TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham offers easy solutions to various odor-causing problems around the home.
- When cooking cabbage or cauliflower, neutralize the strong odor by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice to the boiling water.
- If you have a cutting board that is stained from chopping onion or garlic, you can get rid of those potent smells by scrubbing on one teaspoon of baking soda and scrubbing it on to the surface of the cutting board. Rinse with warm water.
- To remove odors from the dishwasher, try adding lemon peels to the dishwasher cycle. It will take away any odd odors and leave your dishes smelling fresh, lemony clean.
- To get rid of a musty mothball smell in an old chest or trunk, put a coffee can with some kitty litter deodorizer inside the trunk overnight. By morning the smell should be gone.
- Take away a pet odor by rubbing in a dash of Borax. After that dries, take a brush or vacuum to it, which will remove the Borax.
- To freshen the stale air in your house, try adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to your humidifier or put approximately 1/2 cup vinegar in a bowl or container, and place them in rooms that are subject to odor or simply to keep the air fresh.
- To prevent odors from staining your hands when cooking, rub vinegar over your hands before you begin. This should help eliminate some of the problem.
- If your recycling starts to smell, try sprinkling a little baking soda into the bottom of the container.
- If your cleaning sponges smell, don't throw them out. Soak them in a solution of 3/4 cup bleach and one gallon water to disinfect them.
- Throw a mothball in the garbage can to neutralize odors and keep out insects.
- Once a week, pour 1/4 of a mixture of one cup baking soda, one cup salt, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar down the drain. Follow with a pot of boiling water, then flush with cold water. This helps keep drains open and be free of odors.
- After cleaning an oven, eliminate the lingering smell by baking orange peels in a 350- degree oven.
- To remove the musty smell from an old blanket, fill an old pair of nylon pantyhose with cedar chips, hang on a hangar and cover with a plastic bag.
