Smell isn’t the first sense we think of when it comes to a restful night's sleep, but maybe it should be. We typically associate discomfort, light exposure and noise disturbance with disrupted sleep, however lingering odours have also been linked to poor sleep quality.
A clean, fresh-smelling bedroom is of course the ideal scenario, but it doesn’t always come easily - especially if you have teenagers in the house! These natural tips will not only eliminate odours but will help to naturally purify the air to help promote a healthy mind and body. After all, we do spend 30% of our lives in bed!
Fresh air
We all know that bedrooms don’t smell their freshest first thing in the morning. The quickest and easiest way to get rid of any musty aromas is to throw open your windows every morning (weather permitting!) and let the fresh air work its wonders. Getting the air moving and letting the natural daylight into your room is a sure-fire way to start the day on a high!
Clean your mattress
Mix up a jar of baking soda along with 20-30 drops of our favourite essential oils - we like to use lavender for the bedroom as it’s got brilliant natural sleep enhancing properties, but other more herbal scents like Clary Sage also work well! Next time you wash your sheets, sprinkle the combined mixture directly onto your mattress and gently rub into the fabric. Leave to work for a few hours (or whilst your bedding dries) then simply vacuum off. Note: this may not be suitable for all mattresses, we recommend checking the label.
Natural air freshener
Similarly to the above, we like to mix essential oils with bicarbonate of soda to create a natural air freshener that neutralises odours and helps to purify the air.
Top tip: You can make this up in larger batches and place several smaller dishes around the house!
Natural room spray
Follow this simple recipe to create a natural, beautifully scented room spray. Combine the following ingredients in an old spray bottle:
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200ml distilled water (or boiled then cooled down)
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2 teaspoons rubbing alcohol (this can be bought in pharmacies or online)
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Approx. 20 drops of essential oils
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1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (optional)
Shake well before use to combine the essential oils with the alcohol and water.
Top tip: our favourite oils to use in this are lavender and chamomile, but if you prefer a more energising scent then opt for grapefruit or lemon!
Regular dusting
Aside from making your room look and feel dirty, a layer of dust can also have a big impact on the smell and air quality in your bedroom. We like to use Counter Clean multisurface spray on all the surfaces in our bedroom to keep dust and dirt at bay and leave a lovely, natural aroma.
Top tip: dust from top to bottom to avoid dust settling onto surfaces you’ve already cleaned!
Clean your carpet
A brilliant way to get rid of mild odours that build up on carpet over time is by sprinkling some bicarb over high-use areas. For best results, we recommend leaving to work for a day (or longer if you can) before vacuuming up.
Move your laundry basket
Most of us keep our laundry baskets in the bedroom which, let’s face it, is generally the most convenient place. However, if you live in a sporty household with lots of smelly gym kit, you might want to rethink its placement. If you have space, the bathroom is a great alternative spot - or tucked away in the laundry room (very convenient for loading the machine!).
Let us know how you get on with these tips - we hope you enjoy a wonderful night's sleep!
