"Home is where the heart is" - and there is nothing like having a clean home that also smells nice. While we strive to maintain the air that we breathe within our houses as clean and pure as possible, we resort to using the commercial air fresheners available in the market today.

But did you know that aerosol air fresheners are bad, both for your health as well as for the environment and that they do nothing to freshen the air? In fact, most of them add more pollutants to the air by just masking the offensive odor! Environmentally friendly air fresheners are a great and easy way people can make a contribution to saving the planet in a small way.

So, here are 10 eco-friendly tips to help keep your home smelling great!

1. Cross ventilation - This is the old fashioned, yet the best way to circulate fresh air within your home. Keep the windows on the opposite walls of any room within your house open so that there is a continuous flow of air across the room. This method is also very effective in keeping your home cool with the minimal use of energy. 

2. Indoor plants or houseplants - Houseplants can contribute to ridding the indoor air of pollutants and toxins and maintaining balanced internal humidity. Some examples of the most effective indoor plants are Boston Fern, Rubber Plant, Dwarf Date Palm, Reed Palm and Areca Palm.

3. Homemade Potpourri - Instead of buying potpourri from stores which usually contain strong smelling synthetic scents, make your own potpourri at home by using dried flowers such as rose and lavender, dried citrus fruit slices, pinecones, mint, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Place them in a glass jar on your dining table or in a shallow, wooden bowl on your coffee table to add beauty and fragrance to the room.

4. Boiling natural ingredients - Another great way to have a fresh smelling home is to boil spices, fruit peels, leaves and herbs in water. Spices such as cinnamon sticks and cloves, herbs such as mint, rosemary and thyme, lemon and orange leaves or rinds emanate a natural fragrance when boiled in water and can help in eliminating any foul odors within your home.

5. Natural sprays - Make your own natural spray at home by using ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, vanilla or ginger extracts, citrus juices etc. Store it in a bottle and spray it as and when needed.

6. Essential Oils - Essential oils such as sandalwood, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus have a soothing scentl. You can use an aroma lamp to burn these oils which can help you de-stress as well as leave your home smelling sweet. 

7. Beeswax and other candles made out of natural products - If you like to burn scented candles around your house, use a naturally scented, non-petroleum based candle such as one made out of beeswax or soy blends.

8. Vinegar - Vinegar is one of the best known cleaning and odor eliminating agents. You can get rid of foul smells in any room simply by placing a bowl of vinegar in its corner.

9. Eco-friendly incense sticks - Practice aromatherapy by burning hand-made incense sticks made from natural ingredients. 

10. Fresh flowers - Last but not the least, bring fresh flowers into your home to make it smell good. Growing seasonal flowers in pots placed in your window sills can add to the freshness of your house.

Sources - http://www.hgtv.com