Tips for Removing Pet Odors and Stains

Of course we all love our pets, but we do not love their yucky smells. The earlier you try to get rid of the smell, the better! The sooner you remove the odor, the better chances you have of getting it before it becomes the permanent smell of your home. If you are looking for an easy way to get rid of the smell in your home, keep reading.

In order to remove the odor from your home, locate the source of the smell. Rely on your eyes and nose to help find the stains. Sometimes, using a black light is the best way to make the stains standout that you cannot find on your own. Once you find the stains, be sure to make an outline with some kind of substance like chalk.

You will need to use a pet stain and odor product to get rid of both the stains and the smells. It will need to contain an ingredient that is a biological odor eliminator. This will help break down the stain and help remove it from carpet or upholstery.

Removing the stain is easier if it's fresh. You may want to place some paper towels and press into the stain to remove as much as you can. Be sure to get as much as possible, almost drying the spot. Then follow the directions on the cleaner you purchased and clean the stain and get the odor out.

If there happens to be big number of stains you are trying to get out, including old ones, try using a wet or dry vacuum. This will help to clean and rinse the carpet and the pad if you use water as well. Do not try to steam clean as it can really make the stain and smell much worse.

You will need to wash any pet bedding in the same manner. Try to get the spots where your pet tends to spend most of its time. Use detergents that have baking soda if you wash pet beds in the washer. This will help to eliminate any odors in the bedding.

Any other time you vacuum your home, make sure to use a carpet deodorizer or a fabric refreshing spray. This should be done after vacuuming the carpet to make sure it stays as fresh as possible. Be sure to stay on top of any other stains made in order to keep your house looking and smelling its best!

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Christmas Scents for the Home

The scent of freshly made popcorn calls to mind the movie theater experience. Hot chocolate is a reminder of snowy days, outdoor play, and a loving mom. Fresh bread and cookies in the oven take us back to warm memories of childhood days. The smell of peppermint perks you up. Pine, eucalyptus, and cedar are calming and soothing.

Scent triggers memories perhaps better than any of the others senses. Memories create emotional responses. The holidays are a time for making memories that last long after the gifts have been opened and the tree has been taken down. Once you know how, using scent to create lasting memories will almost seem effortless.

Getting Started:
Choose a scent combination that fits the experience you would like to create. For spicy fragrances, scents of citrus, cloves and cinnamon will be a good choice. A fruit-scented environment will offer layers of apple, cranberry, and mulberry. Woodsy scents include pine, cedar, and eucalyptus. A more eclectic fragrance theme might be more suitable for some; blending cinnamon and cloves with orange and cedar.

Creating The Layers:
Scent is not maintained in static items. Over time, the aroma becomes familiar and less noticeable. Layers of fragrance are the key. Candles, naturals, spices, essential oils in sphagnum moss, potpourri, light bulb rings and room sprays all provide these layers.

Naturals:
A "live" wreath on the front door is the first scent to greet a visitor, immediately followed by the natural scent of a tree in the corner and naturals, such as pine branches and eucalyptus, scattered around the rooms of the house.

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Get Your Security Deposit Back

I have been asked many times how to get a security deposit back when moving to a new apartment. I have prepared this list to help.

GIVING NOTICE
Even if you are on a lease and your lease is up, make sure to let the land lord know that you will not be renewing your lease. Most leases call for a thirty-day notice. Be out when you say you will be out. If you say you will be out by the first, be out by the first. Most land lords will deduct from your deposit for every day past that you
stay. Even if you are not sleeping there, if your belongings are still there, they can't get the apartment ready for the next tenant.

REPAIRS

If there are any minor repairs you can do yourself, do them. It's cheaper for you to do them yourself. If the land lord has to do it, you will be most likely be charged labor. Make sure the closet doors are all hung. If the towel bar is falling down, fix it. Things like
that. Most of the time if you have been in the apartment over a year and you fulfilled the terms of your lease, you will not be charged for carpet cleaning. This is usually considered
normal wear and tear, unless the carpet is excessively dirty. Check with the land lord to make sure about this.

If there are holes in the walls, it's a good idea to find someone who knows how to patch them and have them do it. A good patch job will get you back your deposit. If the patch job is done by someone who doesn't know what they are doing and it is visible, the and lord will have to re-do it and it won't help you.

You should be reporting plumbing leaks and things that are the land lord's responsibility to fix as they come along. Just to cover your bases, report these things as soon as you notice them. You could possibly be held responsible for any damage caused by the leak, if you did not report it promptly.

CLEANING
This is the thing I get asked about the most. There are a lot of things that need to be cleaned that people normally don't think about.

* In the Kitchen:

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Clean Green for Less Than $5

You can replace your entire cleaning closet full of chemicals for less than five dollars and only two ingredients - baking soda and vinegar. By taking out toxic cleaning substances you will enjoy a healthier home, breathe easier and remove dangerous temptation for curious kids wanting a taste of the colorful liquids.

A 99-cent box of baking soda is a wonder. Cheap and non-toxic, baking soda can replace:

Air Freshener Leave an open box of baking soda in an inconspicuous place and absorb odors of all kinds.

Non-Abrasive Scrubbing Cleanser A paste of baking soda and water scrubs but doesn't scratch. Once rinsed away, everything sparkles! This scrubbing paste is perfect for cleaning bathtubs, sinks, tiles, stovetops and countertops.

Laundry Fragrance Those with sensitive skin or not-so-sweet-smelling kids will love the effect 1/2 cup of baking soda has on a load of laundry. Sprinkle it in for a mild clean or add it to your ordinary detergent for an extra boost of freshness and you'll have crisp laundry with no harsh chemicals.

Carpet Deodorizer Forget expensive fragrance sprays and specially packaged chemical granules. Simply sprinkle baking soda on your carpets, let it stand for five minutes and vacuum it up. That's all it takes to get rid of tough carpet odors.

Oven Cleaner Get rid of the scrubbing hassle and noxious chemical headaches that come with commercial oven cleaners. Sprinkle the bottom of your oven with baking soda until it's completely covered, approximately 1/4-inch deep. Spray the bottom of your oven with clean water until the baking soda is damp, not soaking or forming puddles. Find something else to do! Check back periodically and if the baking soda is drying out, spritz with enough water to dampen. Let the mixture sit overnight and in the morning, break away the baking soda and the grease and gunk come with it. Rinse off any remaining white residue with water.

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I Love My Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

Here is another product that has a long history with me. My Arm & Hammer baking soda is so versatile, I cannot imagine my life without it. From my great grandmother to myself, Arm & Hammer baking soda has been passed down from generation to generation. I love my Arm & Hammer baking soda and would like to express why.

My first memories of Arm & Hammer baking soda are of my mother using it as a toothpaste of sorts. She simply wet her toothbrush and dipped it into baking soda. Baking soda is an excellent plaque remover and teeth cleaner. I use it for this purpose when I run out of ‘regular’ toothpaste.

The most noticeable feature of Arm & Hammer baking soda is the yellow box it comes in. The box is brand specific and easy to see. It stands out from the rest on the grocery shelf. That is nice. The print is easy to read on it, too.

My Arm & Hammer baking soda is nothing fancy to look at. It is simply some white powder. There is nothing to describe regarding that feature. I would not consider that a drawback.

Arm & Hammer baking soda comes in different sizes. It is more cost effective to choose the larger size, I have found. Baking soda lasts a long time, so it is very economical. It can be substituted for quite a variety of more expensive products.
It truly is an amazing product.

There are so many ways that I use Arm & Hammer baking soda, it is hard to decide where to start (in addition to the dental secret previously mentioned). It can be used in the kitchen, for medicinal purposes, for pet care, for auto work, etc.

As far as using it in the kitchen, it is great for removing strong odors from my hands. For instance, after chopping garlic, I simply wet my hands and rub a bit of my Arm & Hammer baking soda on. I scrub for a bit. I do not need soap.

My Arm & Hammer baking soda can be used as a meat tenderizer. I simply rub some baking soda into the meat. I let the meat sit in the refrigerator for about three hours, and then rinse it off. How easy is that? And, there is no after taste.

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Cats: Tips to Make an Easier Life for You and Your Cat

Cats are a wonderful addition to any family. They love to snuggle,play, and just be loved. Of all indoor pets, cats are probably most capable of causing a lot of damage to your home and furniture. Between the cats making toys out of non-toy items and them sharpening claws on your furniture and walls, it can add up fast. Here are some money saving tips to help make your life a little easier and make your cat as happy as it can be.

Litter box odor is one of the biggest cat problems to battle. Even with multi- cat litter, the smell can get strong after just one use.If you have a small home or apartment, the smell will fill your house in no time, To combat odor, I take the powder form of carpet deodorizer ( make sure it is non-toxic to pets) and lightly cover the bottom of the box. Pour litter over as usual, and then sprinkle a little over the litter. The deodorizer has a very strong and pleasant scent that will be released when your cat uses the litter box. The scent usually lasts about 2 days.

Cats will find make a toy out of anything that they can find. Toilet paper, Kleenex, and shoestrings are popular choices among cats. They can make a huge mess in a very little amount of time.It is important to get your cat toys that they can activate or play with by themselves. Balls, fake mice, and toys that you hang from a doorknob are great ways for your cat to expel energy without you having to entertain them or having your things damaged. These toys are also great for the older kittens that chase and bite your ankles.

Cats will find any surface to sharpen their claws on. Not only does this sharpened their claws, it also files the nails down. There are wall hanging and scratching posts on the market but getting your cat interested can be difficult.Try rubbing cat nip into the scratcher to attract the cat. Every time you catch your cat scratching on anything other than the approved surface, take your cat over to the scratcher and mimic scratching with his paws. Also, if your cat tends to scratch on your furniture, get a fabric swatch of similar texture and cover the scratcher with the fabric.

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Clean the Interior and Help Prolong the Life of Your Vehicle

Many people always think to clean the outside of their car. They was hand wax it once a month. The chrome is always polished. There isn't a paw print or speck of dust to be found on the whole exterior of the car. Shoot, even the tires are clean! What is constantly overlooked is the interior of the vehicle. To prolong the life of your car, attention needs to be paid to both aspects. After all, what good is a pristine outside, if the inside looks like the aftermath of a natural disaster? So, take the time to read the following tips and make the inside of your car last longer than the outside!

The first and most obvious way to clean your car is to get all of the garbage out of your vehicle. Watch out for half full cans of soda or cups. If it has been a long time since the last time you cleaned and you can't see your backseat, you may want to grab more than one trash bag.

So, who doesn't want the interior of their car to smell good? There are several ways to help freshen up the smell. Before trying anything, go ahead and vacuum out the interior. Not just the floor and floor mats, vacuum the seats as well. After doing this, you can sprinkle some carpet deodorizer on the carpets and floor mats (if the floor mats have carpet on them) and let it sit for about a half an hour. If you don't have carpet deodorizer, use some baking soda, it will work just as well. After you are done waiting, go ahead and vacuum. If you have cloth seats, you can use a fabric freshener such as Febreeze. Spray it on your seats, and even the carpets. If you want a longer lasting fresh smelling scent, you can use air fresheners, or if you are in a bind and on a tight budget, try using a dryer sheet placed under the seats.

Have kids? If your child is still in a car seat, place an old towel underneath the seat. This will help any crumbs and spilled liquids to be collected. You can even put a piece of plastic underneath the towel. This will assure that no liquids will seep through the towel and stain the upholstery in the car.

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6 Uses for Your Baking Soda

Baking soda is an ingredient that everyone has around the house. Usually some recipe calls for Baking soda, so you buy it. Then you realize 6 months later that it is still sitting in the back of your cupboard. You don't have to use baking soda just for baking. Before you waste a whole container of baking soda, there are 6 other uses that will surely give it a functional task.

Sunburns
Summer is coming. A common summer skin condition is the sunburn. Baking soda can do wonders to sooth a sunburn. Simply, fill a bathtub with warm water and dump in a cup of baking soda. If you soak your sore skin in the water for a while, your burns will be relieved.

Rose Fungus
Roses have a common fungus called Black Spot. Using approximately 4 teaspoons of baking soda in a gallon of water, your roses will be saved. Simply spray your roses with the solution as often as needed.

Deodorize Carpet
One of the easiest uses for baking soda is as a carpet deodorizer. If you have a room that has a distinct carpet smell, simply sprinkle baking soda all around. Let this sit on the carpet for an hour or two. Next, simply vacuum up the powder.

Silverfish
Silverfish are insects that infest many houses in America. They are absolutely disgusting! Believe me, I had them in my college dorm room and had to do something to get rid of them. It turns out that an equal combination of sugar and baking soda will do the trick. Simply sprinkle the mixture by the floor radiators, baseboards, and where the silverfish like to congregate.

Soak spills
The easiest way to clean up a large liquid spill is to dump a bunch of baking soda on it. You just wait for the powder to absorb the liquid. Then, you simply vacuum up the mess.

Fire Extinguisher
A cheap safety precaution to take is having an extra box of baking soda near the oven or stove. Since water makes a grease fire worse, baking soda is the most affective and efficient combatant. Yes, a traditional fire extinguisher would work as well, but baking soda is much easier to clean afterwards.

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The Many Uses of Baking Soda

The first thing that it can be used for is a household cleaner. Its safe for most surfaces including steel, fiberglass, chrome, plastic, tub, and tile.
Lightly soiled surfaces such as kitchen counter tops and cabinets,can easily be cleaned with a mixture of 1/4 cup baking powder in 1 quart warm water. Wipe surfaces down and then rinse with plain water. This will remove dirt and grime.

For things that are more heavily soiled such asfloors and sinks, or need something abrasive to remove the build up , use a half cup powder to a quart of water. For things that are heavily soiled mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and scrub. Rinsing with plain water when finished. You can also sprinkle the powder directly onto a damp rag or sponge and clean.

Another overlooked use is laundry. Adding a half a cup to a load of wash will help fight stains easier. Added during a bleach cycle can help keep your whites brighter. Not to mention, using baking soda in your whites will reduce the amount of bleach and harsh chemicals left on your clothes, and its smell.

Baking soda is a wonderful deodorizer. Putting an open box or bowl of it in both the refrigerator and freezer will help absorb orders from your foods. It will also help some foods such as milk and ice cubes from having a bit of a flavor. Each bit placed in your fridge or freezer can absorb orders for up to 3 months time.
It can be used as a carpet deodorizer. Simply sprinkle a bit over your floors, let sit for a few minutes then vacuum as normal. Much more cost effective then buying a specialized carpet freshener. Place some in a kitty litter box with every litter changing to keep the smell contained and your house smelling fresher longer. Fridge and freezer used baking powder can be dissolved down drains to keep the PH balance regular in the septic tank as well as help flush clogs. Run hot water while draining.

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Hidden Allergy and Asthma Triggers in Your Home

It is time for warm weather again and that means bad news for those who suffer from allergies and asthma. Removing obvious irritants such as dust and mold from your household is not that hard but there are some surprising sources for irritants that you might not realize. Allergies can make your day miserable and can also trigger asthma attacks. Make sure that you can make your home as allergy- free as you can for the allergy sufferer in your life.

Spring Cleaning- Spring cleaning is a great way to remove dust and mold from the all of those nooks and crannies. However, the process of spring cleaning can actually make things worse for allergy sufferers. When you clean you disturb dust mites, mold, and dust and make it become airborne. Make sure that you use a damp cloth when cleaning to trap allergens in the cloth. Investing in a HEPA filter vacuum can make a huge difference in the air quality in your home. You should also use cleaning solutions that have little to no scent. After you have finished cleaning you should also open your windows to release any airborne particles and cleaner scents that remain.

Outside- The outdoors offers a wealth of fun and a plethora of allergen possibilities. Windy days are the worst for allergy and asthma sufferers since pollen can travel hundreds of miles. For instance, a ragweed plant can produce one billion pollen grains and travel up to 400 miles. Pollen count is at its highest before 10 A.M. so keep windows closed in your home and car. Children should also wash their hands and face and change clothing after playing outside. Pollen is sticky and sticks to shoes, skin, and clothing.

Humidifier- A humidifier can be invaluable when you or you child is sick. However, humidifiers create a thriving environment for mold and dust mites. Consider investing in a humidifier that has a humidistat. A humidistat measures the amount of humidity in the air. A humidifier equipped with this gauge can be set to turn off at a certain humidity level is reached.

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How to Make Your Own Cleaners

Do you ever wonder what is in those cleansers that you buy at the store? More importantly, do you ever wonder what is in them to make them so expensive yet not very good in the cleaning department?

Did you know that you have most of the same items that are in commercial cleansers right in your very own home? And they don't cost as much! So why not attempt to be both economical and 'green' minded by making your own. After all, if you can't pronounce the names for those chemicals they can't exactly be good for either you or the environment.

Laundry Detergents. First, let's start off with laundry detergent. An average person can spend up to $600 a year in the stuff. So why not cut the costs with a fewer cheaper versions. The main ingredient is Castile or Fels Naptha Bar Soap. One bar can make up to 5 gallons of laundry detergent.

#1

1C grated Fels Naptha Soap(found in grocery stores)

1/2C washing soda (also found in grocery stores)

1/2C Borax

2T glycerin

2C water

Mix the first 3 ingredients and then add glycerin and water. Use ½-3/4C per large load. Best in cold and warm water

#2

5 gallon bucket

water

1 bar Fels Naptha or Castile soap, grated

1C washing soap

4-1/2 gallons hot water

Place grated soap in a small saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill the bucket with hot water and add soap. As it cools, it will thicken. Use 1-2C per large load.

#3-Powdered Version

1C grated Fels Naptha or Castile soap

1/2C washing soda

1/2C Borax

Light load=1T Heavy/soiled load=2T

Laundry Softener.

2C white vinegar

2C baking soda

4C water

Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz. Pour into a plastic bottle, cover and shake. You might want to re-use that softener bottle.

Use 1/4C in final rinse or in a "Downy" ball.

Stain Remover.

#1

1/2C ammonia

1/2C white vinegar

2T liquid laundry detergent (use homemade)

2 qts water

Mix well and store in spray bottle

#2

1/4C borax or washing soda

2C cold water

Sponger on and let dry or soak fabric in Borax mixture before washing in soap and cold water.

#3-For heavily stained clothing

*Only for white cotton, nylon and polyester

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Versatile Household Uses for Baking Soda

Baking soda isn't just for cooking and deodorizing refrigerators anymore. A box of baking soda can replace many other products you'd pay a lot more for. As a mildly abrasive cleanser, It works especially well on soap scum, or for cleaning stone cookware that would absorb the heavy fragrances of dish soap.

Because baking soda isn't a detergent, a small dusting on a wet sponge is perfect for cleaning appliance surfaces that can't be immersed and are difficult to rinse, like a blender base or hand mixer. It works wonders on coffee makers.

Slow-running drains can often be improved by pouring in a quarter cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar. This is especially effective for disposals that have been clogged by vegetable peelings.

Arm & Hammer has recognized its use as a carpet deodorizer and created products specifically designed for carpets and fabrics. But anyone sensitive to strong fragrances will still prefer the unscented original. For pet accidents and other spills on carpets, baking soda poured on the spot will absorb the liquid and dry into a cake. It's important to allow the soda to dry and scoop it up before vacuuming to prevent caking inside the vacuum cleaner.

Baking soda is the key element to a trick for cleaning tarnished silver instantly. Place a sheet of aluminum foil in the bottom of a glass casserole dish and heat a pot of water. Put your silver on top of the foil and sprinkle with baking soda. When the water boils, pour it into the dish, and you'll be amazed by the results. This isn't ideal for keeping silver shining over time, as it will tarnish more quickly than after polishing, but it's perfect for that necklace you haven't cleaned for months when you just have to wear it tonight.

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How Dog Owners Can Keep Their Home Smelling Fresh

I often hear dog owners complaining about how their pet causes their home to smell. I have had dogs in my home for most of my life and never had the problem with my home smelling like my pets. This is because I follow several simple steps to help prevent my pet from smelling up my home. These tips keep my home smelling fresh. If it weren't for the pet beds located throughout my home, you'd never even know that I was dog owner. If you want to keep your home smelling fresh, follow these tips.

How Dog Owners Can Keep Their Home Smelling Fresh #1: Baths

I can't count the times I've had dog owners complain to me about their home smelling like their dog. Whenever I hear this, I ask them "When was the last time you bathed your pet?" More than 90% of the time, the owners can't recall the last time they bathed their dog. If this is the case if your home, stop blaming your pet and bathe them. You need to bathe your pet at least once a month. Some dog owners wash their pets almost obsessively, but a vet will tell you that this is not necessary and can actually cause dry skin. But, keep your pet clean if you want a fresh smelling home.

How Dog Owners Can Keep Their Home Smelling Fresh #2: Brush Your Pet

Most of the time, the smell that comes from your pet is the dead fur that is stuck to them. Take the time each day to brush your dog and remove the loose hair. As a dog owner, you should already be doing this, but if you aren't, remember that you must do this if you want to keep your home smelling fresh.

How Dog Owners Can Keep Their Home Smelling Fresh #3: Vacuum

If your home is covered in dog hair, it may not be your pet that stinks. It may be the pet hair. Depending on the size of your dog, and the time of the year, you may need to vacuum once a day to keep your home smelling fresh.

How Dog Owners Can Keep Their Home Smelling Fresh #4: Carpet Deodorizer

A valuable cleaning product for dog owners is carpet deodorizer. Carpet deodorizer is sprinkled onto your carpet and allowed to set before you vacuum. The powder will absorb the odors and will be removed when you vacuum. I suggest doing this once a week if you want to keep your home smelling fresh.

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Cleaning Green: How Much Does it Really Cost?

There is a vicious rumor out there in the rumor mill that is scaring people into believing that being friendly to the environment is very expensive. The people who have started this false accusation have not done their research. Let's take cleaning supplies for example. They will walk through their local supermarket or Wal-Mart Super Center and buy a bottle of 409 All Purpose Cleaner for a few dollars. They spy the environmentally friendly version of their usual product and see that the price tag has a few numbers added to the dollar place and they keep pushing their cart down the aisle passed the offending price tags.

These people have a point and a valid point at that. Sometimes buying the environmentally friendly bottle of laundry detergent or dish soap in the store aisle can be more expensive. Not everyone has a blossoming money tree in their backyard, and most families would rather save the money for other groceries and fun activities. What these people don't realize, is that their consumer driven minds are forgetting that you can make your own cleaning products and spend even less money on materials than you would spend on a bottle of Tide or Dawn.

What about all those cleaners that are stocked up in the cupboards right now? If you have a stash of cleaning products that you have purchased recently, by all means use them. You can wash out the containers that most of them are in and put your home made cleaners in them. No one is asking you to dump out everything and start fresh. There is nothing wrong with replacing one or two cleaners at time. The point is that you are aware of what your cleaning products are doing to mother earth and are willing to take small steps to change that.

These are a few recipes for great homemade cleaners that are environmentally friendly, easy to make, and not very expensive. All of the recipes have been tried and tested and come back with positive results.

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Ecofriendly Household Cleaning

It's no secret that 'going green' is a rising trend. There are hundreds of ways to change your life to help protect the planet and keeping your house clean is no exception. Sure a little bleach takes a stain right up and any bottle with the words 'anti-bacterial' on it should make you feel like you're keeping your family safe. But the chemicals in these preparations won't keep the planet safe. There are four simple products that will put an end to hazardous odors and environmental contaminants.

White vinegar, baking soda, castile soap and water are all you need to clean, deodorize and sanitize your home. Baking soda is your basic scrubber. Abrasive, water-soluble and anti-fungal baking soda and a little bit of elbow grease will clean anything. Baking soda is cheap to buy and completely safe for the environment. Many people know that a box of baking soda in your fridge or a sprinkle in the bottom of your garbage can can help keep foul odors at bay. It can even be sprinkled on the carpet as a carpet deodorizer. But did you know that baking soda mixed with water can dissolve grease? This makes it a fantastic and effective method of cleaning kitchen counters, refrigerators and stove tops. Made into a paste it can easily remove counter stains made by things like fruit punch and grape juice. Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda down drains weekly followed by hot water to avoid clogs. Since it is non-toxic a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda to a quart of warm water is ideal for cleaning children's toys.

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How to Motivate Yourself to Do Housework

I like a neat clean house as much as anyone else, but I sometimes find myself lacking the necessary motivation to turn off the computer and stop putting off the necessary housework. It's much easier to say I'll do it later, but unfortunately later turns into tomorrow, and tomorrow turns into next week. Before long I'm forced to work twice as hard to clean something I should have cleaned weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, my house isn't filthy, but I tend to put off until tomorrow what I should do today.

When I find myself lacking the necessary motivation to get the job done, I use several ways to motivate myself to do housework. If you find yourself putting off housework, maybe these methods of motivation will work for you too. It certainly never hurts to try, and you have nothing to lose but dust bunnies and clutter!

Carpet Scents

Most people enjoy using scents to help beautify their home and make it smell cleaner and more pleasant, and I'm one of those people. I prefer the scent of vanilla, and I use everything from vanilla plug-ins to vanilla candles. I also use vanilla scented carpet deodorizer, and sometimes that's exactly what I need to motivate myself to vacuum.

If you want to motivate yourself to run the vacuum, or better yet force yourself to vacuum, buy carpet deodorizer in your favorite scent. Once you sprinkle it on the carpets you'll have no choice but to vacuum it up, and hopefully the pleasant scent will motivate you to do more housework.

Let the Music Play

My favorite music always gets me singing and moving, and even though I'm not a fantastic singer I do my best work when my favorite songs are playing. Turn off the computer and the television, put on your favorite CD, and start moving to the music. You'll accomplish more when you have musical motivation. I know I always do!

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10 Simple and Cheap Ways to Clean Green

Over the last twenty years, we have learned more and more about the dangers of conventional commercial cleaning products. The link between various cancers, headaches, asthma, and sinus problems and the chemicals found in most popular cleaning solutions has been well established. This new knowledge has lead to a movement towards cleaning house with all-natural and less toxic alternatives. Lucky for us, just about everything you need to keep your home sparkling clean is probably in your pantry. In fact, with the following list: baking soda, distilled white vinegar, borax, washing soda, lemon juice, olive oil, rubbing alcohol, cornmeal, cinnamon, cloves, and optionally your favorite essential oils, you can make every cleaning product you'll probably ever need. Following are ten easy recipes for your most common cleaning tasks.

Cheap Laundry Soap - You can make gallons of laundry detergent simply and inexpensively by boiling two gallons of water on your stove. Buy a bar of Zote pink soap (found in the laundry aisle) and shave or grate it into small chunks. Mix the soap flakes with the hot water to create a sort of watery sludge. Then add one-half cup of Borax and one-half cup of Washing Soda (not to be confused with baking soda). Everything you need with the exception of the pot and the water should be found in the laundry section of your local store. If you have trouble finding the washing soda, it is Arm & Hammer brand and you should be able to find it at Stop and Shop or online at Amazon.com. Once you have mixed everything together, you have an effective and inexpensive laundry detergent. Use a half-cup for regular loads and 2/3 cup for large loads.

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Removing Carpet Stains, Naturally

Spending money on commercial deodorizers and cleaning products for your carpets is, for the most part, unnecessary. Just look to your cupboards and refrigerator for these jobs. And if you have small children or pets, all the more reason to go natural.

To remove stains from your carpet, mix 2 cups water to 1 cup lemon juice and pour it into a plastic spray bottle. Spray the stained area liberally and gently scrub with a soft to medium bristled brush. The lemon juice and water mixture is a great deodorizer too. Spray the carpet lightly and allow to dry. Then sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For more stubborn carpet stains, make a paste with 1/4 cup each of borax, salt and vinegar. Rub this paste into carpet and leave for a few hours; vacuum.

Following are solutions for removing specific type stains:


For pet stains, mix 1 teaspoon isopropyl alcohol to 1/2 cup cold water. Use the solution in a spray bottle. Spray onto the stain and blot with a paper towel and allow to dry completely. Repeat if necessary.

To remove gum from your carpet, simply place an ice cube onto the gum until it hardens enough to break off.

For removing glue from your carpet, pour white distilled vinegar on a soft cloth. The glue will rub off easily.

Sprinkle some talc on grease stains in the carpet. Leave alone for a few hours to absorb as much grease as possible. If it is an immediate spill, sprinkle the area liberally with salt and let it sit for awhile, until the grease is absorbed into the salt.

Chocolate and coffee stains can both be cleaned with 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Soak a sponge with the mixture and blot until the stain is removed. You may have to repeat this process a few times before getting these stains completely out.

Red wine spills can be removed by first blotting the area with paper towels, followed by covering the area with salt. Let the salt sit until it has turned pink. Next, clean with a sponge that has been dipped in a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part lemon juice.

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Caring for your Carpet

Have your carpet professionally cleaned periodically, every third or fourth time. Or you may find it more convenient to have it done professionally each time special cleaning is needed, rather than doing it yourself. Professional cleaners use similar methods to home cleaning, but they should have the knowledge, equipment, and experience necessary to do a more thorough job of removing embedded soil. Room size rugs and some wall-to-wall carpets can be sent to the rug cleaning plant. Professional cleaners can also handle spot removal, re-dyeing, rebinding, and repairs. Always alert the cleaner to the location and cause, if known, of spots and stains that require attention. When selecting a cleaning service, the main factor to consider is the operator`s skill and ability. Ask reputable carpet dealers in your area whom they recommend. Satisfied customers may also suggest a cleaner to contact. They cannot provide guarantees, however, because of the range of quality and wear they face in the carpets and rugs they clean. Professional cleaners offering truck-mounted hot water extraction, will have more power to remove soil and water than in a smaller, self-contained unit - like the ones you rent.

General Care

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Cleaning Tips

Easy carpet cleaning tips

Cleaning carpet is never that easy especially if the stain is cause by blood, red wine, lipstick or crayons. But as a father of an active four year old I have experienced these carpet disaster and I know just how you feel when we saw our brand new carpet being made into a blackboard by our toddlers. But ever heard of the cliche "there is always a solution to everything" and here are the quick solutions that we need for carpet cleaning with stubborn stains.

For those stained with blood simply spray a solution of bleach and detergent directly onto the stain and let the carpet absorb for a couple of seconds before brushing it with a soft bristled brush. This is also applicable to the red wine stain. But for those trickier stains like lipstick and crayons we may need to apply directly a small amount of bleach onto the stain and rub it with a soft cloth do it again until stain disappears if we have a colored carpet use the bleach that is intended for coloured clothes or items. For the crayons, pour or spray a very hot water onto the spot and brush with a soft bristled brush or rub with a cloth. Then follow up with a spray of detergent and bleach this will definitely solve our carpet worries away. Here also the other tips that we can use.

QUICK AND EFFICIENT CARPET CLEANING TIPS:

Regular vacuum cleaning is the basic cleaning of carpet

High traffic Area -Daily

Medium Traffic Area -twice in a week

Entire area -once in a week

Take care to change the bags often

To remove water-soluble stains, apply some detergent solution, working from the edges to the center of the stain. Place several layers of white paper-towels over the spot and weight down with books and pans.

CARPET CLEANING-MACHINE

A carpet cleaning machine is a device used for removing carpet stains. It is made with a tank filled with a wet or dry cleaning solution or powder,which is applied on the carpet to remove stains. It is available in two types: wet and dry.

STEAM-CARPET CLEANERS

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Natural Deodorizer and Stain Remover

As the owner of a cat with an anxiety disorder, I've burned through hundreds of dollars looking for a solution to the odor caused by her urine. Because she refuses to use her litter box whenever she's upset, my carpet would be a disaster if it weren't for the use of products that cover or eliminate the large amounts of ammonia in cat urine.

After trying nearly every product on the market, Out! Natural was the only deodorizer that I could find to effectively eliminate urine ordors without also filling the room with unsafe chemicals.

Unlike many deodorizers, Out! Natural does not contain harsh synthetic fragrances, and its only scent is is natural, appealing lemon grass fragrance. While many products on the market simply mask cat odors by covering them with a more pungent smell, Out! Natural actually eliminates the very source of the odors.

Out! Natural contains live, active enzymes and harmless bacteria that actually digest the odor-causing chemicals and bacteria on the spot. Smells are removed from the carpet (or air, or furniture) because they are truly eliminated, rather than simply covered up.

Out! Natural was surprisingly inexpensive, and was actually cheaper than other deodorizing products like Febreze. It was also very simple to use and didn't require much work besides simply spraying the affected area. Best of all--unlike similar products--Out! Natural eliminates stains in addition to odor, which addresses the other equally embarrassing problem.

According to the manufacturer, Out! Natural can be used for stains or odors caused by wine, grass, chemical fumes, grape juice, mud, blood, tomato sauce, and seafood. Although I haven't personally tested each of these uses, I am confident in the efficacy of the product and believe that it would address all these sources equally well.

It's unlikely that my cat will ever completely outgrow her habit (believe me, we've tried everything!) but I'm glad to have at least found something to effectively eliminate the odors and stains that her anxiety disorder cause.

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How to Remove Cat Urine Smell from a Carpet

Did your cat urinate on your carpet? Have you tried everything to remove the cat smell from your carpet? This is a common problem for families with cats, especially male cats. But you don't have to deal with a house that smells like cat urine because there are many solutions for this problem. Here are some solutions to remove cat urine smell from carpet...

Clean Properly

The first and most important thing to do is to clean the area on the carpet where the urine is located. You should do this as soon as you find the urine on the carpet. It is very important that you completely clean up the urine if you want to the smell to go away.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a very common deodorizer in households. This will take the stink out of most odors. You can mix hot water in with baking soda to form a paste. Put some of the paste over the urine spot on the carpet and scrub it with a cleaning brush. This will allow for the baking soda to go deep in the carpet for best results, and then leave the baking soda to dry out. One the baking soda is dry you can then vacuum it up.

You can also try just sprinkling the baking over the carpet and letting it stay there for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes is up, just vacuum up the baking soda. This should reduce the smell of cat urine on your carpet.

Carpet Powders

They sell nicely scented carpet powders that you sprinkle onto the carpet before you vacuum. This will leave a much better scent on the carpet and in your home. This will work best if you do the previous two methods before hand.

Natures Miracle

Natures Miracle is a stain and odor remover. You can buy this product at pet stores, online, and in many stores that have a pet section. This product is completely safe for humans and pets, and Natures Miracle can be used on colored carpets. It's made with a natural enzyme that converts stains and odors into a liquid that you clean up when you wipe it.

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How to Make Your Own Carpet Deodorizing Powder

You know how some fragrances, like apple pie baking, reminds you of certain things? For some people, apple pie reminds them of holidays, but for others, it just conjurs up images of Mom. The fact that odors and aromas can effect us is not a new revolution. People have known for many years that certain aromas can relax and calm. That's the idea behind essential oils. Their fragrances can make us feel happy, relaxed, peaceful and in harmony with the world.

There are assorted words to describe things we smell. The words "fragrance" and "aroma" generally refer to more appealing smells where as "odor" often indicates something not as pleasant. When it comes to the carpeting in our homes you don't want to hear the word "odor". Carpets, however, do absorb odors - there's little you can do about that. Things with fibers take on the odors of things to which they're exposed. The carpet in your house can absorb odors from pets, cooking, dirt from outside and more. Just because the carpets absorb odors doesn't mean they have to retain them.

Change "odor" to "aroma" in your home by simply making your own carpet deodorizing powder. You might already use the powder but have been purchasing it at a store. You don't have to pay that kind of money for some sprinkle-on odor remover; you can easily make the powder yourself.

Purchase a box of cornstarch or baking soda as the powder base for your carpet. Open the box, drop in about a dozen drops of your chosen essential oil. Tape the box shut and shake well. It's important that you shake the powder for at least a few minutes - straight through or off and on - to mix the liquid drops with the powder.

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