12 Ways to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
Thinking of putting your home on the market and worried about how to keep it smelling fresh? After all, scent makes a huge first impression on your visitors, especially potential buyers. It’s the right smell — or lack of any smell — that invites a visitor to not only enter but to explore your home in their search for their next home. Strong odors can make them do an about-face and walk right out the door!
Worry no more! Below are twelve tips to help you keep your home smelling fresh and clean. Also included are a few “funky” areas to check periodically.
Tip #1 – Open the Windows
To eliminate the smell of last night’s lingering dinner, prop open a window for a few hours and let that stale odor out and fresh air in.
Tip #2 – Take Out the Trash
Empty your trash often, especially when your home is on the market. I think we can all agree, trash stinks!
Tip #3 – Do Not Smoke in the House or Backyard
My father smoked all day long, and he believed because he smoked outside he wasn’t affecting the house. WRONG. All kinds of smoke are odors that will cling and linger in textiles, carpets, and paint — despite whether you are smoking inside or out! Smoke will cling to your clothing, which comes back into the house with you, and eventually lands in a hamper to sit sometimes for days. This odor is often difficult for smokers to detect, but that is not the case for a non-smoker who can detect that odor immediately. This is a big turn-off for a potential buyer.
Tip #4 – Run an Air Purifier
Air purifiers are great at eliminating smells ,along with pollen and dust in the air.
Tip #5 – Remove Mothballs
Mothballs have a distinct, pungent fragrance that says “We have pests.” Any potential buyer can immediately identify this smell and go down a rabbit trail musing about what type of pests — rats, snakes, etc. — you may be dealing with. Find a different type of pest prevention during this process.
Tip #6 – Seal up your Spices
Some spices have a lingering odor. The best thing to do with them is seal them inside a plastic baggie or storage container.
Tip #7 – Use an Essential Oil Diffuser or Wax Melt Warmer
Both of these options offer gentle, continuous, and pleasing fragrances that are safe and free of the flame of a candle. Keep the scents simple, like orange, lemon, basil, vanilla, or pine. These are easily identifiable and less distracting. Avoid baked goods smells which will linger and create a sense of a cover up.
Tip #8 – Fire up the Crock Pot
Use your crock pot to simmer some fragrances. Williams Sonoma has some great recipes to make your home smell good naturally. Orange, vanilla, apple, orange spice, cloves, and cinnamon sticks are great ingredients for freshness.
Tip #9 – Sprinkle Baking Soda on Carpet
Baking soda is a known and proven odor absorber — it is also natural and inexpensive. Sprinkle the baking soda liberally right before bedtime, and let it sit overnight. Then vacuum it up and take it out to keep the home smelling clean.
Tip #10 – Be Vigilant with Pets
No, we are not asking you to get rid of your fur babies…. But we must deal with their odors. Keep them bathed and brushed as often as possible. Launder their bedding frequently, and immediately clean up after any accidents. Regularly vacuum carpet, rugs, and furniture, and don’t forget to empty that litter box daily.
Tip #11 – Deal with the Shoe Pile
As many people do, guests and family remove their shoes at the door eliminating tracking in dirt and bacteria into the home. However, this pile of shoes can get funky. Periodically spray shoes with an odor eliminator to reduce the smell. Also, you can try some dry shampoo, which absorbs stinkiness and provides freshness.
Tip #12 – Clean the Disposal
Garbage disposals and sink drains are notorious for hidden odors. To safely clean this area, add 5-6 cubes of ice, a couple of tablespoons of salt, and a few thin slices of lemon or lemon juice. Run cold water, turn on the disposal, and grind away. Continue the water running for another minute to wash away any leftover lemon pieces. Once all is off, quickly scrub off the rubber flaps guarding the disposal entry, as they’re big culprits of funky smells.
Now you can sit back and enjoy the smell of Spring!
