Odour Eliminating Tips
Download our FREE Cleaning E-book Now!!Here at OPH Good Housekeeping we treat odour elimination seriously.Bad smells from cooking, eating, pets etc, permeate our homes from time to time. Before you rush out and spend a small fortune on the latest high tech odour eliminating device, check out the following tips, tried and tested by OPH using natural remedies. Garlic Breath Try chewing a few sprigs of garlic. This usually does the trick, but as perspiration causes the garlic smell to come out of the pores you may need to avoid overheating. Garlic Hands Scrub hands with salt and half a lemon then hold under running cold water. Alternatively rub hands and fingers with a stainless steel spoon whilst holding in the stream of cold water. Cabbage Try these handy tips: Prevent cabbage smells by not overcooking as this releases the sulphur compounds which cause the smell. Add cider vinegar or half a lemon during cooking. Place a thick piece of rye bread on top of the cabbage during cooking as this will absorb the odour. To cure the smell of cabbage, place a few cloves in a pan of vinegar. This will mask the odour. Fridges Place a bowl of baking soda in the fridge to soak up odours. Regularly cleaning with white vinegar and water should keep your fridge smelling fresh. Whenever the fridge is unplugged, to prevent that musty smell.leave the door slightly ajar Tobacco Tobacco smells have a tendency to linger. Try waxing ashtrays prior to use to prevent the ash from clinging, therefore making them easier to clean. Spraying clean ashtrays with air freshener then polishing dry is affective at minimising the smell of tobacco. Pets As much as we love them, we don’t want our homes smelling of them. Choose a vacuum cleaner that has a charcoal filter which will absorb the unpleasant smells. Remember to change the filter regularly in order for it to be effective. Bicarconate of soda is great for absorbing odours such as cat urine. Sprinkle it on carpets and upholstery and leave overnight before vacuuming. Toilets Smelly toilets can be a problem particularly if you move into a new house or flat in which the previous occupant hasn’t been too clean. Clean the bowl thoroughly with undiluted white vinegar paying attention to under the rim which can be done effectively with a hard toothbrush. You will also need to clean behind the toilet, any exposed pipes and the gap between the tank and the bowl. Sealing can be porous and therefore may harbour odours. Clean this thoroughly with vinegar and then apply concentrated essential citrus oil. If the smell persists it is unlikely to be the toilet bowl as porcelain isn’t porous. Wipe down the walls and paintwork with a solution of white vinegar and water (in the ratio 1:4)Allow to dry then using a spray bottle, mix a solution of essential citrus oil with water (ratio 1:4) and lightly spray walls and paintwork. This should eliminate any odour but if it doesn’t you may need to replace any floor covering and overlay. Feet We have more sweat glands in our feet than any other part of our body. The offensive smell is caused by bacteria on the skin breaking down the sweat down. Treat the cause rather than mask the smell. Personal hygiene is very important. Washing the feet thoroughly on a daily basis with an anti-bacterial soap will help to minimise the problem. Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes on consecutive days. A lot of sweat is absorbed on the upper shoe and inner soles, by allowing them to dry you will cut down or eliminate odour. Leather shoes that allow the feet to breathe are best. Socks made of natural fabrics such as wool and cotton will help with the problem. Persistant Odours Sometimes it may be difficult to source the smell, In the first instance place a bowl of white vinegar in the room where the smell is most noticeable and leave overnight. If the smell can still be detected then a detailed clean may be required. Wipe down walls and paintwork with white vinegar and water in the ratio 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Carpets and soft furnishing should also be cleaned. Don’t be tempted to use too much detergent as this may have a negative effect: excess soap binds with the dirt making removal more difficult. Fresh air is great for eliminating odours. Open windows and doors to allow the air to circulate. Essential oils- a few drops on a light bulb will fragrance a room whenever the light or lamp is switched on. Spring Cleaning ArticlesHow to clean granite countertops
|
