DIY Life

Living with three kids and and three dogs is not always the most aromatic experience. My youngest child has been potty training which often end up with a wet crib in the mornings. My oldest child, a 14 year-old boy, can generate some serious foot funk. Toss in the dogs and our home can get pretty odoriferous. Krisitn Dazurgas of our sister blog ParentDish suggests everyday home items you can use to hunt down stinky smells and leave your home smelling fresh and without the sickly sweetness of a store bought room freshener.

If a stinky kitchen sink is your problem, just eat an orange and save the peels. After you enjoy the fruit, run some hot water down the sink, toss in the peels and let your garbage disposal enjoy the rinds. Lemons, limes and grapefruits also leave your disposal smelling zesty.

The foods in our freezer often get to tasting like something they shouldn't. My kids are apt to put just about anything on ice with the result being not so tasty. By removing the freezer foods, wiping down the shelves with a 50/50 water and vinegar solution and then going over the shelves again with a vanilla extract laden cotton pad, the freezer ends up smelling nicely and the food no longer has a funk.

Another great use for vanilla extract is putting a tablespoon of vanilla in about a cup of water and then setting it in your microwave on high for about 3 minutes. The water will leave a fresh smelling mist on the inside of the microwave. Simply wipe off the residue and enjoy a cleaner microwave.

For more simple and natural home fresheners, methods to take the fast food smell out of your car, freshen your dog's bed and clean around the toilet, click on this article.