How to Make Your House Smell Good All the Time
How to Make Your House Smell Good Naturally
Like first impressions … first smells are REAL!!
Personally, I have, and always will be, self-conscience about the way my house smells. One thing about Americans, they tend to be like Regina from Mean Girls, nice to your face until you turn away. They’ll say “Oh My Gosh, your house smells amazing!! What is that and where can I get it!??” But really, she’s thinking “What the heck is that horrendous smell and where is the nearest exit?!” Here, I will tell you how to make your house smell good all the time.
We are immune (nose-blind) to our own smells however good or bad that may be, so it’s always a good idea to put forth the extra effort to make your house smell good. In efforts to make your house smell good, the first step is ‘Clean up’.
Growing up, my idea of the ‘smell of clean’ was Pine-Sol and my thoughts immediately take me to the lady in the commercial. Although I always wondered what her house smells like…
They say there is no smell of clean, although this may be true and with all due respect, no one wants to smell NOTHING after they just finish up cleaning. Most people need to smell ‘proof’ the house is clean. Here’s a list of things I’ve done to make my house smell incredible.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.
1. Pick a Day of the Week to Deep Clean
Since you’re already reading this trying to get ideas about how to make your house smell incredible, I’m pretty sure you’ve got a busy lifestyle! While that is a GREAT thing, life gets in the way of basic chores. I highly recommend picking a day of the week to deep clean your house, that way, the cleanliness should last you until the next week. My cleaning day is on Saturday. I work M-F 7:30 – 5:00 pm so this works for my lifestyle. After your first week, the challenge will be (wait for it….) to do it again the following week! Make it a routine, that’s the hardest part.
I use my Google Calendar for EVERYTHING. I get reminders and adding a cleaning day and time keeps me accountable.
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2. Do Your Laundry
The first thing I notice when I do laundry is the smell. My goodness it smells good!
I use Tide detergent, Snuggle fabric softener, and Snuggle booster pods when I wash. Then, I throw in a Snuggle dryer sheet to finish the job.
Oh, I just love the Snuggle scent boosters!
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3. Clean Your Kitchen
Cleaning the kitchen does not only mean ‘do the dishes’, it means exactly what it says, ‘Clean the Kitchen!’ That includes wiping down the counters with disinfectants, sweeping and mopping the floor, wiping down the stove and refrigerator. Don’t forget to clean your refrigerator, garbage disposal, wipe down and (in some cases) power wash your garbage can with a warm towel mixed with hot soapy water with a dash of Pine-Sol.
Sometimes, I throw a dryer sheet underneath the garbage bag to keep a fresher smell.
I mop with the Swiffer Wet Jet. It’s light, smells good, and a time saver.
4. Wipe Down the Walls
Yes, walls get dirty too! Think about the light switches you touch on a daily basis. Not only are bacteria crawling all over it, it probably has visible dirt all around it. Make sure to get the foyer and any entry and exit points of the house. Those places are likely to have the most traffic, therefore, they will accumulate the most dirt.
Here is a step by step article on how to clean your walls. I like to get a utility towel with hot soapy water and wipe down the walls and light switches.
If you really want to make your kitchen smell good, I found this amazingly clean-smelling counter spray by Magnolia. It’s called Counter Spray – Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines.
The scent I use is called Juniper.
After I clean the kitchen counters with hot soapy water, I spray this counter spray all over the counters. I usually wait about 5 minutes before I gently wipe off the counter spray so it has time to settle.
The scent reminds me of my favorite hotel (1 Hotel South Beach). I love this stuff! It is one of my favorite ways to make my house smell good ALL the time and one of the most effective ways to make it last.
5. Clean the Bathroom/s
When you walk into a bathroom, the first thing I notice is the mirror. Is it dirty? I hate seeing someone post a bathroom selfie and I’m so distracted by the debris on the mirror I can’t focus on the person. Make sure to clean the mirror, wipe down the counters, clean inside and outside of the toilet, clean the shower/bath, sweep/mop and bam, you’re done!
I’m a sucker for Clorox Bleach and Windex.
6. Vacuum or Mop the Floors
Whether you or Roomba does it… it has to get done.
I may be obsessed with making pretty vacuum patterns on my carpet, but it’s also important the carpet gets clean and gets odors out. A good way to get odors out of carpet is to sprinkle a bit of baking soda onto the carpet. It is a natural deodorizer and very inexpensive to buy.
Now that we’ve got the house clean in its entirety, we can move on to the extra steps to make your house smell incredible!
7. Light a Candle
Everyone has an interpretation of what candles smells best. Personally, I love Yankee Candles ‘Clean Cotton Candle‘. It’s a classic.
After visiting the 1 Hotel South Beach, my first impression of the smell was actually before I walked into the lobby doors. The staff opened the doors, and while I was about 10 feet away from the front doors, the air from inside the lobby rushed into my nostrils… I was in smell heaven! I immediately asked the front desk what the smell was. It was their signature fragrance and yes, it is available for sale! So, I had to buy the candle, bath soap and lotion.
These smells are earthy and clean!
In case you’re thinking of buying this lovely scent, you’ll have to visit one of the 1 Hotel locations. Their products are only sold from their gift shops.
8. Decorate with eucalyptus leaves
I love an earthy look, but decorating with eucalyptus leaves, you’ll get 2 for 1. You get a simple, beautiful, classy, and practical look with a clean and fresh scent.
I ordered seeded eucalyptus greenery for my wedding and when I opened the box they came in, I couldn’t believe how much I loved the smell!!! It was a clean, earthy smell. Not that ‘outside’ earthy smell, but like a clean rain foresty smell.
9. Add essential oils to your air filter
The other day I saw my sister pour lavender into her air ducts. As the air blows, the scent will waft throughout the room. I had NO idea that was a thing. She’s got four kids under 9 and her house smells AMAZING.
Take my word, this is tried and true.
Get your essential oil starter kit here.
10. Get an Aromatherapy Diffuser
An aromatherapy diffuser and essential oil set is a great asset to keep a fresh light aroma in your house.
If you live in an apartment, this is a must-have. I live in an apartment and the community smells of neighbors cooking seem to be at WAR every single day around 6:30 pm until the moment you shut your eyes…
Maybe it’s just me with a super-sensitive sense of smell, but all I know is I’ve finally found something that works to combat the smell.
Bonus Tips
11. Bake Cookies
Last but not least, bake some cookies. It makes the house smell amazing… plus, at this point, you’ve earned it!
These 11 steps should never have you saying “my house never smells fresh.” We’ve eliminated that from your
Scent is the most powerful memory trigger. With all of the tips I’ve mentioned above, how do you want to be remembered?
Do you have any tips and tricks on how to keep your house smelling good? Let us know in the comments below!
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How to Make Your House Smell Good All the Time
48 comments
Hello! I’ve been a housekeeper professionally for over 10 years and I also want to leave a little tip.
Laundry Scent boosters!
If you put them in old socks and tie them in a knot and throw them all over your house in your cupboards in your shoes in with the linens absolutely everywhere it makes everything smell amazing for months at a time!
Hi Sammi, thank you so much for your comment! This is a great tip! I will add this to my routine.
I like to take orange rinds and put them in water with cloves and/or nutmeg.. Boil for a few minutes, and everything smells amazing!!
This sounds amazing, Cheri! I’ll have to try this.
this works well! I use a cinnamon stick & clove.
FYI: eucalyptus is toxic to cats.
I do, too. Smells amazing!
Hi if you have just squeezed a lemon and are left with the skin and some flesh put a pot on the stove with water add the lemon and bay leaf and simmer for a while. This will produce a clean fresh smell through the house
Thank you so much, Gloria! I’ll try this!
I am doing it GLORIA dear with best results. No insects of any sort in the kitchen.
Thank you GLORIA 😇 😊 💓.
I put cut up small lemons down my garbage disposal to keep it fresh.
That is so smart, Janis! I’ll have to try this.
thanks a lot…this is in my budget
I Add ice cubes to the lemons or oranges to help clean out the garbage disposal with an amazing smell.
I have rugs, not carpeting. I rolled them up, brought them outside. Then I laid them on a patio table (or sawhorses). I hosed them down with the nozzle set at “jet” and full pressure from the spigot. Let it dry in the sun, flip it over and repeat. When both sides are dry, bring them back into the house. They even feel better under bare feet. Do this on a hot day!
This also works with sheets and blankets and they are heavenly to sleep on afterwards.
Annie, I have another idea that really works. Go to Good Will and buy a used steam iron.
its essential that you find a smell you really love so much you are happy with your whole being smelling like it. For example, eucalyptus oil or the oil from Yankee Candle for that clean smelling one. Put drops of it into your iron with the water and iron. Iron your clothes, your curtains, your towels–anything you want to smell good. The oil gets into the iron and literally lasts for years. When I was a hippie, I put patchouli oil in my iron and for 10 yrs that was completely how I smelled. It was great, I totally loved it –UNTIL I DIDN’T and got a new iron. I don’t know how many drops but I would refresh it with more from time to time.
However its powerful so make sure you will be happy with the scent! Martina from Baltimore
I love your idea
Thank you so much, Martina!
All sound great I will try most of them 🙂
Just found out that the counter spray from Magnolia homes is no longer available! Too bad, was really looking forward to trying this. Loved all your suggestions as well as the others mentioned. I’m wondering if you have found another counter spray you like since the Magnolia homes is no longer available?
Hi Teri,
I know, I hate that they stopped selling the Magnolia Homes Counter Spray! I have not yet found an equivalent to that counter spray, but I will let you know and all of my readers as soon as I find a good substitution!!
Thanks so much for your comment! I really appreciate it.
Best,
Annie
T.y.
It’s my pleasure! Thank you!
All ideas sounds awesome thanks for the input.
Thank you so much, Delilah!
Hello All,
Recently I learned Mrs. Myers has a line of cleaning products that smell wonderful💜
Not only hand soap, but everything laundry, kitchen, bathroom and even candles, essential oils, and hand and body lotion. 💜These are just to name a few of the products available. Choose the sent you prefer and go clean!
What i LOVE, is I can get my entire apartment smelling like fresh lemons💜
(Im not getting paid or earning anything for sharing this with you.)
Thank you so much!! You’re right! I love those products.
get a stiffer put baking soda and swift it on your mattress them throw some lavender oil couple of drops on top of mattress let set for 10min then vacuum smell amazing
I’ll try this! Thanks so much!
Hey Annie, I loved your tips though I stay in India and many of them are not available but will try some soon.Thank you dear.Stay blessed.
Thanks so much, Sajitha! You stay blessed too 🙂
I do most of these cleaning projects but the part of essential oils you need to be careful if you have pets you shouldn’t use them. It can make your cats and dogs sick, their lungs can’t handle the oils.
Such great ideas! I always miss the smell of my home right after I get my carpets, upholstery, and area rugs cleaned. I would love to keep my house smelling nice! I’m definitely using your ideas!! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much!
Ohhh these are such good ideas! I am totally going to have to try a couple out. I also want to have some professional upholstery cleaning done so the couches smell good too. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much! It’s my pleasure!
I can’t wait to try your ideas and the others that have posted
thank you so much!!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!
I love your idea
Thank you so much, Jessica!
I love all of these ideas! My issue is that our home is large and the living areas and kitchen are open. When I burn a candle or use a diffuser, the scent just doesn’t travel to the other rooms.
Thank you so much! Ugh, I hate that, but from another perspective, we call that “good problems” LOL :).
Thanks so much for sharing all those great ideas. I have granite countertops and when I started buying disinfectant wipes by the six pack I started using them on all the countertops and then wiping down with a clean towel. Not sure why, but the granite has a wonderful shine that regular soap and water doesn’t leave.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read! It’s my pleasure! :).
I put fabric softener with water into a spray bottle to lightly spray couch pillows; our couches are leather and had to remove area carpets and hall runners after hubby had a stroke-
I’ve been needing to shampoo the bedroom carpets, too.
Hi Gramma, that’s a really good idea! I’ll have to try that. Hoping for a full recovery for your husband! Praying for him!
Ladies & Gents,
Capri Volcano counter spray cleaner smells & cleans AMAZING!!! I get mine from Amazon!! Thank me later, lol! Happy holidays! Dena from Texas
Oh yeah?! I’ll have to check it out!