Have you ever walked into someone else's home and been pleasantly surprised by how good it smelled? Do you ever wonder why your house smells musty instead of fresh? This is the place to learn the details. A fresh, pleasing smell is the most convincing sign of a clean house. Unpleasant odors or scents, on the other hand, make visitors wonder whether the premises may be dirty or even infectious.

Photo: Todayshomeowner
Five Tips for a Better Smelling Home
We all tend to become nose-blind to the scents within our own homes, so it's vital not to assume one's residence smells great. Instead, you should proactively seek to improve the overall freshness of your living spaces. Here are five essential pointers:
1. Eliminate Stinky Culprits
If your home has a distinctly bad smell that appeared suddenly out of nowhere, there should be an identifiable culprit in play. Trash cans, toilets, pantries, attics, crawlspaces, and refrigerators are all typical sources of such problems.
Automatic dishwashers are also a common source of bad odors. If you suspect your dishwasher is to blame, try running it on a cleaning cycle. You can also look into the filter trap and check for any trapped food or debris that needs to be removed.
"If you have gone through all of these points and still have a dishwasher odor problem, it may be time to call in a professional appliance repair specialist," Universal Appliance Repair suggests. "There are a number of other issues that could be causing unpleasant odors, and an experienced technician will be able to assess your appliance to determine the underlying issue."
2. Keep Pets Outside
As much as you may love your furry little friends, dogs, cats, and other pets can stink. Unfortunately, animal reek isn't confined to their bodies. They have a way of transferring their fetor to everything around them — especially the carpet and furniture.
The best practice is to keep pets outside, in a covered porch. If you prefer to share your home with them, try to restrict your animals to certain rooms, and, of course, give them regular baths.
3. Diffuse Essential Oils
Most people rely on candles to make their home smell better, but there's a better alternative. Surprisingly, candles can release harmful toxins and chemicals into the air.
In contrast, essential oils provide a soothing scent that's also 100 percent natural when they are diffused. "When we diffuse oils, the air always feels lighter, and somehow more clean than when we burn candles," says Elena Brower, New York City-based yoga teacher.
"Diffusing essential oils releases thousands of oxygenating molecules and negative ions into the air and your environment." Negative ions have been shown to clean the air of pollen, mold spores, pet dander, bacteria, and the odors caused by these unwanted elements.
Essential oils come in dozens of blends and scents. Find the one or two that are the most pleasant to you, and diffuse them for a few hours each day.
4. Clean Out Air Vents
Air vents get a lot of use over the years. All the air in your home travels through these vents on a daily basis.
And though your home's air filter is supposed to catch most of the dust, dander, and undesirable items that clog your central air system, they aren't perfect. Over time, moisture and debris join the party and stick in the filter.
When air blows through these vents, the system can disperse unwanted smells into your home. Start by inspecting your air vents to see if they need cleaning.
Once you've done that, you can try clipping a car deodorizer onto your vents. That should freshen the air as it blows into your living spaces.
5. Be Wary of Moisture
Moisture is one of the number-one causes of household odors. When humidity rises above 60 percent, your home spaces run the risk of developing mold, mildew, and mustiness.
If you live in a humid climate, try to avoid wall-to-wall carpeting or rugs. They have a tendency to trap moisture — particularly in the bathroom or kitchen.
Don't leave wet clothes in the washing machine for long periods of time, and replace kitchen sponges every few weeks. Anything that can trap moisture will be bad for your air.
Delight All Five Senses
Your home says a lot about you. When you invite guests into your living spaces, they should be more than just visually pleasing.
If you want visitors to feel comfortable and appreciated, a visit to your home should delight all five senses. Keep this in mind as you improve your residence.
See also: Natural Room Scents – DIY.
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The post The Best-Kept Secrets of Fresh Smelling Homes appeared first on AllDayChic.