Parilov - stock.adobe.com When it comes to keeping a home smelling cozy and inviting, many folks find themselves relying on temporary fixes that fade fast. In a thread on r/CleaningTips, one person asked how to make their home smell nice for a long period of time — and without using lots of artificial products. In response, redditors are offering up their best-smelling suggestions. 1. Simmer pots for a natural aroma A pot of boiling water and simple household ingredients is a time-tested method that relies on natural elements like spices, fruit peels, and herbs to create a welcoming atmosphere. Comment in r/CleaningTips Simmer pots are my go to. Yes it still requires something to be monitored, but it’s going to be the safest option in regards to being chemical free and “pet safe”. Any too old to eat but still not rotten fruit, a cinnamon stick and a sprinkle of some cloves simmering in water, a dash of vanilla if you’re feeling fancy and the house will smell what cozy feels like. Comment in r/CleaningTips I had a friend years ago that cleaned houses for real estate agents when they were listed. He would put potpourri (sometimes homemade) on the stove in a pot with water as soon as he started, and remove it when he finished. The Salespeople loved him. He was doing so well he moved to Florida to do it there full time. Comment in r/CleaningTips I do that at Christmas too by adding homemade dehydrated orange slices ( easy just low & slow in oven. I had more vibrant results using air fryer to dehydrate them, fresh cranberries, lemon juice, and sprigs of rosemary 2. Air circulation and fresh breezes Sometimes the smartest solution is simply opening the windows and allowing cross breezes to push stale odors out of the living space. Comment in r/CleaningTips I open the windows to get fresh air. I do this even in cold weather and it seems to make a big difference. Comment in r/CleaningTips Just keeping the house cleaned and dusted. Plus opening the windows everyday for about 15-30 minutes. 3. Essential oils and smart diffusers A diffuser system offers a steady release of gentle scents and could even replicate a spa experience right in the living room. Comment in r/CleaningTips For me the answer is a beautiful diffuser with a sparing amount of essential oils that I hand mix. I did it for myself bc I am a scent girl, moments in time, memories, I love (non-overpowering) natural smelling scents. People always comment how my home has that faint calming spa smell. I just never want it to be overpowering. Some faves are lavender and eucalyptus. Geranium and mint. Lemon and ylang ylang. Blue chamomile and clary sage. Just a few drops in a lot of water. Comment in r/CleaningTips I have a Pura diffuser on each floor and really like them. I like that you can set schedules for it to run certain times, you can change the intensity level since some scents are naturally stronger than others, and rotating back and forth between the 2 scents helps prevent nose blindness. Lots of seasonal scent options too. Comment in r/CleaningTips I love our diffuser. Doesn't have the risk of open flames or hot wax, and they throw scent really well. In Australia we have the brand "dusk" that has countless options. I like the warmer scents with amber notes. It smells clean and expensive. 4. Deep cleaning the sneaky spots Lingering odors frequently originate from forgotten corners and hidden nooks, and cleaning these areas can yield the greatest improvement in indoor freshness. Comment in r/CleaningTips Currently in a hyper fixation on cleaning, no judgement I know this is not always possible by everyone. Clean your drains, dishwasher, washing machines, fridge coils, garbage cans, the sneaky one that was making my bedroom stink is CPAP machine. The seals on my appliances were neglected a lot. I steam clean my mattresses and couch/chairs every month or two, clean blankets and pillow covers. You can shake baking soda on your carpet before you vacuum. Bathrooms I have good luck with enzyme cleaner and a black light, obvs toilet cleaner, but just dawn dish soap as my main cleaner, or vinegar and microfiber cloths. Comment in r/CleaningTips Vacuum, mop, dust- of course. Cook stinky food outside. Use air purifiers all over. Get a cold air diffuser with a white tea/hotel scent. Comment in r/CleaningTips Much to my disdain, it’s truly a lot about keeping your home clean. Vacuuming and mopping are worth investing the time into and don’t underestimate the impact of smelly laundry. I’m not sure how dryer maintenance techs would feel about this, but we put essential oil on our dryer balls. It makes our clothes smell great and it spreads throughout the house 5. Washing the window treatments and fabrics Establishing a regular routine for cleaning household fabrics ensures that environmental odors don't persist. Comment in r/CleaningTips I find washing the curtains and keeping the windows open as much as possible, very helpful Comment in r/CleaningTips This was something I figured out— washing curtains, cleaning carpets and rugs, and washing any walls or fixtures around the kitchen really helped pull some smells out of the last place I lived in that just had a funk— and yes, I kept windows open as much as possible, but that house was directly across from a highway and a train track, so air quality was not good by opening windows, which I know this subreddit loves to recommend (and it’s true!). But for folks in neighborhoods that can’t do all that, keep on top of washing the comforters, the curtains, the kitchen area, and any pet areas, and that should help. 6. Investing in air filtration Keeping the climate systems on the inside of the house fresh means air can circulate properly without distributing trapped dust. Comment in r/CleaningTips You might need to get your hvac ducts cleaned if you haven’t done in years. Also check what MERV rating on your filter is best for your filter model. Filter might not be doing its best job. But if rating is too high (beyond model’s recommendation), it might not be filtering properly, hardly at all, and can ultimately break your furnace. Comment in r/CleaningTips Yes, changing out a lower rated (and probably cheaper) filter more often is far better for your fan than the high performance HEPA filters. Source: 30+ years in the HVAC business 7. Accepting that clean means unscented Sometimes the goal should be leaning into scent neutrality to create the most genuinely refreshing environment. Comment in r/CleaningTips The way our sense of smell works, once you smell something for a few minutes we don't register it anymore. You're just having nose blindness to any of the scents you're adding. Also just going to add that no smell = clean. Anything added is just masking. Comment in r/CleaningTips Unscented everything. I’m allergic as hell to scented laundry sheets, fabric softeners, and laundry soap. That stinky stuff all smells like bug spray. Glade plug ins gave my auntie COPD. Her doctor finally figured it out when she was down to 24% lung function and had her get rid of them. She finally stabilized afterwards. She had one of those damn things in every room. I used to have to take my asthma puffer before visiting her. I used to work with someone who’d go into anaphylactic shock if exposed to fake lemon or pine scents. Open a window, wash stuff with one of the many unscented products on the market and get a hepa filter. The companies who make scented products aren’t required to reveal what is in them. It’s considered a trade secret. Maintaining a wonderfully fragrant home doesn't require artificial-smelling sprays and synthetic candles. Embracing a neutral baseline makes it much easier to introduce subtle, natural scents when you really want them. What is your favorite trick for a great-smelling space? Read the full thread in r/CleaningTips, and find similar conversations in r/HomeImprovement, r/homemaking, and r/organization. This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.