When you remain indoors for longer, you tend to notice a few odors around the house. At first, these smells may not seem so overwhelming. But leaving this problem unchecked can have foul repercussions. Also, why breathe in unhealthy air when you can explore simple DIY hacks and odor-blocking ideas readily available for use? Here are the top 15 things to do at home to ensure the air around the house stays pure and fresh. Baking soda to the rescue Odors are generally emitted from damp, dirty, and dingy corners of the home or the kitchen when preparing food. Baking soda does a wonderful job of absorbing odors. It is cheap, can be bought in bulk, and all you need to do is sprinkle some around the house in hidden corners. Repeat this exercise every week to maximize its potency. Make some natural air fresheners You can use plenty of simple everyday-use ingredients from the pantry to make a DIY natural air freshener. Vinegar, lemon water, baking soda, coffee grounds, and even vanilla extracts are potent solutions for odor repellents and can be placed in bowls around the house. Use potpourri One of the most commonly used ingredients for this job is potpourri.

A spic-and-span washroom is a sign of a clean and hygienic home. Maintaining a clean toilet is all about using the right products and following certain cleaning practices systematically. Today, the market is loaded with multipurpose cleaners and disinfectant products that are highly effective, facilitating a clean washroom. However, it is also essential to avoid certain cleaning mistakes, which can lead to hygiene problems. Some such common toilet-cleaning mistakes are as follows: Treating all bathroom surfaces similarly Each surface in a bathroom typically has different textures, requiring different cleaning products to be used for each. For example, a mildly abrasive cleaner should be used to remove scum, whereas non-abrasives are ideal for tiles, and bathtubs. Not cleaning the toilet brush The toilet brush can be a petri dish for bacteria and germs if left uncleaned and can lead to major hygiene issues eventually. It is advisable to clean the toilet brush thoroughly after every use, preferably by filling a bucket with warm water, adding some bleach to it, and leaving the brush in this solution for an hour. The brush should then be rinsed with fresh warm water before use. Not cleaning the exhaust fan An exhaust fan is essential in the bathroom to get rid of odor, moisture, humidity, etc.

Window blinds are an essential part of home decor, providing privacy, light control, and aesthetic appeal. However, they can quickly become a breeding ground for dust, grime, and allergens, making it essential to keep them clean. So, regardless of the kind of blinds you have—wooden, vinyl, or fabric—here is a comprehensive guide with all the necessary steps to clean your window blinds and keep them dust-free for a long time. Key cleaning supplies Before you start cleaning the blinds, you must have the following: microfiber cloth or duster, a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, mild detergent, warm water, a bucket, a spray bottle, and clean water for rinsing. Cleanup process The first step for cleaning your window blinds is to close the blinds entirely and dust them with a microfiber cloth or duster. If your blinds are particularly dirty, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to get rid of any debris or dust. Here is all you need to know about working with different types of blinds: Horizontal blinds: If you are working with horizontal blinds, tilt the slats in one direction, and clean each slat with a microfiber cloth or duster. Once done, tilt the blinds in the opposite direction and repeat the process.

Clutter can be stressful for many people. A cluttered home can make it difficult to find things, create unnecessary distractions, and contribute to a general feeling of disorganization. If you are overwhelmed by the mess, one of the best things you can do is start decluttering. There are some effective strategies to eliminate unnecessary items and create a more organized, stress-free home. In addition, one must avoid certain decluttering mistakes like the ones mentioned below. Common decluttering mistakes to avoid Not having a plan One of the biggest mistakes people make when decluttering is they start without a proper plan. It is important to take a step back and consider what you want to achieve and how you will do it. Create a plan that includes what you want to keep, what you want to donate, and things you want to throw away. It will assist you in remaining focused and motivated during the procedure. Being too sentimental Sentimental items can be difficult to let go of, but it’s important to be realistic about what you can keep. Retain only the things you truly cherish, and consider taking photos of items that you can’t keep. Holding onto things Another common mistake is holding onto items thinking you might need them someday.

Gardening as a hobby can help one remain fit; however, that’s not its only advantage. Gardening has proved to possess both physical and mental health benefits, and it can provide a much-needed break from the sedentary lifestyle most people lead. Nevertheless, in the process of trial and error, many people make common mistakes at the beginning of their gardening journey. Keep reading further to learn about these gardening mistakes and tips on avoiding them. 5 common gardening mistakes to avoid Planting too much Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned gardener, one of the common gardening mistakes made by people is to go overboard while planting vegetables or fruits in the garden. While the idea of a bountiful harvest is quite tempting, it often comes with its share of problems, including decreased weeding and watering. Furthermore, maintaining a big garden full of plants can take up a lot of time and energy. Hence, experts suggest having short-term goals and planting veggies or fruits that can be used regularly, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. Forgetting to interplant Sometimes, in order to have a uniform-looking garden, many people opt for a single type of plant. However, intercropping or interplanting has a wide range of benefits.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, maintaining a lush, green lawn requires a great deal of effort. Usually, you might have to divide the process into daily and weekly tasks. For instance, you might have to water your lawn daily and weed the grass weekly. On that note, here are a few more lawn care tips that will help you nurture your lawn and keep it healthy and evergreen. Lawn care tips Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re tending to your lawn: Mow the grass Mowing is essential to achieving a flourishing lawn. Here are a few tips that can help you achieve that: as a standard rule, don’t cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade length, as longer grass blades can grow deeper root systems. Additionally, mix up your mowing patterns. You might also have to mow your lawn regularly during certain seasons, for example, spring, as grass tends to grow at a faster rate when compared to summer, when growth is stunted. Know how and when to water Depending on where you live, you can invest in an irrigation system or let the rain do the job of watering your lawn.

Most people know the basic rule of doing laundry, i.e., putting colored and white clothes in different loads. At times, this can be tedious. However, there are other mistakes you can make during the process. Certain mistakes can also compromise the mechanism of the washer or dryer and sometimes even damage the clothes. Here are some common laundry mistakes you can avoid to increase the life of your clothes and washing machine. Using too much laundry detergent Many believe putting more detergent in the washer will make the clothes cleaner. But this is far from the truth. Usually, using more laundry detergent than necessary can lead to the creation of suds that may not wash away easily. This can often leave a sticky residue that may attract dirt and bacteria. Therefore, using the recommended detergent amount for the laundry load size is best. Failing to sort clothes by material While you might sort your clothes by color, you may make the mistake of not sorting them by material. While this may seem alright, it can cause immense damage to the clothes. For instance, putting heavy items like jeans in the same load as delicate fabrics can cause abrasion, permanently damaging the clothes.