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As dog lovers know all too well, it’s often not easy to keep a dog-friendly house clean-and-fresh smelling. Instead of turning to products laden with artificial scents and other chemicals, Stacy from Florida has a much better idea:
“I have two ‘love of my life’ Rottweilers that live in/outdoors in Southern Florida with me. I vacuum frequently and something that has helped me tremendously keep my green-clean house smelling lovely is putting organic cotton balls with approximately 10 drops of essential oils into the vacuum cleaner bag. The scent lasts until I change my vacuum bag – just about once a month.
I have received so many compliments on my yummy smelling house – essentials oil favorites are Orange, Lemon, Rosemary & Rose & Lavender. Who needs all those toxic air fresheners & aerosol cans?! Simple. Effective. Inexpensive. Earth Friendly. Health Friendly. Doggie Friendly. Try it – you’ll like it!”
Even if you don’t have indoor pets, this tip sounds like a winner. With or without pets, what do you do to keep your house smelling nice?
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I live right near wetlands and I just open the windows. In winter and fall, I get woodsy scents and in Spring and Summer, more floral. Nothing artifical for me.
June 14th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Here’s my tip for going “green:” incorporate vegetarian meals into the weekly dinner planning. You will help reduce CO2 emissions!
According to the Wall Street Journal, June 14th: one cow produces approximates 115 pounds of methane-producing dung per day which, in turn, releases 5 tons of CO2 equivalent into the atmostphere per year! Further, methane is a greenhosue gas that is, ton for ton, more damaging to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Reducing consumption of beef can directly reduce CO2 emissions AND has the added benefit of reducing your intake of fat and cholesterol. Try a methane -free veggie burger!
June 14th, 2007 at 8:09 am
I also have an easy vacuuming tip, particularly for a bagless cleaner. In a container, mix baking soda and whole cloves, and store the mixture until the cloves scent the baking soda. Sprinkle the mixture onto your carpet and let it set for a few minutes before vacuuming. The baking soda refreshes the carpet, and the cloves leave a nice scent.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I use either pine or cedar shavings for my dog beds, and my doggy friends smell wonderful.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Silver Cleaner:
In a jar with a lid add 1c hot water, 1 TBL salt, 1 TBL white vinegar. Shake well to mix. Next submerge a 3″ square of aluminum foil and the silver to be cleaned in the solution. The salt and vinegar react with the aluminum to eliminate tarnish. Wait 1 hour. Rinse silver and wipe dry with a soft clean cloth. It works GREAT on jewelry!
June 15th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
I keep my home smelling nice with essential oils as well – I either put them in a spray bottle with water and spray the rooms, or use them in a diffuser. I usually use 6-8 drops (total) in an 8 oz spray bottle, or 2-3 drops (total) in the diffuser. Lavender, chamomile, and bergamot help with the mood swings associated with PMS, and another favorite with my family is tangerine or sweet orange and patchouli (go light on the patchouli, though).
There are a lot of resources out there on essential oils and aromatherapy, so there’s no need to use chemical scents when you can make your own aromatherapy recipes!
June 16th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
hahahahaha
beth’s comment about reducing methane by not eating beef is laughable
what about the gas you emit by consuming broccoli?
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Love that idea! I am going to try it now!
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:51 am
I tried the cotton ball in the vacuum with lavender oil, and the scent of the lavender was hardly noticeable. Maybe it depends on what type of vacuum is used. I use a vacuum with a bag.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I am concerned you CAN smell cotton balls that you put in the vacuum bag/area in which you collect debris.
Seriously, if you smell it, doesn’t it follow that all the other “bad stuff” you vacuum is being circulated too? It’s like putting lavender into my car’s gas tank hoping it will make LA air smell better.
July 19th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
I love essential oils! And I just found a cool product made from seasalt that is organic and actually absorbs ordors rather than just masking it. Plus it comes in terrific scents, like eucalyptus. It’s at aromagems.us, but I saw this at a local trade show in Dallas….
August 21st, 2007 at 10:51 am
Beth is absolutely right, but methane gas is only one aspect of the problem. Toxic wastes in the drinking water, disease-ridden animals being consumed by other animals and then fed to human beings, destroyed forests, the decimation of rain forests…The corporate meat industry is an environmental disaster. Those who joke about the toxic wastes that wind up in our environment are laughing themselves sick. If you want to fully understand the disastrous impact of the meat industry on human health and on the environment, read “Mad Cowboy”, by Howard Lyman.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:31 am
I also use essential oils in sprays for keeping my place smelling nice and for a healthier enviroment . No one ever thinks i have cats unless they see them.I also use them in cleaning,lemon grass,tea tree , bergomot and others are great for killing air born germs. Tea tree Kills dust mites and also can be used to remove paint from clothing and other fabrics,used with lavender can take paint off skin ,no more chemicals for cleaning up paint!As and artist this has been a great discovery for me. As i am dealing with chronic illness i do everything i can to make sure there are no chemicals in what i eat ,or put on my body, to what i allow in my home .Since i have been doing this for myself and my felines we are all much happier and healthier.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Cedar shaving that are sold in the pet aisle make an excellent freshener and flea deterent for dog beds. Just empty into an old pillowcase, sew shut, and place under the dog’s regular bedding.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:27 pm