How to Get Rid of Bad Smells

Natural Remedies for Bad Odors in the Home

Oct 13, 2017

 

There are many ways to mask bad smells in your home, but how do you truly get rid of them? Here’s how to get rid of bad smells once and for all!

Neuroscientists say humans can distinguish 10,000 scents, though we don’t have names for a lot of them.
Our sense of smell—the olfactory sense—brings depth and emotional richness to daily life. Think about the feelings and memories that flow when you catch a whiff of fresh-cut grass or lilacs in bloom, bury your face in a sun-dried bed sheet just off the line, or enter the kitchen just as a cinnamon-rich apple pie emerges from the oven.
Our olfactory system also alerts us to potential dangers: spoiled food, rot and decay, harmful molds. Most American homes contain a variety of sprays, plug-ins, stick-ons, scented candles, and other products designed to mask or remove bad odors. However, many people suffer allergic reactions to the fragrances in some of these products, and some air fresheners even contain toxins.
Yet a few inexpensive household essentials you probably have on hand already—vinegar, salt, coffee, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide—will neutralize most noxious odors around your home and in your vehicles.

How to Get Rid of Bad Smells

• During nice weather, just open the windows! Let fresh air blow through.
• To perfume the air naturally, cut a lemon in half and set the cut halves in an inconspicuous place, or rub a bit of vanilla on a light bulb
• Most folks know that keeping an open box of plain baking soda in the refrigerator will neutralize bad odors. Sprinkle some into the bottom of the trash can and into the trash bag itself for similar results.
• Half a cup of baking soda in two quarts of water and a soft cloth or brush also work well for cleaning the fridge, as well as scrubbing down and freshening the tub, tiles, sinks, drains, trash cans, and toilet bowls. For stronger disinfecting properties, scrub with a strong vinegar solution.
• Fresh or leftover coffee grounds will also absorb unpleasant odors in a fridge, microwave, or cupboard. They’ll also sweeten the air inside your car or its trunk. For use in the car, place the grounds in a covered plastic container with holes punched in the lid.https://www.almanac.com/blog/home-health/natural-living/how-get-rid-bad-smells?trk_msg=9FQH3OC02COKF91VJ942DU9TDG&trk_contact=EEBLFVJ2I0VAQT9EM5JFVJAK9O&trk_sid=DUOEL16731P3NL9A7LCHSVAJUS&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=How+to+Get+Rid+of+Bad+Smells+(read+more)&utm_campaign=Companion+Daily

Are They Poisonous?

Are They Poisonous?

Spiders are blamed for all kinds of things that turn out to be skin infections or some other bug’s fault. Most don’t even have fangs long enough to break your skin. When they do bite, they're typically harmless. In the U.S., only the black widow and brown recluse have venom strong enough to really hurt you. And their bites are rarely deadly to humans.https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-spider-bites?ecd=wnl_wmh_102717&ctr=wnl-wmh-102717_nsl-ld-stry_1&mb=fjn57TBrIqlXyG%40%40f08MHJAyWFWqf9PL0Prbz5KLjJs%3d

What Do Bites Look Like?

They’re pretty much just like an insect bite. For the most part, you can’t tell a spider bit you just from your symptoms. You’ll get a little bump on your skin. It might get red, itchy, and swell up a bit. It might hurt, but no more than a bee sting and usually not for more than an hour or so. That’s basically it -- unless you're bitten by a venomous spider.

Apple Pull-Apart Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted, divided
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 medium tart apple, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ICING:
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3 to 4-1/2 teaspoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in milk. Add 2 tablespoons butter, egg, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and 3 cups flour; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Combine apple, pecans, cinnamon and remaining sugar; set aside. Punch dough down; divide in half. Cut each half into 16 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll out each piece into a 2-1/2-in. circle. Place 1 teaspoon apple mixture in center of circle; pinch edges together and seal, forming a ball. Dip in remaining butter. In a greased 10-in. tube pan, place 16 balls, seam side down; sprinkle with 1/4 cup apple mixture. Layer remaining balls; sprinkle with remaining apple mixture. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack. Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over bread. Yield: 1 loaf.

Originally published as Apple Pull-Apart Bread in Taste of Home August/September 1998, p39

Nutritional Facts

1 piece: 248 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 218mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.

Rocky Road Chocolate Cookies

Author: Alyssa

Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 2 (4 ounce) semi-sweet baking chocolate bars
• 1 cup flour
• ⅓ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¾ cup walnut pieces
• 1 cup mini marshmallows, divided
• 1 cup milk chocolate bars (about 3 1.5 ounce bars), chopped, divided

Instructions

1. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate bars in the microwave and let cool.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine four, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together. set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugars together for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined, scraping the sides as needed.
4. Use a wooden spoon or a spatula to mix in the walnuts, ½ cup marshmallows, and ½ cup chopped chocolate.
5. Cover dough and refrigerate at least 2 hours. If chilled longer, let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes before rolling.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat mats.
7. Scoop dough and form into (24) 1½ inch balls. Place 3 inches apart on pan. Bake for 11 minutes and then press 3 marshmallows into the tops of each. Return to oven and cook for 1 more minute. Press in a couple more chocolate chunks and let cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Then move to a cooling rack.

Almond Joy Poke Cake

A moist chocolate cake covered in a gooey coconut mixture and topped with a rich chocolate icing and sliced almonds.

Author: Jenn@eatcakefordinner

Ingredients

• 1 (15.25 oz.) box Devil's Food Cake Mix
• Ingredients on the box to make cake (eggs, oil, water)
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk or 1 (15 oz.) can cream of coconut
• 2 c. shredded coconut
• ¾ c. sliced almonds
• Chocolate Icing
• 4 Tbl. unsalted butter
• 4 Tbl. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 c. powdered sugar
• 1½ tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 Tbl. milk

Instructions

1. Prepare cake mix and bake according to package directions for a 9x13-inch cake. When cake is done, while it is still warm, poke holes all over the cake using a toothpick or a fork. Stir together sweetened condensed milk or cream of coconut and the shredded coconut and pour/spread over the warm cake. It will be thick. Allow to cool. Some of the mixture will sink down into the holes in the cake. When cake is cool, make the chocolate icing.
2. For the Chocolate Icing: Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in the cocoa powder until no lumps remain. Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Stir together until smooth and creamy and immediately pour over the cooled cake. Spread out evenly. Top with sliced almonds and allow icing to harden. I like to refrigerate the cake overnight, so it's nice and firm and easier to cut into slices.

Apple Cheesecake Bars

Apple Cheesecake bars

Author: Melanie~ www.thesisterscafe.com

 

Ingredients

For the Crumb Topping:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup quick-cooking oats
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, at cool room temperature

For the Shortbread Crust:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, at cool room temperature

For the Filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch salt
• 2 small apples (any variety), peeled, cored and finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray. but no need to spray the parchment paper, if you are using that.

Make the Crumb Topping:

1. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar and oats. Using a fork, your fingers or a pastry blender, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly. Refrigerate the topping while you prepare the bars.

Make the Crust:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar and salt. Add the butter and, using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles wet sand. Turn the mixture into the pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes, or until light brown and set. Remove the pan to a wire rack.

Make the Filling: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese with ¼ cup of the sugar until it’s well-combined and smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the egg, vanilla and salt, and beat just until the mixture is uniform. Pour over the crust and smooth into an even layer.

1. In a small bowl, toss the apples with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar, the cinnamon and nutmeg, ensuring that the apples are evenly coated. Distribute the apples evenly over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apples.
2. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the filling is set and the center does not jiggle. Remove the pan to a wire rack and let the bars cool completely before serving or if desired, cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours..I think they are best chilled. The bars can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
3. *If you want to take them up a notch, you could drizzle them with caramel sauce before serving.

Crochet Stones Will Look Beautiful In Your Home 

Here’s a lovely idea we know you will be keen to try. The Blogger takes smooth sea stones and covers them with crochet ..

 

These stones will look amazing in your home and they are very easy to recreate! Don’t they look absolutely gorgeous grouped together in a bowl.

They would make a fabulous centerpiece and it’s the perfect way to use up all your left over yarn. They would also make ideal paper weights. Margaret says her instructions are for a stone 5 centimeters in diameter.

  You can however, adapt the pattern to fit any size. It’s a lovely beginner friendly project and she says that if you can crochet a chain, make a single and double crochet stitch, then you will easily be able to make a crochet cover for a stone.https://thewhoot.com/crochet/urchin-crochet-sea-stones?omhide=true