How to Make Your House Smell Good: Cheap & Easy Ways

Last Updated : October 29, 2023 /

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There’s nothing worse than opening the front door to your domestic abode and being smacked in the olfactory senses by a solid wall of stench. Whether your pets, children or less diligent cleaning practices are at fault, there’s a simple solution to at-home odor removal in between Arlington Heights cleaning services.

How to Make Your House Smell Good Cheap & Easy Ways

Learn how to make your house smell good with these easy cleaning hacks.

Figure Out What’s Causing the Unwanted Smell in Your House

Start by determining what’s causing the bad and lingering smells you’d like to get rid of. This can be tricky if you can’t put your finger on what exactly the smell is. When you’re able to quickly determine the smell, you can address that smell and make your house smell better right away.

If you’re not sure exactly where the smell is coming from, check things like: 

  • trash cans
  • pet bed
  • dirty dishes
  • stopped up drain
  • laundry in the washing machine
  • dishwasher 
  • diaper pails

Once you’ve located what’s causing the bad smells, you can figure out what you can do to get rid of it and learn how to make your house smell good. 

Wondering how to make a house smell good once you’ve removed the source? We’ve got lots of suggestions and tips for you!

How Make Your House Smell Good in Simple Ways

There are a lot of different options to help make your house smell amazing (and keep it smelling clean!). If weather permits, start by just opening the windows to let in some fresh air. 

You can also try these tips to help make your house smell good. And remember – you don’t have to do all of these to notice a huge difference.

Try Natural Products to Avoid Potentially Harmful Chemicals

Whether you want to eliminate odors from a fresh paint or from pets, taking a look in your pantry for some natural cleaning productscan also help with lingering odors in your home. Look for things like vinegar and baking soda to use on their own or pair with things like citrus fruits. 

Here are a few ways you can use some things you might already have on hand to help get rid of unpleasant house smells: 

  • Put a box of baking soda in the fridge to help remove any strong food smells.
  • Dried tea leaves absorb odors so you can use that in place of baking soda in your fridge.
  • Put a bowl of fresh coffee grounds into your freezer to absorb unpleasant smells.
  • Boil lemon or orange peels or even cinnamon sticks in water to make a stovetop potpourri.
  • Run citrus peels through the garbage disposal. Your kitchen will smell like fresh fruit from the citrus rinds!
  • Put out a bowl of vinegar or activated charcoal to absorb bad smells.
  • Pour some salt down the disposal. Start running some cold water and then run the disposal. This will help dislodge any food scraps that are stuck in your disposer.
  • Add a couple of drops of vanilla extract or essential oils to lightbulbs.
  • Add a couple of drops of essential oils to a cotton ball and let them sit out.
  • Get some musty smell out of your clothing with some alcohol (like an unflavored vodka) in a spray bottle.  
  • You can eliminate carpet smells with white vinegar, baking soda, and club soda. You can also use humidifiers. Carpets tend to trap odors, especially when you have pets.

Try Scented Candles for an Inexpensive and Quick Fix

One of the easiest ways to change up how your house smells is by lighting a candle. You can find them in a variety of scents, colors, and sizes. This will help mask any unpleasant odor, not remove it so it can be a great quick fix if you have company coming over and don’t have time to fully clean.

Remember to always use care when lighting candles. Don’t leave them too near anything flammable or let them burn unattended.

scented candles

If candles aren’t your thing, consider burning some incense instead. You can find a variety of different scents so you can find something you like.

Room spray and plug-in air fresheners can give you a scent like a candle without having to burn a candle.

Candles or incense are great at keeping foul smells at bay. But just remember they only mask them, so you’ll still need to get rid of the foul smells at the source.

Diffuse Essential Oils for Long-Lasting Scents

You can find essential oils almost anywhere now. They’re easy to get online or in stores near you. You can get oil blends or just bottles of specific scents. Choose scents that appeal to you.

Using essential oils is not hard. Putting a few drops in a diffuser with some water and letting it run will add a nice, fresh scent to the air. You can diffuse your favorite essential oils throughout your whole house. If you do not have a diffuser, add a few drops of oils to a cotton ball and leave it sitting out in the room. 

Grab a spray bottle and make your DIY room spray with your favorite essential oil or essential oil blend. 

Use Flowers for a Fresh and Clean Scent

Next time you’re at the grocery store, grab some of those fresh flowers and make a couple of arrangements to put around your home. 

Fresh eucalyptus also works if you’re not a fan of the flowers or are looking for a less floral scent. Try hanging some eucalyptus branches from your showerhead. 

When you take a shower, the steam will help release the oils in the eucalyptus. Then, the scent will start in your bathroom and eventually spread throughout your home. Eucalyptus has an earthy yet slightly sweet scent.

Dried herbs also smell wonderful and can help keep your space smelling fresh. Plus, if you grow your own, the scent will waft through your whole kitchen!

Try Baking for a Sweet, Wonderful Scent

There’s nothing better than the smell of some fresh-baked bread or cookies in the oven. In fact, you can even bake cookies to give your home a sweet scent. 

Love the smell of coffee? You can even put some coffee beans on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for about ten minutes for a nice coffee smell without having to make a cup. When you roast coffee beans, the smell can make your home smell like your own coffee shop.

Is coffee not your thing? Put some vanilla extract into a ramekin at 300 degrees for about an hour. You can add some lemon or orange rinds for a more citrusy scent, too.

When you’re finished baking, leave the oven door open for a moment so the smells can waft out. 

Get a Deep Clean with Cleaning Products

Some people love the smell of cleaning products like bleach to make their house feel and smell more clean. When you are shopping, take some time to look at the scents of the different cleaning products to see what most appeals to you. Many of them come with lavender or citrus scents.

Cleaning products can help you not only eliminate bad odors but get to the root of the problem. These can help you thoroughly clean your carpet, bathroom, or other household surfaces. These can eliminate nasty bacteria that are causing some stinky smells. 

Simple cleaning products can help, too. Take dryer sheets, for instance. Take some out of your laundry room and into closets to help liven up small spaces. If you have a cramped closet, this can help you keep everything feeling fresh.

Otherwise talk to us for professional deep cleaning services if you live in Elmhurst or any of the nearby towns. We cleaned hundreds of homes in NW Chicago and have a long list of happy clients to prove it. Hit the refresh button on your home today; start with a free online maid services estimate for affordable cleaning services. 

Handling Household Odors with Pets

Those fur babies are like members of the family – even when it comes to making your home smell less than clean. Here are a few tips to help keep your house smelling good when you have pets: 

  • bathe your pet regularly
  • empty (and replace) the litter box frequently
  • wash pet bowls
  • wash your pet’s beds regularly

If your pet has accidents, be sure to clean them up as soon as you notice them. Use cleaning products or methods that will help not only clean up the mess but also help to remove the smell. 

clean, neat and modern sitting room

If you have pets, look for cleaning products with a pet deodorizer. You can also make your own pet deodorizer. You can put your deodorizer in a spray bottle and use it to clean the pet beds. Just mix three tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, 2 cups of distilled water, and 8-12 drops of essential oils. 

Just make sure you are using pet-friendly oils. Not all essential oils are safe for pets and can be toxic for dogs. 

Finding a Housekeeping Routine That Works for You

A big part of having a house that smells good is keeping it clean. Life gets overwhelming and cleaning falls down on the to-do list. Finding a routine can be helpful, but if it’s just too much to keep up with, you can find a housekeeping service to come in and help you out. 

When you’re doing your deep cleaning, add some of these things to your normal routine: 

  • Wash the pet beds
  • Scrub the trash can
  • Clean the garbage disposal
  • Clean the carpets
  • Clean upholstery like couches and chairs
  • Wash throw pillows and blankets
  • Add a couple of drops of essential oils to your air conditioner and furnace filter when you’re changing them
  • Wash curtains
  • Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet and vacuum it after letting it sit for a while

Dryer sheets are another great way to help keep your house smelling fresh. As you’re cleaning, stick a dryer sheet in the bottom of your trash cans or drawers. 

When you use these tips, you will find yourself coming home to a house that smells good. 

Get a Deeper Clean with Upstairs Downstairs Cleaning Service

Need help keeping up with the daily cleaning? Upstairs Downstairs can help with regular housekeeping services. If you need help with a deep cleaning to get yourself started on the right foot, Upstairs Downstairs can help with that too. Contact us for a free quote for the cleaning services you’d like to start using for your home. 

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