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Although
strong odours can be unpleasant they are usually quite harmless, unlike
aerosol sprays which harm the environment. Fresh air is the best
air freshener, so keep your home well ventilated at all rimes.
Indoor plants, scented or not, will help keep the air fresh because they
absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
When you want to disguise a bad smell or add a pleasant scent, use
natural air fresheners like flowers or herbs. Throughout history
pot pourris have been used to freshen rooms (see Crafty
Witch for details).
Air fresheners don't rid your home of odours - they are designed to
either mask smells with another strong odour or to inhibit your ability
to smell. This is done by coating the inside of your nostrils with
a film of oil or chemically altering your sense of smell.
Strong
cooking smells can be overwhelming. Always cook with your windows open
or at least make sure your kitchen is well ventilated.
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Apple
will help combat strong food smells. A slice of apple in the
pan when you fry fish will tone down the smell.
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If
you are steaming cabbage or brussels sprouts, place a crust
of bread over the top of the vegetables, then cover tightly.
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Lemon
and vinegar have good deodorising qualities. Both can be
rubbed over hands to get rid of smells like onion or garlic.
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A
bowl of white wine vinegar placed next to the stove when youare
frying will cut down on the smell and smoke. Leave a bowl
permanently by the stove - as the vinegar evaporates it will
deodorise the air.
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If
you've burnt something in the kitchen, boil a few pieces of
lemon in a small saucepan of water to clear the air. Boiling
cloves and cinnamon also works.
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Get
rid of bathroom smells by burning a match - the flame
literally burns off the noxious gases, eliminating them instantly.
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Tobacco
smells - No matter how you feel about smoking, it's an
inescapable fact that tobacco smoke pollutes the air and permeates
fabrics, carpet and furniture in the home. Add 40ml cloudy
ammonia to 500ml boiling water and leave in the room overnight.
Open windows to ventilate. You can also leave cider vinegar in
a bowl overnight to get rid of the smell of tobacco.
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