Living in condo or apartment units or simply in a not-so-open house can easily keep in odors from cooking, sinks, pipes and trash. Being a neat and responsible adult can be challenging when odors frustrate you.
More and more of us are becoming more aware of the harsh effects and potential long term health issues caused by commercial cleaners. These companies that are not or far from organic and natural are making lots of money distracting people from natural remedies. Same thing with medicine. Air fresheners and home cleaners are convenient to buy from your near grocery, but going natural or at least trying not to be fully dependent on commercial chemicals greatly improves home health. Going for less of these mass-produced chemicals and more for the natural sources takes a little bit more elbow grease getting all these things together but it is worth it.
Here are tips on keeping a home’s very air fresh and cleaner
- Open doors and windows regularly.
An easy peasy and common sensical way of letting out older, staler air containing more bacteria and carbon dioxide. Especially when cooking fish, spices, gamy meats like lamb, dried proteins, preserved fruits or vegetables, other seafood, dried fish is much more pungent, garlic and onions for sure. Keeping at this good habit regulates air quality! But make sure to not be too forgetful by leaving them open too long. You can invite insects or allow an abundance of humidity and heat to enter.
- Let your range hood do the work.
A lot of units come with a range hood but may not always be the most efficient. Supplementing that initial hood with a stronger one you will invest in takes a lot of work away from you. One vent in the bathroom is a must for me as well. Imagine having guests over, don’t you want the kitchen and bathroom to be deodorized for them? Ventilation is an investment, now you can cook way more pungent stuff!
- Go for diffusing essential oils or creating all natural air freshener.
I am not wanting to scare you and tell you to throw away the commercial cleaners you are used to. But give what is closer to mother nature a try. When all materials are acquired the process is quick and fun mainly for crafty people, nature lovers and cleaner lovers.
There are so many oils to choose from that are antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and/or antibiotic. You can find the ready oils or make your own with jojoba oil, tea tree oil, wheatgerm or grapeseed oil and whole spices, herbs and citrus peel. To create a natural air freshener add 3 full tablespoons of different essential with a cup or 2 of water depending on you. There are many to choose from: orange, lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, clove, cinnamon, chamomile, oregano, rosemary, sage, cypress, sandalwood, wintergreen, marjoram, peppermint and lime. Combine 2-3 oils for your own personalized mix. Make sure you got a spray bottle.
- Have houseplants!
These guys clean up real well. Common house plants are more efficient than people think, some species can remove toxins like formaldehyde, benzene and acetone by up to 90% overnight. Spider plant, snake plant, Boston fern and peace lilies are examples. Get herbs too, they nourish the air and your body, assuming they won’t wilt right away. Basils like sweet basil, Thai basil and lemon basil are nice to start with, along with oregano, thyme, types of mints and rosemary. They also make you more fulfilled because you are maintaining life while reaping benefits. Pasta with fresh herbs anyone? Start out with 3 plants and get to know what each is like.
- Clean with baking soda, vinegar, coarse salt and essential oils instead.
Vinegar is our best friend. Medicinal, cleansing for both home and skin, kills microbial life successfully and rids of odors and grime so well. Mixed with baking soda and/or sea salt and optional yet helpful essential oil drops make a powerful disinfectant.
Half a cup of water with 5-7 tablespoons of strong vinegar and a few drops of essential oil is what it takes. You can dilute with a bit more water if the job is not too dirty. You can even use vinegar on wounds, pimples or itchy fungal feet.
- Have 2 fans, or at least one strong one.
Having the ac on all the time is expensive and even traps more stale air in. A fan is a good balance of coolness, some warmth and breeze. If you have a very cold living area then a warmer and ventilation system will do.
