Sponsored by Air Wick Australia
The Sow’s Ear has a distinctly musty boy smell to it... that
would be because five of its occupants (that’s including the budgie) are male.
Being an 85 year old house with dust floating from the
ceilings probably doesn’t help the Sow’s Ear’s freshness cause either, nor does
the thrifted vintage furniture. When the Sow’s Ear has been closed up for the day, it
smells faintly of eau d’ op-shop!
So here are my top five tips that rid the Sow’s Ear of its
uniquely male ’vintagey’ fragrance:
Nothing smells as clean as clean does. You can never
underestimate the power of a good vacuum and mop to make things right again. I
know you’re going to say, ‘Der, Freddy!’ But the males in the Sow’s Ear would look at
me blankly and not put two and two together. This tip would be mainly for their
benefit!
Opening up all the doors and windows on a bright sunny day
to air out the house is insta-fresh. Again, you would think that was a given,
but Son #1 has his bedroom doors and windows permanently shut. The difference that
opening up his room makes is almost miraculous - from stale to fresh in the
space of one afternoon.
 |
| Opened windows and clean linen helps to refresh the boys' room... |
There is nothing like faking it with burning a scented candle, which comes in so
many different fragrances
or even using an air
freshener. Lately, I’ve been dabbling in the reed diffuser for the lounge
room and I’ve had fun experimenting with all the types you can buy from either
the supermarket or boutique home stores.
 |
| The reed diffuser is the lounge-room helps our battle against eau d'op-shop! |
The kitchen bin is the harbinger of unwanted aromas. We
invest in those scented bin liners for the kitchen, not that they can disguise the scent of the things that go in the bin… It does however comfort me that my
rubbish has a romantic lavender waft to it. Anyway, again to the boys of the
Sow’s Ear…empty the bin, please!
Changing the towels, sheets and cushions is my cheat’s way
of refreshing a room when I haven’t had a chance to vacuum and mop. When you have freshly washed linen and
towels, you can bury your nose in that for a while and hope that the love spreads
around the room. Ha!
So, those are my tips for a fresher smelling home. Do you
have any tips you could add?
The West End Cottage has that unique "vintagey" smell about it too. I put it down to a mouldy bathroom and the fact that it's been locked up for months. I'm hoping that now the old bathroom's gone, a re-paint and better ventilation will put and end to that "fragrance" for good. xx
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel for you with your old home, Caroline. Ventilation in your bathroom will make a world of difference. I'm sure the whole house will be as fresh as a daisy when it's done. xx
DeleteI agree that you can't beat the smell of clean...but my all-time favorite fragrance dispenser is a Lampe Berger. They burn clean, and they have so many wonderful fragrances to choose from. The lamps are a little pricey, but I find them on eBay for a fraction of their retail price sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Lampe Berger and have just googled it. You've just opened up a whole new scented world for me Dana!! xx
DeleteBoys smell. And their toilet hygiene leaves a lot to be desired. Those diffusers look key. Good work mother.
DeleteDon't get me started about toilet hygiene, MMMC! It's hit or miss around here. Hospital grade disinfectant is my only hope Obi-wan...
DeleteYes been through 3 sweaty teenage boys too, and a few of their mates huddled in bedrooms playing xbox - ugh! I agree cleaning walls, curtains,linen helps. In the bedroom and linen cupboards I leave a sachet of fabric softener, the scent lasts for months. I do the same in the car.
ReplyDeleteLove the fabric softener sachet idea! xx
DeleteI've invested in those humidity absorbing buckets of crystal things. There is one brand called Hippo Moisture Absorber and heaps of other brands available. Fantastic for living in Melbourne where it is often too cold to open the windows in winter. Although if no one other than me is home I will fling all the windows open and keep busy to keep warm.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite way to make a house smell better is baking bread and I'm rewarded with tasty delicious home made bread. Also tossing some cinnamon sticks or lemon in the slow cooker is a quick and easy way to freshen up a room http://www.stuffwiththing.com/2011/05/slow-cooked-aromatherapy/
Airfresheners trigger my asthma so I have to be careful about what I use. :(
Yes, those moisture absorbers are great, especially for wardrobes. And I think you are on to something with your lemon and cinnamon in the slow cooker...love simple ideas like that. Easy on the nose and easy on the pocket. xx
DeleteLove your tips. Mum stayed here while we were away, and when she went back home to her husband she said the house had 'old man' smell. So she opened up all the windows and lit the candles. Ha ha
ReplyDeleteKylie, that is such a classic about your Mum's return home...!! You should send her some extra candles for good measure! xx
Delete