5 Easy Ways to Make Your House Smell Better

No matter how hard you work to keep your home clean, smells happen. Whether it’s a funky smell coming from the fridge or a stale, musty odor from an unknown source, these smells can keep us from fully relaxing at home. So here are some easy tricks to get rid of odors and make your home smell fresh and inviting.

Use Coffee Grounds to Deodorize the Fridge

If you’re anything like your parents (or grandparents, or great-grandparents), you likely have a box of baking soda perched inside your refrigerator to absorb funky smells. We have another idea: Swap that box with a bowl of used, dried out coffee grounds. The pantry staple works as a natural air freshener thanks to its odor-eliminating nitrogen. And you were just gonna throw those grounds out anyway, right?

Use Eucalyptus to Scent Your Shower

Transform your ho-hum shower into an indulgent, spa-like experience: Pick up some fresh eucalyptus from Trader Joe’s or your local florist, secure the stems with a rubber band, and use twine to hang the bundle from your showerhead. When you take a hot shower, the steam will carry the plant’s soothing scent. The stems should last two to three weeks, but if you want a stronger smell and don’t mind replacing the eucalyptus sooner, crush the leaves to release more perfumy oil.

Use Dryer Sheets to Freshen up Throw Pillows

You can toss most throw pillows and their covers into the washing machine. Between spins, though, it’s used dryer sheets to the rescue! Stuff one into each pillow, between the cover and cushion. The fresh, clean scent will permeate the fabric and help prevent musty odors so you can rest easy.

Use Essential Oils to De-stink the Trash

To put it bluntly, trash smells like garbage! Combat the stench by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a cotton ball and tossing it into the can before the trash bag. This will help mask offensive smells and replace them with a nice one. As a bonus, some essential oils can help with other trash-related problems: Tea tree and citrus oils have antibacterial properties, mint oils can help deter rodents, and lavender oil may repel bugs.

Use Vanilla Extract to Sweeten up Your Whole Place

While the magic of this trick happens in the kitchen, it will make surrounding rooms smell ridiculously good too. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Then grab the vanilla extract from your pantry and pour a couple of tablespoons into an oven-safe dish. When the oven is ready, place the dish inside. A mere 20 minutes later, you’ll start to feel like you’re living in a bakery.