Easy Ways to Maintain a Fresh and Welcoming Home

Creating and maintaining a fresh home can sometimes feel impossible, especially if you have pets or kids running around. However, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can use that will make it easier than ever. Vacuum Regularly  The first thing you should do is to vacuum regularly. Many people still underestimate the difference a thorough vacuum can make, even if your floors and carpets don’t look or feel dirty or grimy.   If you haven’t already, check out a Black Friday vacuum sale or two and find a machine that is not only powerful and effective, but also affordable; it is well worth the investment.  Freshen Up Carpets & Rugs Once you have vacuumed, it is always best to freshen up your carpets and rugs. While they look great and keep your home feeling warm and cozy, the downside of carpets is that they hold onto odors and dirt better than any other type of flooring.   Because of this, the first thing you can do is use a powder deodorizer to help mask and hide any bad scents. If that isn’t enough, it is best to rent a deep-cleaning vacuum for a day and give your carpets a proper clean.  Dust Weekly Dust is a major problem when it comes to keeping your house feeling fresh, as you can’t often see it, and by the time you start “feeling” it, there is so much that you need to spend the entire day cleaning.   Instead, even if you think your home doesn’t need it, take an hour or two once a week to dust all your surfaces, door frames, etc. Two additional tips: dust from top to bottom so the excess lands on the floor, and always vacuum on the same day you do your dusting.  Disinfect the Bathroom & Kitchen The bathroom and kitchen are two areas where odors can form, and there are often many patches of hidden dirt and grime. While you don’t need to do a deep clean all the time, the best is to simply take a cloth and disinfectant spray and wipe down all of the surfaces.   For the kitchen, clean your stove, microwave, etc, as this is where old food odors can get out of hand. If and when possible, always cook with a window open to let the food odors escape and keep the air in these spaces feeling fresh.  Clean Your Shower/Bath Your shower and bath can also be the scene of unwanted odors. They gather dirt quite easily, and the drains, if left uncleaned, can start to smell. Therefore, clean your drains out at least once a week, and wipe down your bath and shower at the same time.  Wash & Change Bathroom Linen Due to the moisture that your bathroom is constantly exposed to, the towels, carpets, wash cloths, etc, can and will hold onto that moisture and start to smell, similar to how clothes smell if you leave them in the washing machine without hanging them all up.  While hanging them outside of the bathroom to dry will work for a bit, the quicker solution is to simply change out and wash your bathroom linens weekly.  Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash Fresh Air One of the simplest and best things you can do to add some freshness to your home is to open a window or two and let the breeze in. A steady breeze can remove some odors, dry out moisture, and get rid of that stale feeling you may experience if you have had all your windows and doors closed for a few days.  This is particularly important in Winter, as moisture build-up is incredibly common, and sometimes hard to avoid, especially if you can’t open your windows for a week or two because of the cold or snow.  Don’t Forget Hidden Spots Once you have done all your cleaning and you sit down to enjoy it, there is a good chance you will get a feeling that something isn’t right. More often than not, this is because you haven’t cleaned the sneaky, hidden spots that are all around your house.  These spots can include the tops of picture frames, behind doors, behind and underneath tables and couches, etc. Ignoring these spots can be a problem simply because so much dirt and grime can gather and go uncleaned for weeks, if not months.  Add Some Plants Houseplants, especially the right ones, can be your secret weapon when it comes to keeping your home feeling and smelling fresh. A Peace Lily, for example, is exceptional at cleaning the air. Adding a few of these around your home will make a much bigger difference than you may think.  Photo by Barbara Burgess on Unsplash Control/Reduce Clutter Finally, clutter is another reason why your home isn’t feeling as fresh as you want it to. Even if nothing is dirty, clutter makes your home feel unclean and untidy, and there isn’t much you can do about it other than clean it up.  If you own a lot of stuff, finding better ways to store it can be a game-changer. Investing in a chest of drawers or two, or some storage boxes, will not only make cleaning easier, but they will also give you space to pack your things away.