It has happened to all of us at one time or another. We clean and clean just to
find out that when the humidity sets in, there is an unusual smell that we can't
find.
We empty all of the garbage cans, look in all of the hidden
places, tear apart sofa cushions and wash everything we can get our hands on-but
the odor is still there. So, what do we do from here? How do we find a remedy?
As a professional organizer, I go into a lot of peoples homes in a years
time and this is a problem for even the cleanest of homes. It doesn't mean that
your home is dirty, it may mean that it is a build up of dust, mildew and
bacteria that is not seen by the human eye. So, looking may not help you find
the source.
There are so many 'super' cleaners on the market today; Mr.
Clean that lives in a bottle, Lysol that cleans 99% of the bacteria etc. Any of
these are great cleaners to a certain degree, however, are you getting the best
cleaning agent for your money?
What is the key ingredient in most
cleaners? What cleans bacteria and leaves a fresh odor on a continuous basis?
The same thing that people have been using for centuries and is right in your
kitchen. The main cleaners are vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, water and maybe a
dash of lemon juice for that fresh lemony odor.
When cleaning, it is
great to use vinegar and baking soda (this will rise and foam for a few seconds)
because it will bubble stains and smells away in seconds. It not only can be
used on fabric and carpeting, but floors, walls, sinks, inside refrigerators and
microwaves and everyplace else in the house including the kitchen drain.
The vinegar odor dispitates in a matter of minutes (until area is dry)
and gets the deep dirt out along with the obnoxious odors.
Ammonia is
great on glass, mirrors, knic knacks and always leaves them shining.
Always remember to clean areas such as the toilet bowl, sink drains,
humidifiers and dehumidifiers and basement drains as well. Odors can seep
through the entire house from these sources.
Kitty litter is great for
cleaning up, deep down odors, that may be hiding in cement or concrete; whether
it is in the basement or the garage. Simply spread the litter on the floor, let
sit for about an hour, sweep it up and throw the litter and bad odor residue in
the garbage and dispose of immediately.
Baking soda is also a great
cleaning agent for laundry and vinegar in the rinse cycle works as a wonderful
fabric softener and all are available for under a dollar.
Besides saving
yourself a ton of money and still accomplishing a quality cleaning job; you have
helped to save the environment as well.
Jan Hayner offers tips and hints
on organizing your home office and life as well as cleaning tips and shortcuts
at Organizing Your
Life THE EASY WAY. Get her free pamphlets 50 cleaning shortcuts and 50
Things that take 10 Minutes or Less to Organize.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
