i guess my house smells!

[mamaley]

this kid comes over and says he doesn't want to go in my house because it smells. to his credit, he didn't say it to my face, but his sister told me. btw, his sister informs be that she thinks it smells good gotta love kids :LOL

but anyway, how do i get my home to smell good? i'm going to clean it really well. but any suggestions on candles, essential oils and uses, or something aromatheraputic? is that a word?

[Odesajude]

Not Martha Stewart

I hope this doesn't sound too "crafty" but due to the small size of my house, if we cook somehting the whole house takes on the aroma. Tis can be good (cookies) or not so great (potstickers with lots of cabbage). I have put a pot of water ont he stove and thrown a tablespoon or so of vanilla extract in it and let it bubble away for a while. The house smells scrumptious-I'm sure other scents work well to but somehow vanilla doesn't smell perfumey like other scents can.

[journeymom]

:LOL

Could it be that your house has some odor that simply disagrees with this particular kid? Did he say what the smell is? I mean, are we talking cat pee, rotten garbage, stinky refrigerator, poopy diapers? (I doubt it. Big sis probably wouldn't say that smells good.) Or is it something more benign, like onion or garlic or curry spice or doggy smell or a particular detergent? Homes get unique smells.

Clean your house if it needs it, but I wouldn't stress about what one person thinks of the smell of my house. However, I think the smell of fresh baked cookies or pie is particularly nice...


(At least you are thinking about it. Mil runs daycare out of her home. Her home perpetually smells of poopy diapers, and she seems to be completely oblivious.)

[mamaley]

: i forgot to add that part...when i asked the kid, he said "it smells kind of like old rotten soup"

not too flattering!

[mamaley]

and i'm going to do the vanilla idea now! our place is small.

[girlndocs]

Old rotten soup! :LOL

Do you have a compost pail in your kitchen (for scraps waiting to be taken outside)? Ours sometimes contributes a certain, um, tang to the atmosphere.

Likewise when our fridge goes a while without cleaning : it's been known to have a not-so-fresh moment or 2 happen. A cupful of baking soda ... but you knew that, right?

Any house plants that have been sickly? Wilted vegetation eventually rots.

Anyway, I've never done the vanilla thing (too sweet for me) but cloves & cinnamon sticks work too. Or cotton balls, each with a drop of a strong EO, tucked discreetly in each room can help.

[crunchymomma]

When there's a particularly offensive odour in our home, I'll put little bowls of vinegar around the house. This will help neutralize odours. Works really well with smokey and fishy odours. I imagine it would work well with old rotten soup smells, too. :LOL

You could also try putting vanilla extract or an essential oil on a cotton ball and rubbing it on a lightbulb in smelly rooms. The heat from the bulb will warm up the oil and the scent will be released, but shouldn't be too overpowering.

[juicylucy]

lavender e/o in a spray bottle with water works well in my house, when I feel like it is getting stinky (hey, I have two cats a potty-training tot, and a sick-upping bab.. we have our stinky moments!)

[Jane]

When I bought my house, it smelled strongly of something "curry" like. It wasn't that pleasant to me, but I guess they liked it. It took about 6 weeks to clear. It may be something like that where you like it, but he doesn't.
For the record, I like curry, just not with cedar.

[Marni]

A good air filter will help as well. We have the "Living Air" -- and it wipes out ALL smells...fast. (You can buy them cheapest via ebay)

[chellemarie]

When my house is smelling stinky, I wash the walls down with vinegar and scrub the floor with vinegar water and orange essential oil.