Now that colder weather is here, I hardly ever have the windows open for fresh air and I'm noticing stale odors more. What are your tips for decluttering the air in your home from
- cooking odors
- pet odors
- general stale mustiness
- and that nasty smell that comes from the vacuum cleaner exhaust no matter how often I change the bag and filter?
I'm sensitive to chemical odors, so most artificial deodorizers have a bad effect on me. Help?
Baking cookies helps! :) Hmmm, I think I've read somewhere about boiling citrus, have to have a look see around the web.
Oh, but we do mix baking soda into our cat litter to help with that particular odor. You use paper, right? I wonder if that would work or just make a mess.
I recommend getting a dehumidifier to help with musty odors. It helps A LOT.
I don't have any other trick than five-minute airing out; longer than that cools the space down too much and is not very ecological in the winter season.
Musiclivez recommends dehumidifying but we actually have to have the humidifier on nonstop soon. Would prefer an air cleaner when having a cat.
i often put a pot of water with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves etc. on to simmer for awhile. it's not exactly a deodorizer, but it is a lovely fragrance.
i use our ceiling fans occasionally throughout the year to stir the air up a bit.
maybe you could find a linen spray that is not too chemically overloaded that would suit your nose?
the five minute airing out (creating a good cross breeze if possible, even if you have to put on a parka) is really the key.
other than that for trouble spots that don't respond to a general cleaning I occasionally use Febreeze, although it's a chemical soup. It works great and does not leave behind a fragrance. I don't use any sort of commercial air fresheners etc because of the phthalates. I love the smell of home-made cinnamon or clove pot-pourris however. Either boiled or dry in little baskets.
Place water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil or dried herbs in a small crock pot on low...I leave the lid off...add HOT water if it needs replenishing during the day...cold water may crack the pot!
For vacuum bag odors...I place a few drops of essential oils on a cotton ball or take a small bunch of crushed, dried herbs and suck it up into the vacuum...this puts the good smell into the room while you vacuum.
I use essential oils in a burner over a tea light candle. I also always turn on the overhead vent when I cook (in my case, it's part of the microwave) and I leave it on for a few extra minutes while I plate or set the table.
I buy handmade scented bar soaps at the farmers market and festivals. I keep the soaps in drawers with my linens, purses, etc. This cuts down on the mustiness and brings a fresher smell to closets and drawers. I wrap the soaps in tissue paper so they don't directly touch fabric or my hands.
Nina, we have both a humidifier and an air cleaner, and I still could make several cats from what I vacuum up. LOL
To me, the bad smells are perfumes. I've never encountered a musty-smelling interior (except after an internal house flood), but your post makes me glad that I live in the semi-arid southwest.
If you are sensitive to smells, covering them up may not work. Have you tried any of the air cleaners that are available? I know people who swear by them.
For cooking odors, install a better range hood that will really suck up the air. Also, if your kitchen has doors, close them when cooking to keep the smells confined. Or crack a kitchen window a few inches when cooking.
What kind of pet and what kind of pet odors? In general, brushing the pet (assuming it's a cat or dog), regular bathing of the dog (I'm not about to suggest regular bathing of a cat), frequent cleaning of the litter box, and regular laundering of pet bedding will help.
General stale mustiness--check to make sure no pipes are leaking anywhere that could cause mold. Do you live in a very humid climate? Then try a dehumidifier. But if you live in a cold climate and use central heating, you shouldn't be getting a musty smell that can't be eliminated with a few minutes of open windows and a cross breeze.
Fabric can hold odors for a long time. Consider getting furniture and carpets steam cleaned, and washing/dry cleaning curtains, comforters, throws, blankets--just about any large piece of fabric that you *can* clean, but don't clean very often. Also check your pillows and clean them if possible.
i am with the essential oil crew.
lemon eucalyptus will deodorise just about anything!
i used to be a great fan of incense, until i read about how toxic it is.
nowadays i only use natural, loose incense in the winter, on top of the woodstove.
i think i'd open my house up once a week to air it for a couple of hours.....even in a cold climate.
Thanks for all the excellent ideas! This tiny studio apartment has only ONE window, can you believe it? So cross-ventilation ain't happenin' here.
But there are some things that will work:
- Leave the window open for an hour while I go for my daily walk.
- Sprinkle baking soda on my small area rugs, then vacuum. I also like ArtGal's idea of vacuuming up herbs or a cotton ball with essential oils. I'll check out the selection at Whole Foods.
I have some dried orange rind that I keep in a pomander ball in the closet. About an hour ago I put some rind bits in simmering water with a cinnamon stick, and it's very nice! I could leave that simmering on the lowest setting all day, I suppose.
I already have two air purifiers that run 24/7, with charcoal and HEPA filters. My cat's litterbox has a charcoal filter on the hood - probably due for a replacement. The box gets washed daily and refilled with fresh paper shreds. I need to remember to turn on the hood fan when I'm cooking, but it makes such an awful roar. Still, that's better that lingering food odors.
Does anybody use scented water spray for ironing and for lightly spritzing the sheets? I've seen it at Williams-Sonoma (pricey) and didn't know if it would be helpful or just a waste of money.
I use the spray Ella, as it crisps up my quilting fabric making fussy pieces easier to work with, and it's nicerthan starch. I usually get the unscented, but the lavender is nice as well. You might want to use it just on your pillow case. They make a larger bottle for refilling the spray bottle, bring the cost down some. Mary Ellen's best press is the brand I get at my quilt shop (and I have the lavender I see) and the 16 oz spray bottle was $9.95
@bandicoot...what is the deal with toxic incense...is it all incense? Tell me more please.
Ok...I just "googled" it...doesn't look good...I'm chuckin' the incense!
you can make your own scented water spray for ironing with distilled water, a few drops of lavendar oil, and a tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in. should be more specifics online too.
artgal...it's just completely UNregulated and incense makers aren't required to list ingredients.
man, i used to LOVE it, then i started worrying about tumours.
i think, fresh air is the best way to get smell out of a flat- but if you have only one window, it´s really hard to air the studio. i lived in a small appartement once and i was really not happy with it because of this single window. i used to open the window and my appartement-door and a window/door of the corridor/ entrance hall. just 2 times a day for about 10 minutes to cross-air the place. that was good, the studio and also the corridor profitted from this solution.
once i tried the trick with natural oil in the vaccuum cleaner. it felt like taking drugs... i had illusions of lemon-dogs around me ;)
Use a smallish fan pointed out the window to help air flow.
Have your rugs professionally cleaned. If you have rug pads under them, wash them.
Check your cupboards, especially under kitchen and bath sinks. Make sure there are no damp patches.
Vacuum your upholstered furniture as often as you vacuum your floor. Drapes/blinds as well.
If you get enough sun to keep a houseplant alive, get a couple of those. Don't overwater them, and they'll help filter the air. You can google houseplant + air quality to find some specific selection.
If you want to add some scent, consider some potted fragrant herbs. Lavendar, basil, rosemary might all help. Depending on your sunlight situation, you may have to buy new ones, but it might be worth it. Again, any plant will help filter air.
Good luck!
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