The cat shat on the mat – natural alternatives to chemical air fresheners

One of the downsides to having an elderly cat is their lack of bladder and bowel control. Our remaining feline is 15 years young and is, what’s known in the trade as officially, ‘losing it’. She is an outdoor girl, being a farm cat originally and so she is used to sleeping outside.

Little Miss Green has been suffering from insomnia recently. It is the CFL in her bedroom I wonder? She got up the other night at silly o’clock, let the cat in, fell asleep and el catto did a shatto because she couldn’t get out of the house.

Mummy Green was not impressed when she got up in the morning to be greeted, bleary-eyed with 6 hour old cat poop to clear up.

I cleaned it up and wanted to freshen the air – hence the writing of this post. Do you know how conventional air fresheners work? They either overpower the scent you want to mask with a potent blend of harsh chemicals or coat the inner nose with a chemical to block the olfactory nerve. Yikes!

You know that ingredient called ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’? It’s a cocktail of artificial fragrances containing formaldehyde and other ingredients that cause allergies, attack the central nervous system and are known carcinogens.

So what is a girl to do when her house smells of stinky cat poo?

Obviously, a bad smell means a bad problem so the first thing is to eradicate the source of the smell. I had already done that and just wanted to freshen things up a little while the smell dissipated naturally.

Joss sticks made from all natural ingredients or soy-based candles using pure essential oils are good, but they are not instant. They are my preferred method for a gentle evening scent however once Little Miss Green is in bed and I want to relax.

Bicarbonate of soda, vinegar or a chopped onion will absorb smells. These are great to keep in the kitchen and fridge. They don’t give off a smell of their own, but they work at absorbing unwanted odours such as cooking smells.

An oil burner is a good idea to create a good, fresh smell in the home. You can choose your scent to match your mood. Lemon, lime and grapefruit is uplifting. Basil and rosemary will help you concentrate. Cinnamon and frankincense adds an evocative scent at Christmas time and eucalyptus and tea tree will fight infections.

In the case of ‘I need a good smell and I need it now’, you can’t beat a plant mister filled with water and essential oils. This is the simple, natural equivalent of an air freshener. We have two bottles on hand here at Chez Green. The one in the kitchen has 6 drops of lavender and 6 drops of lemon in it. It almost makes cleaning a joy!
The one we use as an ‘air freshener’ has lavender, rose and benzoin in it.

A few whiffs of that and you can forget your anger towards the cat (and the child who let her in).

If you’re just not geared up to do a little DIY air freshening yet, then click on over to Natural Collection where you can purchase a bottle of Uni-fresh Aromatherapy Air Fresheners by Earth Friendly . These are the convenient and eco-friendly way to keep your home smelling sweet. Made using GM-free plant ingredients and essential oils they will keep your home smelling fresh without the use of chemicals. Choose from cinnamon, citrus, lavender, parsley or vanilla.

What do you use to keep your home smelling sweet?