Upon that first whiff of unpleasantness, your first reaction might be to rush to the store and buy a commercial air freshener. Not so fast. There are easy, practical solutions--natural and healthier--you can use to banish odor from your surroundings.
Clear the Air
Open your windows. Sometimes the weather or climate--or an outside odor--doesn't allow this, but where it is possible, fresh outside air can act as a filter for the air in your house.
Plants act as natural air cleaners. Consider growing spider plants, aloe vera, English ivy and chrysanthemums, which remove many toxic substances from the air.
Natural Air Fresheners
Dip your finger in the essential oil of your choice, then dab it onto a light bulb, or many light bulbs, in the room you want to freshen. When the lights are turned on, the room--and adjoining rooms and hallways--will be filled with the pleasant scent of the essential oil.
Put a small handful of juniper, rosemary or sage in a glass bowl, then burn the herb. (Do not leave the bowl unattended while it burns.) The scent will be pleasant--and the herbal smoke will act as an antiseptic for the air.
For a natural apple-cinnamon scent, pour 4 cups of apple cider into a glass or stainless-steel (not aluminum) pan. Add two sticks of cinnamon and five whole cloves to the contents of the pan. Simmer the mixture over low heat for an hour, then add an additional cup of cider. Keep the mixture simmering for another hour, then add yet another cup of cider. Repeat this until you have added 4 cups (over a period of 4 hours), all the while simmering your mixture on low heat.
Natural Fragrance Sprays
Mix a few drops of your favorite essential oil with filtered water into a spray bottle for a simple alternative to commercial air fresheners.
For odors on carpets, drapes or upholstery, mix 2 tablespoons of either baking soda or vinegar with water (hot water for the baking soda). Fill a spray bottle, and spray directly on the source of the smell. Let stand until dry. Each of these two sprays works on a different set of smells: Use the appropriate one for your problem odor. For acidic odors (such as urine), use the baking soda spray; for alkaline odors (such as cigarette smoke), use the vinegar.
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