Social media influencer Chantel Mila has shared a simple trick that could transform the smell of your home using just a few drops of vanilla extract and an oven-safe dish.
The hack involves placing a small amount of vanilla extract into a dish of water and heating it in the oven, allowing the warm scent to fill the room. Ms Mila explained: "Place vanilla extract in your oven to make your whole home smell like cookies."
As the vanilla heats up, it releases a sweet, bakery-like fragrance that leaves the home smelling cosy and inviting. The technique is also said to neutralise lingering cooking odours, offering a low-cost alternative to shop-bought air fresheners. With vanilla extract available at most supermarkets for as little as £2, the method is highly budget-friendly.
Lifestyle expert Becca Monaghan from AO also recommends a similar steam-based approach for oven cleansing. She suggests: "The night before you clean, fill a heatproof bowl with water and lemon juice and gently warm it in your oven, leaving it to steam overnight at a low temperature. This will loosen tough patches of dirt before you clean, making it easier to scrape off those stubborn stains."
The steam helps break down grime, while the lemon or vanilla adds a pleasant scent to the space. Ms Mila's tip is part of a wider collection of home hacks designed to keep rooms smelling fresh.
With many homeowners aiming to start the new year in a cleaner, more welcoming environment, this simple oven trick provides a cost-effective way to achieve that goal, leaving kitchens smelling as inviting as a bakery.
