Cleaning experts have shared a simple and affordable hack to make your home smell amazing – and all you need is a common kitchen ingredient
It’s August and with the warm weather making a comeback, many will be considering barbecues, parties and social gatherings to make the most of the hotter conditions.
There’s nothing quite as rewarding as getting the house spotless even if it’s mainly for your guests’ benefit rather than your own, and now cleaning specialists have shared an unexpected trick to help eliminate stale odours and persistent smells.
Simply sprinkling cinnamon into your vacuum cleaner could help make your home smell delightful without costing a fortune (or damaging your machine).
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After years of usage, many hoovers will begin to smell rather tired. Dust, dirt, mud, pet fur and general filth and debris are hardly a recipe for freshness, and sometimes just operating the vacuum for thirty minutes can leave your house ponging a bit, reports the Express.
According to Lottomart, adding a dash of cinnamon straight into your vacuum offers two advantages: it distributes a lovely, clean scent around the house each time you vacuum.
Plus, it also possesses antimicrobial qualities, meaning harmful bacteria lurking in your carpet will be eliminated as well. They explained: “Over time, dust, pet hair, and trapped dirt can create a breeding ground for bacteria and unpleasant odours inside your vac.
“But before you splash out on pricey fresheners or replace parts, there’s a simple, natural, and shockingly cheap solution hiding right in your spice cupboard: cinnamon!
“Cinnamon isn’t just for cooking – it’s a powerful, natural deodoriser with antibacterial properties. If you don’t already have some ground cinnamon at home, a 36g tub from Tesco or Asda costs just £1.”
To utilise cinnamon for making your vacuum smell amazing, you’ll need to begin by grabbing a small tissue or cotton pad and moistening it with warm water.
Then, scatter around 10g, roughly two teaspoons, of ground cinnamon onto the damp tissue or cotton pad, gently working it in to make sure it’s evenly spread.
When the tissue is prepared, simply pop it inside the vacuum cleaner’s bag or dustbin. If your vacuum is bag-less, position it inside the waste/dustbin section where it won’t block the suction.
Now, vacuum as usual, and throughout the process, the cinnamon-soaked tissue will move through the machine, giving off a warm, bakery-style aroma and eliminating any nasty whiffs.
A spokesperson for Lottomart said: “Unlike chemical air fresheners or commercial cleaners, cinnamon neutralises bad smells at the source while leaving behind a warm, subtle fragrance. It’s a far more pleasant, long-lasting scent compared to synthetic alternatives.”
Science journals suggest that cinnamon’s antibacterial or antimicrobial properties could be beneficial. IOP Science states: “Cinnamon bark has been commonly used as spicy and traditional medicine. It contains several antibacterial compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and cinnamaldehyde. Several studies have been done to know the antibacterial effect on bacteria such as Streptococcus in vitro.”