I love fall, winter and staying inside. What can I say? I’m an indoor kid and proud of it. But all that time cooped up in the house means I become hyperconscious of any weird smells or stuffy air, and when you can’t just open the windows to let a breeze in, it’s hard to know how to freshen things up.
Luckily, there are a few simple solutions to banning strange odors and unwanted allergens from the air in your home. From changing out your heating system’s air filters to simmering a pot of lemons on the stove, these tips will keep your house smelling bright and fresh, even through the coldest days of the year.
1. Change your air filters
When you turn on the heater on the first cool night of fall, your old, dirty air filters can leave your home smelling musty. Luckily, Canopy Air has you covered. Canopy’s micro-allergen air filters block irritants, allergens and toxins that usually float through the air, resulting in a cleaner, healthier and fresher-smelling home. And lest you forget to change them regularly (what, you don’t have an air filtration calendar alert?), Canopy will schedule automatic shipments of new filters to your home. Every time you get a shipment, you’ll know it’s time to switch out your old filter to keep the air in your home safe and clean.
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2. Keep coats & boots dry
Residual dampness is the enemy of fresh indoor air, so make sure that your coats and boots are drying properly. If you get really soaked, you can throw your outerwear into the dryer and keep your boots by the heater so they dry quicker. Also, don’t just keep your winter shoes in a pile near the door — spread them out so the air can circulate, drying them quicker too.
3. Utilize ventilation
The fan in the hood above your stove is key to making sure cooking smells don’t get trapped in your home, but so many of us ignore it. But once you make a habit of flicking the switch to turn on the fan (even if that means it’s harder to listen to your podcasts while you cook), you’ll see what a difference it makes. And don’t forget to use the fan in your bathroom when you shower too — it’ll help get rid of any dampness, which can cause bacterial growth and odor.
4. Essential oil diffusers
Essential oil diffusers add a fresh, natural vibe to your home. Choose lavender and bergamot to create a soothing scent in your bedroom or lemongrass and grapefruit to energize your workspace.
5. Simmer pots
Simmering a mix of aromatics in a pot of water on the stove can quickly banish any bad smells from your kitchen. Try a mixture of lemon slices, mint and eucalyptus or a warming blend of oranges, cloves and cinnamon.
6. Lavender sachets
Tuck lavender sachets into your linen closets and bureau to keep your clothes and blankets smelling fresh. Bonus? The lavender scent can help keep out moths and silverfish.
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7. Get your chimney checked
Before winter sets in, get your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional. This will ensure that once you start building fires, the smoke will go where it’s supposed to instead of into your home.
9. Get some houseplants
Houseplants look nice, but they’re also great for improving air quality. Spider plants, Boston ferns, peace lilies, English ivy and ficus are all effective at removing toxins from the air and are fairly easy to care for. Just check this list from the ASPCA if you have pets to make sure you don’t get one that’s toxic.
10. Deodorize your carpets
Dragging mud, snow and rain indoors can make your carpets, well, stinky. Solve the problem by taking your shoes off when you come inside and by periodically deodorizing your carpet. Just sprinkle on some baking soda, rub it in a bit, let it sit for about 15 minutes and vacuum all the odors up.
11. Nontoxic scented candles
Clean-burning soy candles made with natural scents are a quick way to freshen up any room in your home while adding some warm ambiance too. Light a few while you snuggle up on the couch with a warm book.
This post was sponsored by Canopy Air.
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