You may not notice your home's smell, but trust us, it has one. For better or worse, it might be the first thing guests notice when they enter. If your home smells nice, it's welcoming, but if it's causing newcomers to wrinkle their noses, you may want to take action.
 

According to chemist and blogger Alexis Rochester, a good-smelling home is best achieved by targeting problem areas. Some spots, like the trash or litter box, may contribute more to bad odors, so focus on those. In other cases, the path to a sweet-smelling home is simply adding a few steps to your normal cleaning routine.
 

While it's important for your home to smell fresh, don't go overboard with aromatics. Your home might end up smelling more like artificial air fresheners than a clean oasis. Instead, try one or all of these tricks to tackle smelly odors and promote a pleasant scent:
 

11 Tips for a Fresh-Smelling Home:
 

1. Deodorize the Trash:

   • Add a few drops of scented essential oil to the bottom of your trash bin before lining it with a bag. Rochester's favorite is pine.

   • For extra odor-fighting power, combine 2 teaspoons of citric acid, a half cup of water, 10 drops of tea tree oil, and 20 drops of pine essential oil in a spray bottle. Spritz the bottom of the bin every time you replace the trash bag.
      

2. Use Citric Acid: Instead of baking soda or vinegar, use citric acid with soap and water to clean and de-stink your home, especially in smelly spots like the toilet bowl or trash can.
    

3. Freshen Up Laundry: Add a drop of lemon oil to your laundry detergent to make clothes smell wonderful and refresh your laundry room.
    

4. Add Lemon to the Dishwasher: Throw a few lemon slices in the dishwasher before running a cycle to make your kitchen smell like citrus paradise.
    

5. Clean the Microwave with Lemon: Combine water, vinegar, and lemon peel in a bowl. Microwave for 10 minutes, then wipe down the interior.
    

6. Simmer Citrus: Collect citrus peels and simmer them in water on the stove for a natural air freshener.
    

7. Store Linens with Dryer Sheets: Add dryer sheets between linens in closets and drawers to keep them fresh.
    

8. Put Tea Bags in Closets and Drawers: Use tea bags to absorb musty odors and disperse a fresh scent.
    

9. Try Zeolite Rocks for Pet Odor: Clean surfaces, then place zeolite rocks in a bowl to absorb pet smells and other odors.
    

10. Light Scented Candles: Use mild-fragrance candles to improve your home's smell without overwhelming it.
     

11. Add Rose or Lavender Oil to Your Vacuum: Put scented oil in your vacuum's washable filters to spread a pleasant scent while cleaning.
     

By incorporating these tips, you can maintain a fresh-smelling home without relying on artificial air fresheners.

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