For many of us, our homes simply wouldn’t feel complete without the addition of a pet, but Unfortunately, pets can get pongy and can quickly make our homes smell uninviting. Most will agree that the way a home smells can heavily influence your desire to stay in it, or to get out as fast as you can! If you’re inviting friends over for dinner and are worried that the smell of Fido might put them off, or whether you simply want your home to smell fresher for the sake of you and your family, here are 4 tips for a sweeter smelling home:
- Get cooking
Fill a saucepan or slow cooker halfway with water, pop it on a low heat and throw in your favourite herbs, fruits, spices or even essential oil. As an approximate measuring guide, you should aim to have around 1 part of oil or spice to 3 parts of water, and obviously this can be scaled up or down depending upon the size of your pan.
This will soon have a pleasing and inviting aroma wafting throughout your home and provided you don’t forget that the pan is on the stove, it can be left gently simmering for as long as you want.
- Speedy cotton ball solution
Grab a small bowl and a cotton ball, then add 5 to 10 drops of your favourite scent onto the ball, before putting it in the bowl and placing it in a strategic position in your home. Of course, you could have as many bowls and fragrant balls as you like, and this cheap and easy solution will have all rooms of your home smelling delicious.
- Good old baking soda
Recommended for so many household cleaning solutions, baking soda can also be used to help trap and eliminate nasty odours. Even just by pouring some into a bowl and leaving it in whichever room of your home is particularly pongy, will soon see it soaking up the whiff and leaving the air smelling pure again. You can also sprinkle it over carpets and upholstery, leave it for up to 15 minutes, and then vacuum as normal; the soda will draw out the dirt and remove odours.
- Get rid of the pong at the source
If Fido is making your home smell bad, try to ensure that he himself is kept clean with a monthly bath (you shouldn’t bathe your dog too often as it can strip the natural oils in their coat). Groom him to remove dead fur, and regularly wash his bedding and toys.
For other common smelly sources, such as rotting food in a fridge, or dirty dishes, try your best to clean them up as soon as you can, or nominate another member of your household if possible! Take the trash out as often as needed rather than letting it pile up, and whenever or wherever possible, open your windows to let air in and help the bad smells go out.
Cleaning and keeping your home smelling fresh, especially if you have pets can be a lot of work, and sometimes it’s just easier (and often more effective) to have someone else do it for you. A professional cleaning company will have all the tricks of the trade to get your home clean and smelling sweet, meaning that an unexpected guest need not set you off in apanic!
