So Fresh and So Clean Clean

I am always looking for different ways to make my house smell good without being overpowering.  Once a fan of commercial air fresheners, now I am seeking a more natural, chemical -free version.  The commercial air fresheners are not only expensive, they hardly ever smell like what they are claiming to.  I found there are many ways to freshen your home without using harsh chemicals.  Here is my first attempt at a natural air freshener:

 

Mmmmm....ahhhhh...can you smell the fresh orange rinds???  I wish you could, my house is full of this clean citrus smell.  AND I am reusing part of the oranges I ate!  I used the rinds of two oranges and covered them with water and let them simmer on the stove.  Keep filling up your water so you don't burn the rinds.  BONUS:  I swear it is clearing my sinuses!  I can't wait to do this with lemons and limes.

Here are some other natural ways to clean your air:

*A couple of drops of lemon oil in your vacuum filter or bag will scent wherever you vacuum with wonderful lemon scent

*Sprinkle your carpet with plain baking soda to absorb odors before vacuuming

*Reuse a dryer sheet by placing it in your vacuum bag to scent your home with the smell of fresh laundry

*Fill a fine mist spray bottle with white vinegar to remove any odors, once the vinegar smell goes away, so do the odors

*Use essential oils like lemon, lavender, orange, etc throughout your home.  You can place a few drops on a cotton ball and hide them.  Or mix oils with distilled water in a spray bottle and spray through the air.

*Plants also clean the air, they take in pollutants with carbon dioxide and give back oxygen

Have you discovered a natural way to scent your home that I haven't mentioned?  Do you find natural fresheners just as good or better than commercial?  I'd love to hear your ideas.

Happy Weekend!

Comments

[Tonniece]

I love all the great tips. I also use dryer sheets to freshen my home during the winter months when the house is all shut up.

First I always open my windows for about 5 or 10 mins. depending on how cold it is outside to get rid of stale air, then I stick a fresh dryer sheet on my rads. In minutes your home smells so fresh and lasts for hours.

Or whenever you change your furnace filter you could also add 1 or 2 dryer sheets to the front of it and it spreads the scent all through your house.

[Nicole]

I love this post Jo! I am a huge fan of natural cleaning products and I make my own. Another tip is to take a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball and rub it on your lamp lightbulbs. The heat of the lightbulb will spread the sent. Got that one from Kim and Aggie ;)

[Dionne C]

Oh what a great idea! I love how you are using stuff that you would have thrown out otherwise!