Guest Author - Robin Rounds Whittemore
The next time you eat an orange, save the peel. Cut the rind up and let your garbage disposal have at it, as you run hot water down with the rind. Other citrus fruit rinds can also be used to freshen up your sink.
Take a partially used bottle of hand soap and pour a little lemon juice and coffee grounds in. Shake well before using. The mixture takes the smell of onions, garlic, etc off of your hands.
When you clean your refrigerator and/or freezer, try wiping it down with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. That should get rid of a lot of the musty lingering odors. Wipe the freezer part down with a cotton pad or towel that has vanilla extract in it.
To help clean and deodorize your plastic garbage pail in between taking out the trash, try this recipe: 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil and 1 cup baking soda. Mix the ingredients with a fork to get any lumps out. Place in the bottom of the garbage pail and scrub as much as you can reach on the sides. Rinse with water a few times. Let the garbage pail dry before putting a trash bag back in.
The mixture of tea tree oil and baking soda will work on any plastic garbage cans you have throughout your house. If they are small enough that you can reach the bottom, then scrub them with the oil and soda mixture. Rinse with water when you are done scrubbing.
If you have had clothes that have been in the attic or the back of your closet, mist them with vodka. The vodka kills the odor causing bacteria, but does not leave a scent. If you want scent, try misting with your favorite fragrance and water after the vodka dries and evaporates.
For a quick rug freshener, pour baking soda onto the rug, wait about 10 minutes for the odors to be absorbed, and vacuum. If you want to make your own scented carpet freshener, you can mix about 15 – 20 drops of fragrance oil into a half cup of baking soda. Pour that on the rug, wait about 10 minutes, and then vacuum it up. Any rug can be freshened that way, even the rug in your car.
To freshen the car, drop an unused candle, wax tart, or even a partially used candle in the cup holder. The heat during the day will cause the odor from the candle to disperse throughout the car.
