Studies have shown how smells affect our brains. They can be mood-enhancing or stress-reducing.

And there’s nothing better than coming home to a great-smelling house to brighten your day.

But a clean and fresh-smelling home doesn’t have to take a lot of effort. Or break the household budget.

Luckily there are simple, sure-fire ways to infuse some fresh scents into your everyday living space.

Follow these tips for a fresh home that will have you smiling from ear to ear in every room of the house.

1. Brew Homemade Potpourri 

All you need is a stockpot or a crockpot and some water. Scour your fridge, garden, and pantry for an easy make-at-home potpourri. 

Do-it-yourself potpourri is a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy the fresh smells of whatever season you’re in. Relax and let the brew simmer in your kitchen all day long. Simply add more water when the water level gets too low.

This is a quick and hassle-free way to treat yourself to a scented house — whether you’re expecting house guests. 

Some popular potpourri ingredients include:

  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Whole Cloves
  • Lemons or limes
  • Sliced apples
  • Vanilla extract
  • Herbs like rosemary, thyme, or mint

Try different combinations of fruit, herbs, and spices to find your favorite fragrance that will refresh your living areas and get your home smelling so fresh you won’t want to leave.

2. Open a Window

There’s nothing like cracking open a window and inhaling a gentle breeze to bring a little outdoors into your living space. 

Maybe your neighbor just mowed the lawn. Or your magnolia tree is bursting with blooms. Harness their sweet floral aroma by pulling back the drapes and opening the windows.

No need to burn an expensive candle that mimics the fragrance of rain. Take advantage of the fresh smells right after a good soak from Mother Nature.

A great outdoor scent may be awaiting your olfactory glands right outside your window. Be sure to open a few windows throughout the house to get a good cross circulation of fresh air.

3. Try Eucalyptus and Florals

Perhaps the most obvious way to freshen up indoor air is by bringing a floral arrangement onto your kitchen table. A bouquet of fresh-cut flowers offers pleasant scents and instantly brightens up a room.

Fill a vase with aromatic flowers or an evergreen like eucalyptus. This versatile tree not only doubles for decor but its mint-scented leaves are known to help you breathe better. 

Among the most sweet-smelling flowers are roses, hyacinths, lavenders, peonies, and lilacs. 

This quick pick-me-up might have you feeling less stressed and believing you’ve moved into a botanical garden.

4. Deodorize with Baking Soda 

Baking soda is not only useful in erasing funky smells in the fridge. The all-purpose odor neutralizer can freshen indoor air in multiple ways. 

Before you run the vacuum, scatter a good amount on carpet or upholstery.

Sprinkle some inside the kitchen garbage can. Pour some in the toilet. The baking soda will absorb bad smells before it reaches your nose.

For a quick baking soda-based solution, combine in a spray bottle:

  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 Tablespoon baking soda
  • A few drops of your favorite essential oil

Keep the spray bottle handy to tackle any foul-smelling areas, like overflowing hampers, sports equipment bags, or sweaty shoes.

5. Keep Kitchen Smells at Bay

One of the easiest ways to have a clean smelling house is to quash the odors before they permeate the air.

It’s hard to imagine a room in the house with more sources of stench than the kitchen. But getting rid of odor is easy. 

Try these tips:

  • Deodorize the garbage disposal with some orange or lemon peel
  • Run an empty dishwasher load with a cup of white distilled vinegar on the top rack
  • Pour some baking soda into the bottom of the trash can
  • Use a baking soda paste mixture to get rid of oven grease
  • Clean your kitchen sink with a cup of baking soda and a half cup of vinegar

6. Dryer Sheets Pull Double Duty

Who doesn’t love the fresh scent of clean laundry? Those laundry dryer sheets aren’t solely for the dryer. 

Try adding a couple of sheets in the air vent, atop the air filter. As your air handler pulls in the outside air, the fragrance from the dryer sheet will be wafting through the air ducts in no time.

Next time you empty the trash cans throughout the house, throw a dryer sheet into the bottom of the bin. This works well for trash bins in the bathrooms and the kids’ rooms.

7. Fresh Scents With Essential Oils

One versatile way to add a dose of freshness to each room is by using essential oils. Some of the most popular scents are peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus.

Try different combinations to find your preference. Simply add a few drops of your favorite fragrance into a diffuser and let the aromas fill the air. 

But owning a diffuser is not necessary. Other ways to diffuse essential oils include sprinkling droplets on items throughout the house, such as:

  • toilet paper rolls
  • cotton balls
  • pillowcases
  • drawer satchels

The creative diffusing options for essential oils are endless. And your nose will thank you.

Keeping a Clean Smelling House 

A happy home is a clean smelling home.

With these tips and tricks, anyone can be an expert at bringing fresh scents into any house.

Need help maintaining a clean house? Contact us for more information about our house cleaning services that will have your family smiling all day long.