When dust bunnies blow like tumbleweeds through the living room and the refrigerator’s “accidents” dry up in nanoseconds on the floor, the house is dangerously dry, in my opinion. One careless stride through the bedroom while wearing friction-prone yoga pants could send the place up in smoke. To prevent this from happening—and to make the whole house smell like a Hallmark store that also bakes pies—I make some steam. The recipe for this steam comes from the steamiest member of the Fixin’ Leaks and Leeks Team: Nate. Since at least 2002 (which is when Alex was born), Nate has been bringing the steam to the kitchen.
I’ll explain: When Alex was a baby, Nate and I obsessed over him. (We still do.) When Alex developed some kind of nasally congestion, we panicked because you can’t give a baby any medicine for that kind of thing—at least not back then. But then Nate told me that we could heat some water up on the stove and make steam in the house, which would help Alex with his breathing. And, while we were at it—the steam could smell like something—something delicious. So, on that late fall day, back in 2002, “the steam” was born. I went to the store, and when I came back, the house smelled wonderful. Nate added handfuls of ground-up cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and whole orange peels to a big pot of water, which he boiled periodically throughout the day on the stovetop.
We carry on this tradition now. If the house is getting that “sweaty sock” smell, and we’re too tired to clean, we just throw some cinnamon in a pot. Or, if we want to smell something festive for a while, we make “the steam” and breathe it in—believing a delicious set of pies will burst from the oven, while humming a Disney tune. But there aren’t any pies—just a slurry sludge of spices that collect on the bottom of a very magical pot.
Your Turn: Do you have a favorite scented candle or spray that you like to use in your home?
Fixin' Leaks and Leeks 
Reblogged this neat idea. My Mom, back in the 50’s, used to put boiling water in a bowl, head over it, and a towel to keep the steam from escaping.
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I still do it! 😀
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I think it’s great 👍
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Thank you so much!
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This is so rockin’! Thank You and Cheers! 🙂
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Thank you!
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My pleasure! 💕
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Whenever we burn the supper, I use whatever scented candle we got for Christmas.
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Oh, no! Hope that doesn’t happen too often. Scented candles do wonders, though!
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My husband has been going for that smoke-fillled kitchen ambiance of late.
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Scented candles make Spouse sneeze, so I only have the unscented ones now. I like your idea, though. Cinnamon won’t cause any sneezes. 🙂
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So good to hear that cinnamon won’t cause sneezing–yay!
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Hey, we did the same when our one-year-old had congestion.
I love the smell of cakes or bread baking but generally settle for green apple scented candles.
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Isn’t it a great trick? Green apple scented candles sound wonderful!
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That sounds FABulous. I don’t have any particular scents in my home, except for that one time the broccoli water boiled over and the house smelled like broccoli for quite a while. Your version sounds much more pleasant.
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Oh! Broccoli smells horrible!
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Yeah. Not a pleasant smell at all.
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I’m drying some lavender cut from my balcony “garden” in my apartment this year, and the beautiful scent seems to be getting stronger as it dries!
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I love lavender!
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It’s wonderful, isn’t it?
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Wonderful idea, I love cinnamon. I don’t often use candles, when I do I prefer white musk. Your posts are always so nice and funny!
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Thank you, Paola!
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What a great way to make your home smell yummy.
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Yes–and not much trouble/preparation either.
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This is a great idea! I love the smell of cinnamon, especially in the fall.
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Thank you! Yes–it is such a warm and inviting scent. 🙂
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I do this too–a sprig of fresh rosemary or a teaspoon of ground cinnamon into a saucepan of boiling water–then drink it afterwards as tea, lol (with or without honey). 🍵
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That sounds wonderful!!!
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