1) THE INCENSE MATCH
As you might imagine, cooked broccoli is not the only thing that can give off an unpleasant odor. The Incense Match is hands-down the easiest and most portable way to mask any (and I mean ANY) type of malodorous musk. Strike the match, let it burn until it reaches the oil on the match stick, blow it out and voila! No stink.
2) THE SOY CANDLE
I can hear you now: “Candles?! DUH. Thanks for the helpful tip. NOT.” But it’s the soy part that’s interesting. They’re non-toxic, while many paraffin candles are made from the bottom-of-the-barrel leftovers of the petroleum industry. The potential danger lies in the toxins regular candles reportedly emit into a poorly ventilated household. Like with everything, I encourage you to do your own research! Here are two articles to provide you with a starting point.
CNN: Study – Some types of candles may pollute indoor air
Yahoo: Scented candles release as many harmful toxins as cigarettes
Soy candles are typically higher priced, but they tend to last longer. You can usually get a great deal on soy wax candles at Marshall’s, Ross, or your local discount store.
3) BAKE (OR JUST PRETEND TO!)
Does anything smell better than something baked with fresh cinnamon? NO. Period. No time to bake? No problem! For those who need pleasant pungency in a pinch (<–say that five times fast) simply simmer some cinnamon (<—that, too), nutmeg and cloves in water on the stovetop and your house will be filled with an exquisite emanation of awesomeness. Citrus fruit peels also work great. Experiment with the ingredients! Let me know what you discover!
4) VINEGAR
As I typed “Vinegar” I imagined everyone as they read it shrinking back in horror. Vinegar typically smells, well, vile. We recently posted a blog explaining how to clean your fruit and veggies with vinegar, and a few readers were concerned about their food smelling badly. Well guess what? You rinse it and it doesn’t smell. Ta-da! So how does something that stinks suck a particularly foul odor out of your environment? Science, my dear friends. Actually, I have no idea why this works but my grandmother used to do it so here goes… It’s really difficult so bear with me. Fill a bowl about 3/4 full with vinegar and leave it out in the smelliest room. The stench should be gone within 24 hours. Whew! That was hard. Vinegar absorbs odors, so if your dirty uncle stopped by with his Pall Mall’s, here is your solution.
5) D.I.Y. EASY DEODORIZING SPRAY
Watch out Febreze! Crafty frugal person coming through! All you need is a spray bottle, baking soda, and your favorite essential oil. Lavender is always a good choice. Simply add 1 cup of baking soda to your spray bottle; fill the bottle with warm water and let the the baking soda dissolve. Then add about 12 drops of essential oil to the bottle; pop the top on and shake lightly. What you have there is a gentle, fragrant deodorizer.
What are your ideas for freshening up a space? Tweet us @TheDolceDiet today!
