Keep your home smelling sweet

How your home smells is just as important as how it looks. Keeping it well aired and using scented candles and deodorisers are a starting point, but eliminating the source of bad odours is key.

Start with the dustbin; give it a deep clean and disinfect it regularly. After using the washing machine, keep the door open to allow air to circulate and eliminate mildew. If the dishwasher is whiffy, cut up two lemons, throw them in and run the machine through a short cycle. Dip a cotton ball in vanilla extract and put it in your fridge.

Because they are made of porous materials, which trap odours, carpets, rugs and curtains are problem areas. Sprinkle rugs and carpets with a layer of baking powder before you vacuum. Odour molecules will attach themselves to the baking powder and be vacuumed away.

In fact, baking powder is your best line of defence against bad smells. Keep an open box in discreet corners of living areas to keep them smelling fresh. Mix two teaspoons of baking powder with two cups of water in a spray bottle and spray whenever a room needs a refresh. Charcoal and cat litter also absorb odours, so place them in an open container in an out-of-the-way spot to make sure your home smells great, all the time.

sdenman@thenational.ae