Smellicious

In many areas living small is just a bit different than living in a house of a regular size. I have already highlighted many topics when it comes to tiny living but I have never talked about smells in the house. In a small house, odors linger longer and are more present. Do you have to take this into account? You do when you are sensitive to it. But in general, odors in the house are easy to combat and it is no reason not to opt for a Tiny House. I would like to give you a few tips and points for consideration.

You can get used to everything..?

When I just moved into my Tiny House, it made me so happy: the smell of the wood my house is made of! Lovely, just like living in a Swedish log cabin. Or in a sauna. Although personally, I’m not big fan of saunas. But that wonderful scent… Unfortunately, I could only enjoy it briefly. Because, as with most odors, you get used to it and then you don’t smell it anymore. Too bad huh! However, not all odors are desirable. Unfortunately, you sometimes also have to deal with less delicate scents in the house. For example, cooking odors, your compost toilet that needs to be emptied and… smelly little farts :P

Simple steps to combat odors

You want your Tiny House to smell nice and fresh, both for yourself and for your visitors. Keeping your house nice and clean and aired regularly is of course step 1. Naturally, good ventilation is a must in any Tiny House because of moisture, so keep those ventilation grilles open and also open a window occasionally to air everything thoroughly. Empty your compost toilet on time and wash the pillows of your couch or chair regularly if possible. Did you know that baking soda is a great way to combat odors? It is cheap, environmentally friendly and very effective. You can also use it to make cleaning products yourself, but that is another subject. If you cannot wash the cushions of your furniture, you can sprinkle baking soda over the upholstery and let it sit for a while. You can then vacuum it with a vacuum cleaner. Empty your trash can and change the litter box in time. Well, those are logical things, right?

Odor alert

Odors have their purpose! Smell also indicates when something is wrong. If there is always a stale smell in your house, then there may be a problem with moisture and mold. Be alert and take action if you notice this. You not only want to remove the annoying odor from the house but also prevent unhealthy situations.

Cooking smells

During cooking, odors are being released that are sometimes welcome and sometimes less so. Freshly baked apple pie? Bring it on! Cooked Brussels sprouts? … I don’t have a cooker hood in my house and I sometimes get asked questions about it. I have a large window in my kitchen which I open when I start cooking and that is enough for me. I am not too bothered by those cooking odors; they disappear quickly enough. Especially when I also open a window at the top of the loft. But a hood is a great option if you are very sensitive to cooking odors. If you really want to prepare a particular dish on a regular basis that you are sure will cause unpleasant smells in the house, you may need to consider creating a second cooking facility outside. Like a cozy cooking pot on a tripod above a fire!

Air freshener

Dirty odors are more present in a Tiny House, but also nice odors. Therefore, if you decide to bring an air freshener into your home, then make sure it has a subtle and natural scent. A small bottle of fragrance oil with wooden sticks in it is more than enough. If I bring something like that into the house, I put it in the bathroom, and the whole house smells nice. I myself am not a fan of those chemical odors, so I don’t buy them. But everyone’s taste is different, so do what pleases you. There are also natural options such as putting some fresh herbs from the garden in a vase. Or make a clove pomander, which is fun to do as well as creating a lovely scent!

With a small burner for essential oil you can keep bringing in other divine scents, depending on your mood. Some of these oils also seem to improve indoor air quality. Essential oils are powerful and I recommend that you consult an expert if you want to do more with them. Lavender and lemon oils are fairly harmless and can be used in an oil burner. I burn an incense stick now and then, but finish it halfway through, since that’s enough for me. In this way I also enjoy two times from one stick. My favorite scent is cinnamon, but I also like to burn cedar wood incense. Smellicious!