How to safely get a great smelling house with parrots?

[Oceanna]

How can we make our homes smell great when we have parrots?

I've read Febreeze, Glade Plug-Ins, scented candles, spray air fresheners, incense and essential oils are all no-no's, so have never used them around my birds. I've also avoided scented cleaners and potpourri, and sachets. Am I right that those are all unsafe? Nothing you can boil on top of your stove or spray out of a plastic spray bottle, or something?

I can close the birds off and air the place, and will do so. But I'd like to add a pretty scent for special company I have coming on Monday.

Can you put your birds in a separate room, close the door, stuff a towel under it, turn off the house heater, use those products, then open the bird's door or bring them out in an hour or so? Can you use Febreeze, for instance, then air the place out before letting your birds in the same air space?

What do you do? Thanks for any ideas.

[Wrong Bird Lady]

Great question and something I'd really like to know as well. Where we live is really dusty (it's a desert after all lol but it SMELLS dusty too) and because of the heat any left over food or the baby nappies stink the place out if you don't chuck them in the communal bin outside the gate

Would love to get the place smelling nice again

[marie83]

I wouldn't take the risk personally.

I've read bicarbonate of soda is good at getting rid of smells though so might be worth sprinkling some over your carpets and sofa, leaving it a while then hoovering off.
Also read a suggestion about boiling certain herbs, but I can't remember where so it might be something to google.

Or just do some baking right before your company arrives, that always smells nice.

[Michael]

How can we make our homes smell great when we have parrots?

Open the windows (of course with screens or while parrots are caged). Works every time! And doesn't cost anything

[Rokisha]

In addition to Michaels suggestion I would like to suggest cutting fresh flowers and putting them in vases or growing your own. If you want you could even buy the potted ones and hanging plants. As far as cleaning, I have found the shark products such as the steam mop, steam pocket, ect to work very well. Of course I got these mainly due to being pregnant and unable to deal with the smell of or handle many chemical products. I hope this helps.

[marie83]

If you go with the flowers/plant suggestion please be very careful that you choose ones that aren't poisonous to birds incase your parrots have a nibble, even if you think they wont touch them.

[Cage Cleaner]

Ok

[Oceanna]

Thanks, everyone.

[ljeanne]

simmer orange slices and cloves or star anise smells great.