With the heat continuing to rise over the coming weeks, the warm temperatures can turn houses into an oven. Heat can then make unpleasant and unwanted smells inside the home more prominent.
If these smells become inescapable, there are a few things you can do to prevent them. Chantel Mila, known as Mama Mila on TikTok, shared three hacks that will help your home get cleaner and smell amazing. They’re also incredibly cheap to do, so you won’t need to fork out an arm and a leg.
Dishwashers can turn musty when they’re not thoroughly cleaned. A build-up of food residue, grease, and the growth of bacteria and mould inside the appliance can lead to unpleasant smells.
Other contributing factors could be a clogged filter or drain, or even the dishwasher seals hiding leftover residue. To combat these odours, Chantel advised putting baking soda into an empty dishwasher and running it on a regular cycle.
Baking soda helps to banish any unwanted odours by neutralising those which are acidic. As baking soda is an alkaline, when it comes into contact with acidic odours, it reacts to neutralise them.
The chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acid neutralises or produces a less odorous compound. Ultimately changing the pH level helps eliminate the bad smell.
Baking soda not only helps neutralise odours, but also works to remove any dirt or grime that’s built up inside the appliance.
You can also deodorise fabric furniture with a cloth or towel dipped in a solution of soda water and washing up liquid. Mix one cup of soda water and one tablespoon of washing up liquid in a bowl or plate.
Place a towel or cloth flat before placing a saucepan lid in the centre. Turn up the four corners around the handle, making sure your hand grips the towel around the handle, stretching out the cloth.
Dip into the solution, and wipe over the furniture. This will work on various types of fabric surfaces.
Lastly, create a wonderful sweet smelling scent around the home by placing two tablespoons of vanilla extract into an oven safe dish. Place in a warm oven for 10 minutes, before opening the door and releasing the fragrance into the kitchen.