Cheap non intrusive way to make a room smell good?

mumps

I collect the dead flowers off the lavender plants and put them on the windowsills, mainly to deter spiders but they also have a nice smell. Don't delay emptying bins, wipe up spills (milk is awful if you don't get it up straight away). I am allergic to scented soap so if I get any for Christmas/birthdays I unwrap it and put it in drawers, get a nice smell when you open the drawer. I've got lots of houseplants so they must help, I wish we didn't have quite so many but my husband won't let any go and he has "rescued" about a dozen baby spider plants today. God only knows where I am going to put them.

Don't use shake n vac, it is bad for your vacuum. I used it for a while when my dog was rather smelly in her last months but when I had the vacuum serviced the guy said not to use it.

TBagpuss

I'd suggest that you use the Vax to get the carpets properly clean, first, then moving forward, keep the rooms fresh by opening the windows regularly (My heating is set to go off about half an hour before I leave the house in the morning, so I normally open the windows during that period to let in some fresh air without paying to heat the great outdoors! But turning down individual radiators and closing doors while you air out each room can also work.

I'm the camp of finding most artificial scents and air fresheners deeply unpleasant.

A few alternatives
- citrus oil (or other essential oils of your choice) either dabbed on the back/inside of a radiator, or in a small dish of water on a radiator.
- growing or cut flowers - living plants do help

Do you have a damp or otherwise unpleasant smell if you don't use shake-and-vac or are you actively looking for something which creates a scent? It might be worth not using anything for a couple of weeks, to give yourself a chance to get used to it - you may find that in the absence of any UNpleasant smells, you're actually happy with a neutral environment, you're just not used to it!

TBagpuss

oh, don't forget you tend to get de-sensitized to anything you use often. That may be why you feel air fresheners don't last.
If you do decide to keep using products you might find it worth trying one of the plug-ins which changes scents so you don't get so desensitised.

TBagpuss

oh, don't forget you tend to get de-sensitized to anything you use often. That may be why you feel air fresheners don't last.
If you do decide to keep using products you might find it worth trying one of the plug-ins which changes scents so you don't get so desensitised.

krlyr

Bicarbonate of soda is a good natural deodouriser - leaving out in a bowl will help absorb smells.

Vinegar and lemon juice both work too - when we had fabric sofas and big, heavy curtains, I made a solution that was 50% lemon juice and 50% water to spritz on the fabrics to get rid of the eau de canine between proper washes. Just patch test someone discretely first!

I believe you can use white vinegar in carpet cleaning machines too - it might void the warranty to not use their recommended product, but if you're not going to use it due to cost anyway, I'd say it's probably worth a try. I think I've read about people using Stardrops in it too. I'd search the OS section for Vax/carpet cleaner threads for cheaper alternatives to the commercial shampoos/mixes.

I bought a reed diffuser last year, reduced in TK Maxx, and then bought just a plain refill bottle (much cheaper than buying a whole new diffuser) to top it up - I do try to avoid artificial scents where possible, but over winter, having to keep windows shut and having soggy doggies does lead to a bit of a whiff now and then!

dekaspace

My flat doesn't smell iffy as much as it just doesn't smell fresh/scented.

I always put dirty clothes in the machine when dirty and any clothes I wear just to corner shop or anything I hang on the balcony to get fresh.

So I just want a nice scented smell in my flat.

The carpets are just under 2 years old, they are just darkened in the rooms I use, the bedroom that I only use a few times a year for guests (and hoover in it a few times a week) has a much lighter and fluffier looking carpet(and the shake and vac smell is still there almost 2 weeks after putting it down!)

Years ago I used to use oil burners with a drop of lemon washing up liquid to scent a room I stopped as was unsure if it was dangerous chemicals and used joss sticks

dragonette

Hi Op, sounds like you want something to give a scent - not an air freshener as it's already clean and fresh. Candles, oil burners or reed diffusers might be most helpful. I'd probably be wary of using washing up liquid for it, but a few drops of an essential oil should work nicely

lillibet_dripping

I was advised by a fire officer not to use those plug-in air fresheners as they are renowned for causing fires :eek:

Valli

So if you want a nice scented smell you will have to source and use something with a fragrance you like.

For a fresh smell open the widows - unless you live near somewhere that smells unpleasant, that is.

Wednesday2000

I leave the windows open unless it's freezing, but I do like scented candles. I have some soya based ones that I bought from Superdrug. There is a nice orange one.

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

I was advised by a fire officer not to use those plug-in air fresheners as they are renowned for causing fires :eek:

Yes, I've heard that too.