My house always smells! HELP!

Even if my house is clean, I still think it smells. Maybe the carpets are dirty, :dunno:. But I keep getting wafts of staleness, or even worse ('man' smells, lol), or nappies, or whatever. Urgh! I hate it, and I'm here all the time, so theoretically, I shouldn't be able to smell my own house. So in that case, what is a guest to think???? (God, please no one remember this thread if they ever come to my house!)

I don't like spraying air fresheners around, and not fond of burning oils either. I suppose I could get an electric oil 'burner', so then I wouldn't have to worry about candles. Same for incense sticks and cones, I just don't want to always have be burning something.

What about a plant? Can anyone suggest a houseplant that smells nice, or would help with the air in my house?

Further, I've had the house wide open today (front and back doors), and I still smell bad things!

What kind of curtains do you have? Can you wash them?

They are good for holding in the ghosts of icky smells. You can put some lavender oil in the final rinse so it smells luuuurvely when the windows are open.

I don't know of any plants but I just bought to plug in things from Coles $10 each, vanilla & orchid, they smell great & you can have them on when you please and at a strength that suits you.

Thanks guys. I washed one curtain once (I think the dog peed on it!) and the backing shrank, so I'm not game to wash them again!

Babyluv, are you talking about those "glade' type plug in things? They do smell good, but are too strong for me (even if they're not on :redface:)

I was thinking of bringing some rosemary sprigs inside the other day when I cut them, but even they were too strong for me, and gave me a sore throat.

Take them down and air them out for a day at least, give them a bit of a shake. Curtains really do absorb a lot of smells. Whilst they are out give the windows a good dust where you usually wouldn't be able to reach.

It will make a great difference, my fave thing to do in spring is to wash all the curtains, even if it is a PITA!

Take them down and air them out for a day at least, give them a bit of a shake. Curtains really do absorb a lot of smells. Whilst they are out give the windows a good dust where you usually wouldn't be able to reach.

It will make a great difference, my fave thing to do in spring is to wash all the curtains, even if it is a PITA!

I agree with the curtains, it is really amazing (and not in a good way!) how many smells they can hold! Also, if you have screens, they can be really bad for smells IMO. Give them a wipe with a damp cloth to clean. Not just dust, but wipe them to remove any oils or grease. You wouldn't think, but they can get really gross!

Get the carpets cleaned. It is seriously amazing the difference it makes to the smell of the house. Well worth the money.

I agree with all of the above but also would suggest putting a dish of bi-carb in each room to "soak" up the smell.

I always think my house smells too!

so i bought some pot-puri (sp) and i open almost all the windws EVERYDAY to get some air through the house.. might try washing my curtains though

After you clean your flyscreens, spray them with water-miscible lavendar oil in a spray bottle - when the breeze comes through it's a hint of a smell.

i find the couch holds alot of smells but according to df thats just me, probably paranoia (apparently). also the carpets i usualy sprinkle baby powder befor i vacume as the carpet freshner sprays are realy strong scented.