Air Fresheners

Most commercial air fresheners do not freshen the air at

all. Instead, they mask one odor with another, coat your nasal

passages with an undetectable oil film, or diminish your sense of smell

with a nerve-deadening agent. For a safer alternative, you may wish

to try one of the following:

· VentilationOpen windows or doors in the house for at least

a short period every day. This will also help to reduce toxic

fumes that may be building up indoors.

· VinegarDistribute partially filled saucers of vinegar

around the room or boil one tablespoon of white vinegar in one cup of

water to eliminate unpleasant cooking odors.

· Cinnamon & ClovesBoil these spices for a fragrant

smell. For ease of cleaning, make a cheesecloth bag to contain

the spices, and boil the cheesecloth bag. An excellent alternative

when entertaining is to steep spiced

tea or cider.

· PotpourriBuy or make your own potpourri from your

favorite herbs and spices. Place the potpourri in a small basket or jar or

in small sachet bags.

Kitchen & Food Odors

· Vanilla*Place pure vanilla on a cotton ball in a small

saucer. Place the saucer in the car or refrigerator to remove odors. It

is highly recommended to remove even skunk odors. Keep the

cotton ball out of reach of children; vanilla has a high alcohol content.

· Baking SodaPlace a partially filled saucer of baking

soda on the refrigerator shelf. Replace every two months and when

you do, pour the contents of the used box down the drain to

remove odors and keep the drain clean. Baking soda can also be used

to deodorize bottle by filling them with undiluted baking soda

and allowing the bottles to soak overnight. Then wash as usual.

· Borax*Empty the garbage frequently and clean the can

as needed. To inhibit growth of odor-producing molds and

bacteria, sprinkle one-half cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can.

· Vinegar or Celery StalkTo avoid or remove onion odors

from your hands, rub white vinegar on your hands before and after

slicing. Rubbing hands with the end of a celery stalk will also

remove the odor.

Cleaners

· All Purpose CleanerMix vinegar and salt together for

a good surface cleaner. Another useful cleaner

is baking soda. Dissolve four tablespoons baking soda in one

quart warm water. You can also use baking soda on a damp sponge

to clean and deodorize all kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

· Carpet & Rug CleanerIf you plan to shampoo your

carpet, first try a pre-cleaning treatment. Sweep the carpet, which will

make the nap stand up and loosen the imbedded din. Next vacuum.

with this work alone, the rug should show a noticeable

improvement, so much in fact that you may decide to delay the

shampooing. To neutralize odors use Borax* and cornmeal. Sprinkle the

carpet with a mixture of one cup Borax and two cups cornmeal. Let

this mixture stand for an hour before vacuuming. Another

alternative is baking soda. Making certain that the carpet is dry,

sprinkle baking soda liberally over the entire carpet. Wait at least 15

minutes, or overnight if the odor is particularly bad, before

vacuuming.

· Decal RemoverUse vinegar to remove no-slip decals

from the bathtub. Saturate a sponge or cloth and squeeze hot vinegar

over the decals. Vinegar also removes stick-on hooks from pointed

walls. Saturate a cloth or sponge with vinegar and squeeze the

liquid behind the hook so that the vinegar comes in contact with

the adhesive. In addition, vinegar can be used to remove price tags

and other decals, from glass, wood, and china. Paint the label or

decal with several coats of white

vinegar. Give the vinegar time to soak in and after several

minutes the decal can be rubbed off.

· Disinfectant SoapRegular cleaning with plain soap and

hot water will kill some bacteria. A key element to preventing

bacteria is to keep things dry. Mold, mildew and bacteria cannot

live without moisture. Borax has long been recognized for its

disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix one-half cut Borax into

one gallon hot water and clean with this solution. Isopropyl

Alcohol* is also an excellent disinfectant, sponge with it and allow to dry

(it must dry to do its job). Use in a well-ventilated area and

wear gloves.

· Drain Cleaners & Drain OpenersTo avoid

clogging drains, use a drain strainer to trap food particles and hair;

collect grease in cans rather than pouring it down the drain; pour a kettle

of boiling water down the drain weekly to melt fat that may

be building up in the drain; or weekly put some vinegar and baking

soda down your drain to break down fat and keep your drain

smelling fresh. A time-honored drain opener is the plunger. This

inexpensive tool will usually break up the clog and allow it to

float away. It may take more than a few plunges to unclog the drain.

Do not use this method after any commercial drain opener has been

used or is still present in the standing water. Another way to avoid

clogs is to use baking soda and vinegar. Pour one-half cup baking

soda down the drain. Add one-half cup white vinegar and cover the

drain if possible. The combination of baking soda and vinegar can

break down fatty acids into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog

to wash down the drain.

Information for this article was provided by the Michigan

State University Extension.

* Safer ingredients, but not non toxic.

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