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Drive away odours with homemade air fresheners
IN the spring season, natural fragrances and scents abound as Mother Earth is bedecked in all her floral finery. The simplest way to get a whiff of these natural fragrances inside and give the home an air of freshness is to suffuse the rooms with a variety of blooms. They will not only lend colour but also freshen up the musty interiors and get rid of any odours that may have been trapped inside owing to the windows and doors mostly remaining shut during winter. Apart from flowers there are many household herbs and spices that can drive away odours and freshen up the air indoors. They are, in fact, more fragrant and effective than commercial air fresheners, which generally mask one odour with another, coat your nasal passages with an undetectable oil film, or even diminish your sense of smell with a nerve deadening agent. Circulate the air: An elementary step to drive out soul or stale odours is to open the windows or doors of the house for at least a short period every day. This will also help to reduce toxic fumes that may be building up indoors. Cinnamon and cloves: Boil these spices for a fragrant smell. For ease of cleaning, make a small muslin bag or potli to contain these spices, and boil the bag. An excellent alternative when entertaining is to steep spiced or herbal tea in the bag. Potpourri: Make a potpourri from your favourite herbs and spices. Place the potpourri in a small basket or jar or in net sachets and hang or place them in different corners of the house. Eucalyptus oil:
Dampen cotton balls with eucalyptus oil and place out of sight but near
window sills where the air will touch them. |
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Vanilla or pineapple essence: This can be used as a mild fragrance. Dip cotton balls in the essence and place them in a small saucer. You can even place the saucer in the refrigerator to remove odours. But be cautious and keep the cotton ball out of the reach of children. Baking soda: Place a partially filled saucer of baking soda on the refrigerator shelf. Replace every two months and when you do, pour the contents of the used box down the drain to remove odours and keep the drain clean. Baking soda can also be used to deodorise bottles by filling them with undiluted baking soda and allowing the bottles to soak overnight. Then wash as usual. Borax: Empty the garbage bin frequently and clean it as needed. To inhibit growth of odour-producing moulds and bacteria, sprinkle 1/2 cup borax in the bottom of the garbage can. Celery stalk: To avoid or remove onion odours from your hands, rub your hands with the end of a celery stalk. To banish onion odour from the kitchen, place celery stalks at strategic places on the working slabs. The key to having an odour-free house lies in experimenting with as many natural herbs or shrubs around you and making the indoors get a whiff of the fragrances that bountiful nature provides us with. — Chetna Banerjee |
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