Considering the damage aerosols cause both to the environment and your own health, it is time to make a green choice with natural fresheners. HomeQuicks aims to acquaint you with safe alternatives that can be used in the house that will leave your house feeling clean and fresh.
A Breath of Fresh Air
“Because forgiveness is like this: a room can be dank because you have closed the windows, you’ve closed the curtains. But the sun is shining outside, and the air is fresh outside. In order to get that fresh air, you have to get up and open the window and draw the curtains apart.”
―Desmond Tutu
Everybody likes their home feeling clean and smelling fresh. The easiest means to do this is to use a fragrant aerosol spray. However, it is a known fact that the allergens present in the aerosols are not only toxic for the environment but can also trigger asthma and trigger other health issues.
There are basically two types of air fresheners―the ones that provide instant action and the ones that provide continuous action―that are used to lend fragrance to a home. Aerosol sprays for that matter fall into the first category, while aroma gel fresheners and deodorizer blocks work continuously to keep the room smelling good at all times.
However, they are made using chemicals that emit allergens and toxic air pollutants which make the air you breathe unhealthy. Given below are a couple of tried and tested natural and safer alternatives that can be used to make your home smelling as good as new.
Nature-friendly Ways to Freshen Your Rooms
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants are not just used for their decorative and medicinal properties but also as a room freshener. The plant is known to filter out toxins from various gas emissions, thus, making the air you breathe cleaner.
Potted Geranium
Potted plants like geraniums, gardenia, jasmine, etc., are known to disperse their fragrance into their surroundings. Besides, they are known to absorb toxins, thus, leaving you with fresh, clean air to breathe.
Cinnamon and Anise
Think of the sweet pungentness that fills your senses when you are cooking a meal with spices. You can simmer cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and cardamom to give your room a fresh aroma.
Cinnamon and Dried Orange
The aroma of tangy freshness combined with cinnamon is unbeatable. You could either dry slices of oranges or place them in a jar filled with warm water along with cinnamon sticks to release their aroma.
Citrus Peels
The peels of citrus fruits contain essential oils that give out a pleasing aroma. The next time you peel an orange or a lime, store the peels in a container for your very own tangy air freshener.
Pomanders
These beauties have been used since medieval times as natural air fresheners, and there is no doubt why you shouldn’t use them too. Oranges studded with cloves can be used as a centerpiece as well as hung with ribbons in corners.
Fresh Flowers
A bunch of fragrant, fresh flowers placed in a jar of water is not just a pretty sight but is known to fill the room with its sweet fragrance. You could alternately place a couple of flowers in water for a lingering scent that stays fresh all day long.
Dried Flowers
A potpourri made of dried flowers, pine cones, and fragrant leaves is just what you need to keep your room free of odor at all times. You could hang pouches of potpourri around the house and around heat elements to help release the fragrance.
Dried Herbs
Rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, chili peppers, and other fragrant herbs can be effectively used to expel odors and liven up the air of the room. You could alternately place potted herbs or hang a bunch of herbs on a hemp cord for an extra zing.
Herb Wreath
Dried herb wreaths are not just decoration items to be used during festivities but can be used effectively to lend its fragrance to the room. If wreaths are not your cup of tea, simply place herbs in a fondue pot with a bit of water and allow it to simmer.
Oil Burner
Oil burners or spare fondue pots can be used to diffuse the fragrance of the essential oils into the surrounding atmosphere. All you need is a candle, a holder, and a pot to contain the oil.
Vinegar
From time immemorial, vinegar has been used to repel musty and stale odors around the house. You could place a bottle of vinegar infused with orange slices for an added fragrance.
Scented Candles
Fragrant candles come under the continuous action air fresheners. Placing candles at strategic locations around the house is known to provide a lingering fragrance that can soothe and calm the senses.
Flowers and Soy Candles
Fragrant flowers and candles have long been used to soothe the senses during an aromatherapy session. You could reap the benefits of the same by placing flowers and fragrant candles in a bowl filled with water.
Incense
Burning incense sticks, or even chunks of myrrh, frankincense is known to leave the room with a pleasant smell. You could incinerate this with pieces of hot coal or use bits of dried fruit peels to give you a pleasing aroma.
Scented Salts
You can always use scented bath salts as a room freshener. Fill spare salt shakers with the scented salt and place them alongside candles to reap the benefit of the tantalizing aroma.
Aroma Sticks
Agarwood sticks, sandalwood, or rosewood sticks placed around heat generating surfaces can emit sweet fragrances. Alternately, you could use fragrant incense sticks to make your room smell fresher.
Essential Oil Dispensers
Scented oil dispensers use wicks or sticks to dispense the fragrance of the oil to the surrounding. All you’ve got to do is place the sticks into the oil container and enjoy the aroma of the scented oil wafting through the air.
Apart from these alternatives, you could use baking soda to get rid of foul odors around the house.
