Fresh spring air: take it outside and bring it inside. Our #4 tip involves taking your home items — like duvets, wool blankets, and rugs — outside to air them out, and our #5 tip involves ways to freshen your air inside. Jump below more:

Bring It Out:

At the end of a long winter, your duvets, blankets and rugs could probably use a good airing out. Some of these items are hard to wash or require professional cleaning, but it's amazing what a good beat-down and airing outside on a warm, spring day will do to refresh them. If you have a clothesline, all the better! If not, try and hang your duvet out your window for a few hours. In Europe, it's actually a pretty common occurrence to see duvets hanging out the window!

Bring It in:

Open your windows to let some fresh air in. But, if your allergies are bothering you, check out these posts on some natural indoor air fresheners:

• 12 DIY Spring Air Freshener Ideas: think simmering citrus peel and fresh mint or basil on the stove, or creating a mixture of essential oils, like lavender, and spraying it around the house.
• 12 DIY Air Fresheners: from Ohdeedoh
• How To Make a Reed Diffuser: use your favorite essential oil scent.
• Bring Green Scent To Your Home
• Replace Your Artificial Fragrances
• How To Make Your Own Clothing Freshener and Eewrinkler

What are some of your favorite spring scents? Tell us below!

Related Links:

Spring Cleaning Tip #3: Get Inspired
Spring Cleaning Tip #2: Don't Get Overwhelmed!
Spring Cleaning Tip #1: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Images: Duvet by so gesehen; clothespin image by John-Morgan; lavender image by m@rg, all licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Originally published 2009-05-15 - CB