‘Eco-friendly alternative’ banishes unpleasant smells from homes, claims expert

There’s nothing worse than entering a home only to find it smells unpleasant.

Even the most luxurious, modern homes with brand-new furnishings can be marred by a pungent, off-putting smell.

Unpleasant smells like cigarette smoke, mould and pets are likely to put buyers off.

Unfortunately, homeowners become accustomed to certain scents in their property over time so are unlikely to notice whether their home smells unpleasant.

Those who are unsure whether their home smells unpleasant should ask someone who doesn’t live in the home to smell the air.

READ MORE: ‘Natural’ methods to banish fruit flies from homes, according to an expert

Getting rid of bad smells and replacing them with a fresh, clean atmosphere will make a property more attractive.

With this in mind, Sue Caldwell, managing director of the multi-award-winning, eco-friendly cleaning brand Clean Living International, shared some of her eco-cleaning hacks with Express.co.uk to “help get your home sparkling”.

One of Sue’s eco-cleaning hacks involved making homes smell more appealing without using pungent chemicals.

She explained: “Many scented candles contain toxins, particularly paraffins, which are damaging to us, especially if you suffer from respiratory issues such as asthma.

“A great eco-friendly alternative is to soak a cotton wool ball in your favourite essential oil and place it in hidden spots around the home, such as in vases, drawers, or even in the bottom of bins to provide a beautiful fragrance.”

Other smells that can put buyers off a property include cooking smells.

While the scent of garlic, chips, fried onions and fish can smell delicious at the time, they can be off-putting.

Homeowners should remember that what smells delicious to them may smell terrible to other people.

Cleaning products are also another divisive smell. Some people like the smell of bleach and disinfectants but this can be unpleasant to some individuals.

When it comes to selling a property, certain smells can be more attractive than others.

While coffee and freshly baked bread or cookies are the scents that most people think of, these could distract buyers.

Instead, homeowners should go for citrus, pine, jasmine and cinnamon smells which will make a home smell clean, fresh and homely.