Keep Your Home Smelling Great

In between, sprinkle a little kitty litter or borax to control escaping odors. And, my favorite, using odor killing trash bags. These really are effective at limiting the impact of strong odors from inside the garbage can while it's still being filled.

Common Foods & Their Store Life In The Refrigerator (Freezer)

According to FoodSafety.gov

Salads (egg, chicken, ham, tuna, & macaroni salads) - 3 to 5 days (Does not freeze well)

Hot dogs, opened package - 1 week (1-2 Months)

Hot dogs, unopened package - 2 weeks (1-2 Months)

Lunch meat, opened or deli sliced - 3 to 5 days (1-2 Months)

Lunch meat, unopened - 2 weeks (1-2 Months)

Bacon - 7 days (1 month)

Sausage, raw - 1 to 2 days (1-2 Months)

Hamburger & other ground meats - 1 to 2 days (3-4 Months)

Fresh beef, veal, lamb & pork, steak/chops/roasts - 3 to 5 days (4-12 Months)

Fresh poultry, chicken or turkey - 1 to 2 days (1 year)

Soups & stews, vegetable or meat added -  3 to 4 days (2-3 Months)

Leftovers, cooked meat or poultry - 3 to 4 days (2-3 Months)

The scientific name for baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It is a weak base that can act as an acid depending on what it comes in contact with. The smells in your fridge are made up of food particles that float around and eventually settle into your other meals. Putting a box of baking soda in your refrigerator gives those smelly particles something other than your leftovers to bond with. The unique characteristics of sodium bicarbonate make it very attractive to both acidic and base particles, once these particles bond with the baking soda the odor is neutralized. Just remember while baking soda is used in many recipes, you should not cook with baking soda that has been used to neutralize odors. Part of the neutralization process means the baking soda has absorbed the food particles, which does change the taste of the baking soda.

It used to be so annoying to drive down to the supermarket and rent a carpet cleaner so it is often avoided. Luckily nowadays, effective shampoo cleaners are inexpensive, making it easier to more frequently shampoo -- especially in high traffic areas.

The difference has been noticeable. With this regimen, you can double the effective lifetime of your carpet, not to mention the noticeable visual difference as well as comfort. It will also improve the general aroma of your home as carpet is extremely good at trapping scents, bacteria, and disease.

This scent, will probably not noticeable to you, is apparent to any visitor (even if it isn't necessary unpleasant!).

How To Shampoo Properly

1. Vacuum the entire room.
2. Remove all items from the room.
3. Spot clean any deep blemishes and stains.
4. Fill the shampooer with clean water and shampoo
5. Start at one end of the room and make straight lines, slowly --  Shampooers need time.
6. Do not move back and forth like a vacuum.
7. Empty dirty water outside (if not possible, in the toilet).
8. Once you've made a full pass, make another pass with cold water only no shampoo.
9. Allow the carpet enough time to fully dry (6 hours) before walking on again or returning the furniture.

Most of it gets sucked out the drains but the residue can be left inside your washer leading to unpleasant smells and taking a general toll on your washer's ability. So, clean it every 6 months.

Cleaning your washer is pretty simple. It takes our good ol' friend white vinegar, baking soda, and a microfiber cloth.

Basic Steps

1. Before cleaning the washer drum, clean the gasket by spraying it with white vinegar and wiping with a damp microfiber cloth. The rubber gasket at the front of the washer, especially in a high-efficiency (HE) washer, accumulates water, hair, scum, and mildew.
2. Set the washer to the highest level and the hottest water temperature.
3. Add two cups of white cleaning vinegar to the detergent dispenser.
4. Run it through a complete cycle.
5. Run another cycle on the highest level and at the hottest water temperature, this time adding one-half cup of baking soda to the drum.
6. When the cycle is done, wipe inside the drum of the washer with a damp microfiber cloth.
7. While you’re at it, wipe down the front of the machine, too.

Take a look at all places in your home where two different materials meet as well as external facing doors and windows. Run your finger across the seals and make sure there are no leaks. A simple helping of caulk around these leaks could save you 5-15% on your heating and cooling costs.

You can even use weather sealing tape around windows instead of caulk, but the finished product will rely heavily on your ability to tape cleanly.

Weather Stripping

Doors and windows typically come with what’s known as weather stripping. These are lengths of rubber or metal that seal gaps, while still allowing the window or door to open and shut properly.

Weather stripping isn’t just for doors and windows. You can also use it in other drafty areas, too, such as around air conditioners and inside-to-outside gaps.