Your home may smell bad and you don't even know it.
We tend to notice bad odors in other people's homes-but not our own. The good news? You can banish unpleasant smells from cooking, soiled carpet and upholstery, mildew, pets and more without using chemicals or toxins.
STEP 1: Eliminate the Sinkers. Use all-natural cleaners: vinegar, plain soap, baking soda, citrus oils, borax. Keep a box of baking soda in each room and replace monthly. In addition, follow a regular cleaning routine:
* Vacuum or mop weekly.
* Launder bedspreads every few months. Wash pillows at least once a year.
* Professionally clean upholstery, rugs and drapes annually.
* Pour boiling water down drains weekly to keep them clear.
* Locate pet items (cat litter, food bowls, beds) in out-of-the-way rooms or niches-and keep them super-clean.
STEP 2: Improve Ventilation. Opening a window or door circulates odors out of living areas and dries damp places. Change the furnace/air conditioning filter monthly, and employ kitchen and bath-vent fans. Air purifiers have received mixed reviews in their ability to reduce pollutants, allergens and dust. If you do invest in one, choose a model with a fan that doesn't produce ozone levels above 0.05 parts per million (ppm), as recommended by the American Lung Association.
STEP 3: Infuse The Area With Pleasant Aromas. Try these all-natural alternatives to conventional air fresheners, which spray out chemical perfumes that can irritate your nose and lungs.
* Bake goodies.
* Put cut flowers, herbs or an evergreen bough in a vase.
* Simmer cloves, cinnamon or cider on the stove.
* Make lemonade or slice an orange.
* Hang laundry in the sun to dry.
Excerpted from Natural Home, a national magazine that provides practical ideas, inspiring examples and expert opinions about healthy, ecologically sound, beautiful homes. To read more articles from Natural Home magazine, please visit www.NaturalHomeMagazine.com or call 800-340-5846 to subscribe. Copyright 2007 by Ogden Publications Inc.
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