absorbing smells. Just a slight sprinkle should do the trick.
Place a piece of paper towel or newspaper on the bin base to ensure that any fluid is soaked up.
Use some Bi-Carb Soda or pieces of lemon at the bottom of the bin, taking them out each time you empty the trash.
Tidy up the Toilet
Cleaning the toilet is one of my least favourite jobs, but there’s a natural and effective way to do it.
Put about half a cup of Bi-Carb Soda into the toilet, including 10 or so drops of your essential oil of choice. Spray a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water around the edge of the toilet bowl and scrub. Give it about half an hour or so and flush!
We recommend using Borax if you have hard water stains
Freshen Up Your Fridge
Wait until your fridge is a little empty – a day before grocery day is ideal – and give your trays a spray with hot water and white vinegar.
You will need to let it sit for about 15 minutes, just enough time to clean the outside of the fridge, too.
It’s also a great idea (for long-term freshness) to soak a cotton ball in lemon juice and leave it in the fridge overnight. Another idea is to leave an open container of Bi-Carb Soda (or half a cup’s worth) in the fridge. Some swear by leaving the Bi-Carb in there all the time but just for a day or two will suffice. Bi-Carb efficiently soaks up the odours of a stinky fridge.
A Stink in the Sink
You’re going to love this trick. Pour half a cup of Bi-Carb Soda into the drain, add half a lemon’s worth of juice and leave it for about 30 minutes or so. Rinse away!
To keep the sink consistently fresh, pour a pot of boiling water down the drain a couple of times a week. Get into the habit of boiling an extra kettle when you are cooking dishes like pasta or boil up a little extra when you’re preparing your next cup of tea.
Naturally Remove Carpet and Mattress Odours
Here’s a two in one tip – clean your mattress and carpet with this easy method.
Step 01
Vacuum your carpet to remove loose dirt.
Step 02
Add about 5 drops of your favourite essential oil (peppermint, citrus or lavender are recommended) to a cup of Bi-Carb Soda.
Step 03
Sprinkle your mix across the carpet and generously onto the mattress. You’ll need to leave it for at least an hour, ensuring that small children and pets keep away.
Step 04
Vacuum both thoroughly, ensuring that no mixture is left behind. For darker coloured carpet, you may need to give it a wipe down with a cloth to remove the whiteness.So why does it work? As mentioned in our other tips, Bi-Carb Soda does a fantastic job of soaking up odours while the scent of your essential oil will make your home smell fabulously fresh!
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