House Smelling Good and Clean-what Are Some Tips?

My idea of a "good smelling" house is one that simply doesn't smell like anything. I achieve that in my home by cleaning only with baking soda, white vinegar, unscented detergents, occasional borax and hydrogen peroxide bleach. People often comment on how fresh and "relaxing" my house smells, like the great outdoors. Most of the scented products available commercially actually contain toxic ingredients, some of which are central nervous system stimulants, and not exactly relaxing.

I started cleaning this way when I discovered I'm terribly sensitive to synthetic scents, including perfumes, many toiletries, air fresheners and scented detergents and fabric softeners. I have to leave people's homes quickly if they are strongly perfumed, which is awkward for the hostess and for me. So I've learned to ask first, which is also awkward, but easier to explain.

I'm also in the "clean doesn't have a smell" camp. When I walk into a house that smells like air freshener, I wonder what the scent is covering up or masking. Maybe it's just coincidence but the only people I have known to regularly use air fresheners had dirty houses, really smelly pets that were poorly trained and not groomed, or smoked. DH has a habit of buying those horrid Febreeze Air Effects sprays and they literally make me sick. I hide them and keep them only for emergencies like the dog having an accident in the house (before we can deep clean and air out the spot).

I use Method cleaning products (as well as vinegar and baking soda) and those scents are nice and light without smelling so strong that you can taste the smell in the air. We'll use scented candles or potpourri every now and again if we want the house to smell festive.

If you have a funky smell in the house that you need to cover up, try to get to the root of it. Our house can definitely smell musty in the summer due to humidity so we have to work extra hard to keep the dehumidifiers running and house aired out, but that musty smell is a sign that there is moisture that needs to be addressed. When things get really musty we know it's time to dig through the basement and find whatever is there that's holding moisture (usually some cardboard boxes or papers that need to be thrown out). We also had a smelly bedroom from one of our dogs and finally just needed to pull up the carpeting and pad and throw those out. The pad and underside of the carpet were black with mold and mildew - that smell was a sign. Other things that can hold odors are any textiles - upholstery, draperies, area rugs, slip covers etc. so wash anything that's washable and see if that helps keep things smelling fresher. Nature's Miracle is a cleaner that's great for pet odors, and baking soda is a simple and cheap way to freshen the carpets and shouldn't clog your vacuum.

Clean doesn't have a smell. I use non toxic cleaners.
Air fresheners are very toxic.
There's nothing wrong with enjoying scents. Would potpourri work?

Personally, and this is just me, I don't think air fresheners make a house smell clean. It reminds me of a house that doesn't get cleaned...and it's nothing personal against everyone who uses one, it's just that I know one particular house that's usually very dirty but "smells like flowers."

I think keeping your house clean, regardless of the products you use, makes a house smell good. I am not hung up on using chemicals...I grew up with them, my mom is a clean freak. I love the smell of pledge (the original, lemon scented) and I dust probably more than I need to. I also like the smell of Windex.

If you're looking for a less chemical smell, however, I always have liked the smell of incense. I don't burn it, but I do keep some at the bottom of the stairs and it's a nice smell when you enter the basement.

OOhh!! Dryer sheets. I don't stick them around, but when I'm doing laundry I like the smell of them.

In the winter you can simmer herbs, cloves, orange peels, etc. in water.

I don't like my "products" to have a lot of smell either. I tend to clean with vinegar a LOT. Or peroxide. I use a steam cleaner (just water, no chemicals) on my floor.

I don't like to walk into a house and smell "fresh flowers" or "lavender" or whatever.... I don't want to SMELL ANYTHING. LOL

I have a dog, though. So I do use some things to keep my guest bath fresh and the family area. They are gel odor absorbers. They aren't a spray or anything. Using vinegar on my windows and baseboards and regularly vacuuming the rug and steaming the floor tends to keep the house smelling pretty "fresh" to me. :)

When all else fails, sprinkle some baking soda on the rug and let it sit for a while. Then vacuum it up.

I love eucalyptus and use some oil with water in a spray bottle to wipe down benches etc. I also put a few drops on my roomba brushes and filter.

I put dryer sheets in the bottom of the garbage cans and sometimes under the couch if I feel like the house is getting a little funky! Haha.

Febreeze with Gain scent. I spray the carpets and it smells so good. Like fresh laundry but all over! They also make a air freshener with the same scent.

Put a bounce sheet in a few of the dresser drawers.

Spray air freshener in the air conditioner vent so that the next time it kicks on you get a big whiff of clean.

Buy some fresh flowers.

Besides keeping the house clean and the trash out, I put dryer sheets in my couch, use the lysol automatic sprayers with the lavender vanilla spray and for my floors I use the Mr. Clean scented wash. I also steam clean my carpets about once a month as well as my couches and I change the sheets once a week or so.

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Well I like my house to have a good smell.. Whether it be pinesol, or the scentcy.. Now.. They can get a little expensive, nut well worth it. I mopped the house yesterday, and if was smelling like nothing.. I mean a little pine soly but that's it. I left and came home, my husband burned the "home sweet home" scentcy.. And when I hit the door.. OMG.. It smelled so good. It was actually turning me on. But smells do that to me, good cologne, perfume, good smelling food is anturn on to me... So I would get the del, where it's like , 5 scents for what, 15-20 dollars, but you can use the wax more than once.. And they should last a while.. The Walmart brand sucks to me.. But also, shop around for some wax beads. We found a store in our mall that sells the beads for like, $2 a tube.

I can't stand sprays burners or anything artificial. However, I have to have a good smelling house. I have 2 dogs a cat children and of course a husband.... so I buy essential oils they last alot longer because you use way less and can cut them with a carrier oil..... I put tea tree oil in all the corners of my house (helps w/ the pets and cetain bugs) then I get the oil burners and put orange oil, lavendar or whatever you fancy... You usually can go online to find some interesting oil blends. I also use incense. I'm not a big fan of the smoke so I only burn it w/ windows open and fans on and only for couple minutes. I buy Melaleuca products and their Sol-U-Mel is the wonder cleaner. Vacuuming w/ baking soda cuts down on pet odor as well... hopes this helps ;D

*Clean with baking soda and vinegar - that will give you a good "base" so that anything scent you add will be the actual scent and no "yuck" left behind.

* Eucalyptus leaves - OMG these are amazing. You can find them in the flower section of any Hobby store (ie Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc). They have a subtle yet amazing smell once placed in the home for a few weeks. I put them in vases throughout. People ALWAYS comment how yummy my home smells. And it is not overpowering like a plug in air freshener! Those are yuck.

* Use caldrea cleaning products as well, in addition to the vinegar and baking soda.

* Candles are cheaper than scentsy and work just as well.