Take out the trash

⁃ Trash is one of the biggest causes of household odors so nip it in the bud take out the trash as frequently as you can. On top of this use scented trash bags and have a trashcan with a lid.

Food only smells good when fresh

⁃ leaving any trace of food out anywhere is just a big no no. First off it attracts bugs so uh yeah. Second the food will begin to smell once it reaches temperature danger zones and bacteria rapidly multiply on the surface. There is only two places food should be and that’s the fridge & pantry. In the fridge keep foods in plastic or glass containers to keep them the freshest longer. In the pantry make sure you have airtight containers for dry goods as well.

Clean the walls & floors

⁃ the walls and floors take up the most surface area in the house so it makes sense that if they are clean then it gets much easier from there. Using a universal cleaner like Castile soap and water makes the job much simpler.

Don’t mix scents or chemicals

⁃ there’s only one thing worse than just a bad odor house and that’s one that reeks of fake scents and pungent cleaning agents. Don’t use bleach and vinegar together just trust me on this! Also the fake Clorox, Lysol, & Febreze concoctions that smell slightly okay on their own but when combined smell like a Chernobyl disaster. Try an unscented soap to clean or find a universal scent for your home. Tip: I use unscented cleaning products and add apple essential oils to them. Then I will use Apple scented candles and concentrated room sprays to give off a particular scent. Having a signature scent for your home goes a long way!

Clean the air vents & Filters

⁃ air filters and vents filter the air throughout your home so we need to make sure they are in the best working order so they can optimally do their job. Clean the vents from visible dust and debris. I do this with a washcloth and hot soapy water for the vent itself. Then I vacuum out around the vents if not time to replace them, and I even add a few drop of essential oil to them to keep with the theme of Tip #4.

Mold & Mildew won’t do

⁃ Bathrooms and other moisture ridden areas have the risk of mold and mildew, not only do we want these gone for basic health reasons, but sometimes the smells they put off are just plain nasty. Make sure to kill mold & mildew from the source, and use measures to prevent them from coming back. Like airing things out after showers, having a fan circulate air throughout, wiping down mirrors, windows, & vents for condensation. Regularly washing ALL bathroom linens (towels, hand towels, rugs, shower curtains/liners etc.) If the situation is more severe you may want to consider replacing or remodeling portions of your bathroom to better serve your needs.

Machine wash everything you can

⁃ To me nothing is better than freshly laundered items. On major washing days I am as happy as a clam and want to dive into all the freshened fabrics. I wash pillows, blankets, rugs, couch cushions, curtains, and anything else I can sanely justify putting in the washing machine. For those things that I cannot I use a handheld steamer to slightly sanitize them. This doesn’t have to be done weekly to be effective just once a month or so will suffice. I’d hate to have to take apart the whole sectional once a week and put that bad boy back together.

Monitor the front door

⁃ A lot of odors & dirt come in from outside and a great way to minimize that is to cut it off at the door. Have a wreath on the front door that has essential oils in it. This is the first thing they will see & smell! Also have multiple layered rugs both in the inside and outside of the door to consolidate dirt and just outdoor funk from taking over.