Five Ways to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh

Flipping through the cable channels I am floored by the choices. No, not the broad range of shows, but the broad range of air fresheners. You can buy spray cans, candles, scented fans, air cleaners, alternating scent puffs, powders and more. If you don't have money to burn on scented candles, or are just simply not into the hype, try these five easy and affordable ways to rid your home of unpleasant odors.

Keep it clean. Take out the trash and recycling daily. Clean any science experiments out of the refrigerator at least weekly. Clean the cat litter box daily. Run the exhaust fans when showering to avoid any moisture buildup. Keep up on the dishes, and run the dishwasher regularly. All of these little things add up and prevent most common odor sources.

For a fast odor eliminator, light a match (or a few, depending on the stench). Let it burn for a few seconds and blow it out. Be sure to practice good fire safety.

Baking soda is an awesome odor eliminator. Open a box and leave it in the fridge, freezer, or under the sink. It works to keep any enclosed space fresh. Sprinkle it all over your carpets, leave it for at least fifteen minutes, and then vacuum it up. If your drains are stinky, put a cup of baking soda down them, followed by two cups of white vinegar, and four cups of boiling water. This will eliminate any odors, and as an added bonus will clean out any threatening clogs.

Put a half cup of lemon juice and two cups of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Put it in the microwave for five minutes or more (just make sure all the water does not evaporate). Add more water to the mix if necessary. This should give the kitchen a quick lemon scent.

Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove and add cinnamon and other sweet smelling spices to it. Bring the heat down to a simmer, and let it simmer throughout the day. Be sure to keep enough water in the pot and an eye on the pot to avoid burning the spices (or anything else), smoke is not a very popular household scent.

Keeping your home smelling fresh is no small feat, but it sure does not require investing a small fortune on smelly stuff. Try these five tips, and see if you do not find a little humor in those freshener commercials.