Housekeeping Made Easy

Spoiled food odour:

Place a bowl of white vinegar on the counter for a few hours. The odour will disappear for good.

Freshen a garbage disposal:

Sprinkle baking soda in it along with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Scrub with a brush (a new toilet brush works great), getting under the rubber gasket and all around the inside. Then, turn on water and let the disposal run to flush thoroughly. For a fresh citrus scent, throw in a few cut up lemons or limes and run them through, too, using lots of water.

Freshen laundry basket:

Place a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of your laundry basket (remember to change it weekly). You can also simply sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your basket and that will help absorb the odours as well.

Freshen linen closet:

In the linen closet place cotton balls that have been sprayed with your favourite scent. Once they are dry place them in corners and on the shelves.

Microwave filth:

Food splatters all over the inside of your microwave and cooks itself on after time. To easily remove this mess, place a sponge soaked in water in the microwave. Cook on high heat for 2 minutes, then allow it to sit without opening the microwave door, for 5 minutes. The filth is now ready to be wiped right off - no scrubbing - and your sponge is right there!

Microwave odours:

Keep a cup of baking soda in the microwave, between uses to keep potatoes from smelling like bacon or other unusual combinations!

Mothball substitute:

Take your leftover soap slivers and put them in a vented plastic bag. You place the bag with seasonal clothes before packing them away. Not only will the scent prevent them from moth harm, but also they'll smell great when you pull them out.

Permanent marker on carpet:

Dab a washcloth soaked in rubbing alcohol onto the marker stain. Do not rub it - just blot it - rotating the cloth to a clean spot every time.

Photos stuck together:

With a hair dryer on low, slowly melt them apart.

Cockroach problem:

Combine equal parts boric acid and sugar, mix well. Sprinkle in crevices and, if building or remodelling, between walls before putting up plaster board. Put the powder in jar lids; place lids behind the fridge and under sinks.