By Michael Lincoln

The smell in the house is the first thing that most of your guests will notice. A stinking and damp smelling house is not at all appealing whereas a fresh and clean smelling house is quite inviting for visitors. You don't have to use expensive products to maintain the freshness because just a few simple steps around the house can easily do this. Here are these very inexpensive tips to keep your house smelling fresh.

Kitchen garbage is one of the major reasons for that foul smell in your house. The more time it sits in the garbage can, the more it will smell bad. Make it a habit of taking out the kitchen garbage regularly.

That old carpet may be very dear to you, but it may be one of the reasons why your house smells damp. Carpets are especially prone to molds and these fungi are real health hazards for your family. If you notice a damp smell or mold growth, it may be time to replace it or clean it thoroughly. Alternatively, you can just use hardwood or tile flooring. These are much easier to maintain and will do a great deal in helping keep your house fresh.

We are so used to keeping our doors and windows tightly shut and the curtains so firmly pulled down that we just don't realize we are missing out on one of the simplest tricks of having a fresh smelling house. When you open your windows and doors, it improves air circulation within the house. The stale indoor air gets an outlet and it allows the fresh and clean air to enter the house. If you are concerned about opening your windows in the cold winter season, you could just keep them open on a warm afternoon.

Opening your windows and curtains also allows the sunlight to enter the house and this is one of the major contributors in killing that damp smell in your house.

Excessive moisture is also not good for the house since it will make your house smell stale and damp. So, use exhaust fans in the kitchen to remove the excess moisture generated from all the cooking. Use exhaust fans or open windows in the bathroom to reduce the excess moisture.

Consider using a dehumidifier or an air freshener in the house as it can really help control the humidity levels and keep your house smelling fresh.

Ventilating your cooking odors is extremely important. Vaporised fat can settle throughout your house leading to ongoing stale smells. Install an extractor fan above the stove if possible.

Besides these, a nice smelling potpourri placed in open bowls or scented candles placed at just the right places in the room will ensure that your guests are greeted with a nice smelling fragrance when they enter the house.

As you can see, you don't really need to spend a lot on keeping your house smelling fresh. All you need to do is ensure is remove any sources of foul smells, improve the air circulation, reduce the moisture and use some nice fragrances in the house.




An expert on dampness-related illnesses, Michael Lincoln is a medical researcher living in New Zealand. Reducing dampness can be as easy as installing a basement dehumidifier and perhaps some bamboo roll-up blinds to keep a room shady in the summer, but allow sunlight into the room during winter. The right blinds in natural materials will not only enhance the look of a room, but will be durable.