8 Ways to Make Your Home Smell Amazing

What smell do you think of when you think of a “clean” house? Citrus? Florals? Pine-Sol? While these scents are all great, it may surprise you that a clean house should actually have no smell. A house that smells like nothing means there is no odor-causing bacteria, and an odor-free house is a clean house. 

But it takes hard work to keep a clean house! Sometimes you want a little bit more of a reward than just a “nothing” smell. Whether it's when guests come over or just for your own enjoyment, there are definitely times when you want your house to smell downright amazing. 

Our editors have put together our top ways we like to keep our homes smelling fresh. A regular cleaning schedule is the best way to keep your home funk-free, so unfortunately these suggestions won’t get you out of your deep-cleaning duties. But they will provide you with ways to take your clean house to the next level! 

1. Light a Great-Smelling Candle

There is just something about a candle that has the power to instantly lift your mood. It also has the power to offer a quick boost of wonderful smells to your home! When shopping for candles, choose quality over quantity if you can. A higher quality candle will yield a stronger smell and longer burn time.

In our opinion, Yankee Candles are pretty much the gold standard of candles, because they use premium-grade ingredients and a natural wick fiber that produces a great burn. Our editors find that Yankee Candles smell the best and last the longest. We’re currently stocking up on all the autumn scents, like Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl, to fully embrace our Fall-girl era.

2. Freshen Your Sink with Lemon

An easy, inexpensive way to keep your sink smelling fresh is to thinly slice a lemon and throw a few slices down your garbage disposal. It will eliminate any funkiness and help keep the blades of your garbage disposal clean. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, a couple of squeezes of fresh lemon juice right down the drain will do the trick.

3. Vacuum & Mop Regularly

We’re not demanding that you do your chores, but vacuuming and mopping your floors regularly is essential if you want to keep your space odor-free. You should aim to vacuum your high-traffic areas 2-3 times a week and the rest of your home 1-2 times a week. Our editor Marisa recently picked up this Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum, and she says it makes her more motivated to vacuum! It’s lightweight, easy to use, and a breeze to clean. It sells for $470, but we often see it priced between $300-$360 at Amazon.

4. Use Houseplants

Using real houseplants is a great way to purify your air and remove odors from your environment. Plants like Aloe Vera, Spider Plants, Peace Lilies, Sword Ferns, and English Ivy are all said to purify air and remove impurities. When it comes to buying houseplants, our editors love to wait for a sale on Costa Farms Houseplants at Amazon. This Costa Farms Peace Lily is a great choice for purifying the air in your home. Peace lilies are not only easy to grow and maintain, they’re also known to remove harmful toxins like formaldehyde from the air.

5. Open Your Windows

As we transition into fall, now is the ideal time to open up those windows and let in that fresh air! Regularly airing out your house has a variety of benefits from balancing moisture levels to enhancing energy efficiency, and even boosting your mood. If weather permits, about 15-30 minutes of airing your house each day will keep your space well-ventilated and eliminate odors.

6. Add a Scent Sachet to Your Drawers

One often overlooked way to help a house smell amazing is to use scent sachets in your drawers. We love a nontoxic option, like these Willowbrook Fresh Scents Scented Sachet Packets. They’re made in the USA with biodegradable materials. These have a fresh scent that lasts a very long time. Our editor Dana likes to throw one into the storage ottoman where she keeps her spare blankets to keep them smelling fresh for movie nights!

7. Use a Carpet Deodorizer Before You Vacuum

Using a carpet deodorizing powder before you vacuum can help absorb odors in your carpet and sofa fibers. Our editors like this Aunt Fannie's Carpet Refresher because it works great and is non-toxic. Simply sprinkle it on your carpet, rugs, or even your couch and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, vacuum as usual and enjoy the fresh scent! You can get it for $12.99 on Amazon.

For our DIY fans out there, you can also make simple carpet deodorizer using baking soda in just a few minutes. In a large bowl, mix together one cup of baking soda with 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oil. You can also add a tablespoon or two of dried herbs like lavender or rosemary to boost the scent. When you’re ready to vacuum, sprinkle this mix on your carpet and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. The baking soda will neutralize odors and the essential oils will provide a fresh scent!

8. Control Humidity & Moisture

Heavy, humid air can trap odor molecules and make them more intense. Because it increases moisture in the air, it also encourages the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. During the hot summer months, or if you live in a climate that is humid year round, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier for your home. This will help keep your humidity levels in check and, in turn, control odors in your home. We recommend this Waykar 2000 sq ft Dehumidifier. It's the best-reviewed dehumidifier we could find under $200. You can usually find it for $160-$170.

For spaces that are prone to moisture, like bathrooms and closets, you may want to consider a moisture-absorbing product like this Arm & Hammer Fragrance Free Moisture Absorber and Odor Eliminator. You can place one of these packets in any area prone to dampness to absorb odor. They’re especially great for storage containers and linen closets. For a natural option, Activated Charcoal Sachet works great as well!