One of the best feelings in the world is to come home to an apartment that smells fresh, clean, and just plain amazing. Nobody wants that damp funky smell when you turn the keys and open the doors to your living space. It removes the purpose of being at home. The moment you step into your apartment it should be nothing but bliss. So how do you keep your home smell fresh and clean and basically make it more relaxing? Here are some tips to help you out.
Get rid of moisture
The number one cause of a damp smell is moisture. If you have the means to check the humidity of your living space using a hygrometer, do it. If you find that it is over 60%, it means you need a dehumidifier.
If you don’t have that trustee hygrometer to test humidity, use ice cubes and a glass of water. All you have to do is plunk in the ice cubes and set it in your living room. Leave the room and let it stay for about 5 minutes. Check the glass and if condensation has formed outside it, that means moisture level is high.
The goal is to get rid of that moisture so you don’t get that damp or unwanted smell. One easy way to do that is to add some house plants. These greens can easily absorb excess moisture. Plus, they add life to your living space and make it look really homey.
Manage your garbage
No home will ever be without garbage. It’s part of having a living space. The only difference is how you manage it. Trash that contributes most to the funky smell you don’t want mostly comes from the kitchen. It’s where you have both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste so that could be a space you could focus on.
The first thing you have to do is to make sure you follow a certain routine in taking out the trash. Nobody wants garbage that has been in the bin for days. Next is for you to get rid of the odor in your garbage bin. It’s something not a lot of people realize. A garbage bin without trash doesn’t mean it’s clean. The stench is still there. What you want to do is to sprinkle some baking soda in your trash can and then spray some disinfectant to kill bacteria.
Also, make sure you clean your garbage disposal. You may have cleaned every inch of your kitchen or your home but haven’t paid attention to your garbage disposal in your sink. What you can do is to freeze orange or lemon peelings with water in an ice tray and tun them through your disposal. The ice cubes grind through your disposal which helps clean the blades and the peels act as a natural deodorizing agent.
Clean rugs and carpets
Rugs and carpets absorb stench like no other. They are magnets for the smell. Set aside some time to clean your carpets and rugs. All you need is baking soda and a vacuum cleaner. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the carpet. Let it sit for a few hours and then vacuum. You can use this method for any soft surface at home that you think could absorb the smell. It may take some effort but at least you eliminate the bad odor at home.
Potpourri, essential oils, or votive candles on coffee beans
Now that you have the bigger stuff covered, we now move on to some creative ways to add a pleasing scent to your apartment. Potpourri is a classic fix to making any room smell great. The problem with this is it gets dusty through time. So what you can do is to simmer some potpourri on the stove with vanilla, cinnamon, orange, or rosemary.
Air filters with essential oils can also do a lot for your living space. The best thing about oils is that there’s a wide variety of fragrances to choose from and some would even have healing properties while some could help you relax.
Another option is to use scented or votive candles. Scented candles naturally make any living space smell great. But you have to remember that strong scents aren’t always the best. Choose one that is just right or make sure you don’t leave the candlelit for a long time.
The last option would be to use votive candles. What you want to do is to put some coffee beans in a container. Light some votive candles and put them on top. This akes away unwanted odor and makes your home smell wonderful.
The thing about smell is that you cannot really say if something smells good or bad if you’ve been exposed to that space for a very long time. It could be that you’re just used to it. So if you tell yourself that your apartment smells fine, think again and make sure that you’re not the only one saying it. If you are one of those who have been getting compliments for how homey and how good your place smells, then congratulations! But if not and you find yourself sniffing once in a while just to make sure your home smells okay, it’s time you made some changes.