Every home smells different, but no one wants their living space to be stinky. High humidity levels and a lingering smell of smoke can make your home feel dirty. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to clean up a house. If you are tired of dealing with poor air quality and don’t want to rely on the scents of air cleaners, then it’s time to change your habits. Follow these four steps for better breathing.
Make sure your home is properly ventilated.
Airflow has a lot to do with odors. Stagnant air will become stale and magnify any foul smells that you might find in your home. This is why you might notice a musty odor when you return home from vacation. The humidity levels and lack of air movement became a ripe breeding ground for mildew and microorganisms while you were away.
One of the best ways to prevent bad smells is to keep your air moving. You can do this by opening your windows to let in the fresh air. With the right fans, you can circulate outdoor air through your home and push out unwanted odors.
You can use your HVAC system to increase your airflow. Proper ventilation can help eliminate the presence of germs by catching them in your air filters or purifiers. This is a great option when the weather isn’t cooperating, and you need to keep your windows closed.
Wash your clothes frequently.
Your clothes pick up all kinds of smells throughout the day. Not only will they get covered in your sweat, but they will also pick up pollution, pollen, and exhaust from trains or cars. Keeping your clothes clean is even more challenging if you are a smoker, as getting smoke smell out of clothing is notoriously difficult.
One of the best ways to keep bad smells out of your clothes is to wash them frequently. This can keep your indoor air clean as well. Instead of waiting for your laundry to build up into multiple loads, consider doing a few small loads throughout the week. Not only will you eliminate bad smells, but your favorite shirt will always be clean.
Get to the root of the issue.
Lighting a candle or placing an air freshener in a room is a great way to make your home smell good. However, these items won’t address the actual causes of any bad smells that linger in your home. A dirty litter box or a stinky trash can will eventually overpower even the strongest aerosol sprays.
When you identify a bad smell, look for its root cause, whether a leak in your sink is causing mold to grow or your pet had an accident on the carpet. Not only will addressing the issue make your home smell better, but it will also eliminate germs and other asthma irritants from your living area.
Clean daily with common household items.
Some parents are nervous about using commercial cleaners. They don’t want their kids touching bleach and other harsh chemicals used in most cleaning products. However, these don’t have to be your everyday cleaners. Look for common items that won’t irritate your skin or lungs.
There are many guides for cleaning with pantry items, and you likely have most of these ingredients on hand right now. Vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and some warm water can help you clean most surfaces without harsh chemicals. Using these ingredients is an effective way to clean without triggering health problems.
Test different cleaning methods to see how clean your home feels. You might be surprised by how much of an impact an open window and a cup of vinegar can have on your physical and mental health.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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