Odor buster hints for bathrooms and other things

1. If you have plastic bowls or dishes that smell simply make a paste of baking soda and water and rub all over the surface. Let set overnight then rinse well.

2. If the sink in your kitchen or bathroom smells, give this a try: put in 1/2 cup baking soda and then follow with 1 cup of cheap household vinegar. Let It foam and bubble, then follow by running cold water for at least 30 seconds or longer. If there is a sink that is seldom used, pour in some plain old vinegar to kill the bacteria that causes the bad smell.

3. If your cutting board smells from onions, garlic or even fish, pour on a little vinegar, let it set a minute or two, wipe, rinse, and the odor should be gone. If your hands have also absorbed the odor, rub them together with vinegar and rinse. You can also use mouthwash or toothpaste as deodorizer.

4. Don't waste your money on commercial potpourri! Here’s a formula to cook up your very own refreshing and cleansing citrus deodorizer. Fill a large pot with water and simply add any citrus (lemon is wonderful as are orange and grapefruit) rind or even slices or leftover wedges. Put in some cinnamon sticks (or a dash of cinnamon) and then simmer on low heat. You can spice this up by adding apple peels or slices, other spices such as nutmeg or allspice, and even a peppermint stick or candy. CAUTION: Do not leave this on the stove unattended and don't let it boil dry.

5. Lemon and orange extract are just the thing to freshen up any room! You can dab some on a cotton ball, place in a bowl or small jar with lid (punch holes in it to let the fragrance out) and place around a room, closet or even in your automobile. CAUTION: Extracts are concentrates that have a very high alcohol content and should not be used around small children or where pets may ingest them. Do not let the extract come in direct contact with any wood, painted surface, marble or granite.

6. To eliminate cat litter box odors: When you clean the litter box, rinse it out and pour about 1/2 inch of cheap white vinegar in the box. Let it stand for 20 minutes or so, then swish it around, rinse with cold water, and dry the box. The acid in the vinegar neutralizes the ammonia smell.

7. You can also add vinegar to your pooch's bath water should he come in contact with a skunk. Vinegar also works well with those summer smells that all dogs seem to acquire. Again add it to their bath water.

8. Add a few drops of eau-de-cologne to the water in your steam iron to give clothes a fresh fragrance.

9. To remove the smell of cigarette from lingering in the room, put half teaspoon of baking powder in the ashtray, or keep a cup of vinegar in the room to absorb the odor.

10. Bathroom Odors: Place a shallow dish of baking soda behind the toilet to absorb bathroom odors.

11. Fireplace Soot Odor: To diminish and remove this odor, after you clean out the ashes, place a shallow pan of baking soda for a few hours or overnight in the fireplace.

12. Kitty Litter: To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.

13. Pet Urine on Carpet: First, blot up what you can with paper towels. Mix one-teaspoon mild dishwashing detergent in one cup warm water; dip a clean towel in the liquid and, working from outside in, dab at stain. Do not soak. Rinse with fresh water and blot dry. Next, add on-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water and dab on stain. Rinse with water; blot until dry. Once area is totally dry (after at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda or rug deodorizer. Vacuum after a few hours.

14. Smelly Sneakers: Simply fill knee-high stockings with unused litter, tie the ends and tuck them in overnight for a quick refresh. Add baby powder, too! Another refresher for smelly sneakers is to simply take a few teaspoons of baking soda and put in the center of a cotton cloth. Tie the cloth and rubber band the edges securely creating a baking soda sachet, which you put in the shoes overnight as well. These sachets can be used over and over in any kind of shoe.
15. To naturally remove bathroom odors. Place a shallow bowl of vinegar behind the toilet to absorb the bathroom odors. Vinegar does not mask the smell, it totally absorbs them.