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Ways people freshened their homes before store-bought cleaners

Simple Skills By Oct 13, 2025 No Comments

Long before brightly colored bottles lined store shelves, families kept their homes clean and fresh with simple ingredients already on hand. These weren’t fancy products or expensive sprays, but humble items pulled from the pantry, garden, or hearth. What they lacked in packaging, they made up for in effectiveness—and many of these old-fashioned methods are just as useful today.

Vinegar for shine and freshness
If there was one cleaning staple nearly every household relied on, it was vinegar. Whether distilled or cider-based, vinegar was prized for cutting grease, shining windows, and removing odors. Families would mix it with water for everyday wiping or use it straight on tough spots. Beyond cleaning, its sharp scent also left rooms smelling bright and fresh in a way that soap and water alone couldn’t.

Herbs for fragrance and pest control
Before store-bought air fresheners, homes often smelled of herbs drying in bunches from rafters. Lavender, rosemary, mint, and thyme not only added a pleasant aroma but also helped keep insects at bay. Some households tucked sachets of dried herbs into drawers and linen cupboards, while others simmered handfuls of herbs in pots of water on the stove to gently scent the air.

Baking soda for scrubbing and deodorizing
Though it wasn’t packaged in big boxes until the 19th century, baking soda was quickly adopted by homemakers for its versatility. It polished pots, scrubbed sinks, and absorbed stubborn odors from pantries or iceboxes. Sprinkling it on carpets or mixing it into pastes for cleaning surfaces made it a quiet but powerful ally in keeping homes fresh.

Lemon and citrus peels for brightness
Families rarely wasted anything from the kitchen, and citrus peels were often saved for their fresh scent and natural cleaning power. Rubbing a cut lemon across a wooden surface or greasy pot helped cut through residue. Leftover peels were dried for fire starters or boiled in water to freshen the air. The bright, uplifting smell of lemon was one of the simplest ways to make a room feel clean.

Lye soap for everyday washing
Homemade lye soap was common on farms and in towns alike. Made from rendered fat and wood ash, it served as an all-purpose cleaner for laundry, dishes, and even scrubbing floors. While harsh by modern standards, it was effective and reliable. Its clean, simple scent often lingered through the house after wash day.

Open windows and fresh air
Sometimes the best way to freshen a home was the simplest: opening the windows. Families relied on breezes to carry away stale air, especially after cooking or heating with coal or wood. This daily habit not only improved air quality but also gave curtains and fabrics a chance to breathe.

Charcoal for odor control
Charcoal wasn’t just for cooking—it was also used to absorb moisture and smells. Placing small pieces in cellars, pantries, or cupboards helped keep spaces dry and free from musty odors. Today we see charcoal in modern air purifiers, but households once used it in its simplest form.

Flowers and greenery from the yard
A jar of lilacs on the kitchen table or a handful of pine boughs by the door served more than just decoration. Seasonal greenery brought natural fragrance indoors, marking the changing of the seasons. These touches kept homes feeling lively and fresh without costing a thing.

Why these old methods endure
What ties these practices together is their resourcefulness. Instead of buying a product for every task, families turned to what they already had. Vinegar, herbs, baking soda, soap, and fresh air worked in harmony to keep homes clean and inviting. They were inexpensive, effective, and part of daily life.

Today, many people are rediscovering these methods—not only for their simplicity, but also because they avoid harsh chemicals and connect us to the rhythms of earlier generations. Bringing back a jar of dried lavender, a box of baking soda, or a pot of simmering citrus isn’t just nostalgic—it’s a reminder that freshness doesn’t always have to come from a store shelf.

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