Buzz
I’m always searching for new ways to make my home (and everything else) smell great, though with mixed results. TikTok and other platforms are full of so-called hacks to make scents last longer, but most of them don't work for me. However, this one does.
Use household cleaner to boost your home's fragrance
I stumbled upon a TikTok video where a woman simply filled her sink with hot water and added a cup of household cleaner, claiming it makes the entire place smell fantastic.
I've had my fair share of disappointing results with household cleaner scent hacks, but this one didn’t raise any red flags. It seemed almost too simple, so I decided to give it a go. I grabbed my trusty Fabuloso and ran to my sink—only to remember that I lost the plug after switching to a pink debris catcher that matches my decor and keeps crumbs from clogging the plumbing, but doesn’t stop up the drain. I decided to try a large bowl filled with hot water and half a cup of Fabuloso to really test it. Could a smaller vessel create a lasting fragrance?
The answer was a resounding yes. It worked instantly. After filling the bowl, I left the kitchen and returned five minutes later to find the whole area smelling wonderful. A few minutes later, the scent reached my living room, too. The tip is to leave the hot, cleaner-infused water for an hour, then discard it for all-day freshness. It really works. I can’t wait to experiment with other scents and types of cleaners.
The scent is far stronger than when I mop with Fabuloso, probably because it’s more concentrated, and the very hot water helps release it into the air.
Ineffective smell hacks
There are other hacks that suggest boiling old air freshener wicks or household cleaners to achieve the same result, but you really shouldn’t because that can be hazardous. What I appreciate about this simple hot water method is that it doesn’t involve boiling at all, so there’s no risk of overheating anything or contaminating your cooking tools with potentially toxic substances.
That said, I’ve never had any luck with the more natural methods either. A common social media tip involves boiling lemons to make your home smell citrusy. I tried it, and it simply doesn’t work. It’s a waste of lemons. Best to steer clear of that one.
The classic, reliable solution
While my home still smells of Fabuloso, and I’m confident it will for a long time, I recently came to the realization that the best home fragrance hack is actually the most conventional. I’ve tried all sorts of air fresheners over the years, and they’ve all worked, though the scents faded quickly. Last month, I discovered a new one that is so powerful, the fragrance lingers for days, even after I unplug it. It’s called a Wallflower, and I was so impressed that I bought one for my mom and boyfriend. They both reported the same thing: the scent stays long after it’s unplugged. To me, that’s fantastic, but if that’s too much for you, I understand. Stick with the hack above. Here’s the freshener I got, and I’ll never be without it again:
