No matter how clean you keep your home, unpleasant odours can develop from time to time.
Whether it is coming from your kitchen bin, drains, musty carpets or even just last night’s dinner, these foul odours can quickly take hold.
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Fortunately, you don’t need to use harsh chemicals to freshen up your space – so says cleaning expert JOYCE FRENCH as she provides natural methods to eliminate those unwanted bad odours from your home.
Essential oils
When used in diffusers with proper ventilation, essential oils can create a naturally fresh environment and leave your home smelling delightful.
Some of the best essential oils for eliminating odours in your home are lemon, lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and cedarwood, amongst a range of other scents.
Most commercial air fresheners will simply mask odours without actually addressing the root cause, but the natural compounds in these oils break down odour molecules rather than just covering them up.
For a quick refresh of fabrics and carpets, add 5-10 drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle.
Baking soda
Baking soda is one of the most effective natural cleaners to use in your home and is fantastic for eliminating odours.
Whether you have an unwanted smell lingering in your kitchen bin, carpet, or furnishings that smell like pet hair, baking soda can be used to neutralise the smell.
The chemicals in this powder counteract the acids that cause bad smells and produce a less odorous compound.
How you use it depends on the type of odour you are looking to combat – for carpets, rugs, and mattresses, simply sprinkle it on, leave it to sit for an hour, and vacuum it up or for enclosed spaces such as a refrigerator, you can leave it to sit in a vented jar.
White vinegar solutions
The natural acidity of white vinegar can neutralise alkaline odours safely and effectively, making them far less potent.
Vinegar also has antibacterial properties that can help to eliminate odour-causing bacteria.
Leave small bowls of vinegar in a room overnight or simmer with water on the stove to eliminate any cooking odours.
The smell of the vinegar itself will quickly disappear and take the original odours with it, leaving nothing but fresh, clean air.
Fresh coffee grounds
The rich, bold aroma of freshly brewed coffee is a delight to many, but the coffee grounds left behind can also serve as an effective natural odour absorber.
Coffee grounds contain natural compounds that can absorb and neutralise smells, and their porous nature allows them to trap various odour-causing particles in the air.
A common spot for unpleasant smells to accumulate is the refrigerator, but this can be quickly refreshed with coffee grounds by placing them in a small bowl and setting this inside for a few days, allowing them to absorb the odour.
They can also be sprinkled across carpets or upholstered furniture and left to sit for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming to remove both the coffee grains and the absorbed odours.
Citrus peels
Citrus peels contain natural oils that can freshen the air and neutralise unpleasant smells without the need to use any harsh chemicals.
Simmering the peels of fruits such as oranges and lemons in a pot on the stove can leave your kitchen smelling wonderfully fresh.
They can also be combined with white vinegar to form a fantastic natural cleaning solution with degreasing and antibacterial properties.
Place the peels in a large glass jar and submerge them in the vinegar.
Let the mixture sit for about two weeks to allow the peels to infuse with the vinegar and work their cleaning magic.
Vanilla extract
Vanilla is a popular home fragrance due to the warm, inviting atmosphere it creates, and pure vanilla extract can eliminate lingering odours within minutes.
Place a few drops onto some cotton wool and hide them in the corners of rooms where odours may accumulate.
To refresh your kitchen from cooking odours and other unwanted smells, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to an oven-safe dish.
Warm at a low temperature for 30 minutes and the whole area will be filled with a wonderful, sweet aroma.
Houseplants
Houseplants aren’t just useful in terms of making for a stunning décor piece – many are natural air purifiers, which can work wonders in freshening up your living space.
These plants can filter the air and absorb odours through their leaves and root systems throughout the day and night.
Peace lilies, spider plants, and snake plants are particularly effective when it comes to removing airborne toxins and improving air quality in high-traffic rooms.
Just three plants can significantly improve the freshness of a standard living room!
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar works similarly to white vinegar but has a slightly sweeter underlying scent, which many find more pleasant.
Its acidic nature helps to break down alkaline-based odour molecules, while its absorbent properties trap and eliminate foul smells.
For a quick freshen-up of curtains or upholstery, mist over with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water.
This will effectively combat any odours without leaving a chemical residue or causing colour damage to delicate fabrics.
Fresh herb bundles
Herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and mint naturally freshen the air whilst adding subtle, pleasant aromas to your home.
Hang small bundles in wardrobes or place sprigs in drawers to keep clothes smelling fresh for weeks without needing to use chemical sachets.
Simmering a handful of herbs in water on the stove is ideal for immediately freshening up your space.
The aromatic steam will circulate through your home, creating a naturally beautiful scent that is free of any harsh chemicals found in some commercial air fresheners.
Joyce French has worked in the cleaning industry for over 20 years. Joyce specialises in domestic cleaning and works closely with HomeHow.co.ukto provide expert cleaning knowledge to homeowners, tradespeople and news outlets.
