Cuddly bears donated to pediatric unit
The Lenoir Memorial Hospital Pediatrics Unit recently was the recipient of soft, cuddly teddy bears donated by the local Goody’s Store.
Sean Beaver, district manager, and Mike Stabein, regional manager, were happy to donate the bears to be given to pediatric patients.
Hattie Applewhite, registered nurse, accepted the bears from Lisa Wooten, Goody’s Kinston store manager.
Home Solutions: Whew! What’s that smell?
Eliminating odors can be as simple as removing spoiled vegetables from the refrigerator. If more complicated, there are many commercial odor removers especially formulated to remove certain odors, such as skunk or pet accidents.
However, many home remedies are quick and simple. Several common household items have excellent odor removing characteristics and are environmentally friendly. Try them before purchasing a commercial product.
Some of these include activated charcoal, baking soda, cat box filler, crushed newspapers, coffee grounds (new or used and then dried), fabric softener sheets or liquid fabric softener, tomato juice, vanilla extract, vinegar, lemon rind or lemon juice, spices such as cinnamon and salt.
Other odor-chasing remedies include using mouthwash for removing the smell of urine and other unpleasant strong odors; and mixing two tablespoons of citronella oil (purchased from drug store) and half a cup of rubbing alcohol with a gallon of water. Test on an inconspicuous area before using, since some finishes could be damaged.
Here are a few fixes for common household odor problems.
Bedding: Sprinkle baking soda, borax or a spice mixture on bedding, futon or mattress. Leave overnight and vacuum. Or, sprinkle baking soda between the mattress and box springs and leave up to several days. Vacuum occasionally. Sprinkle the top of a musty mattress with cat box filler and leave for a week. Or wipe with a sponge dampened with vinegar. Deep cleaning with an extraction machine may be necessary.
Car Interior: Sprinkle carpet freshener or baking soda in the interior and in the trunk, and vacuum. Or, poke pinholes in a pack of potpourri and allow the car’s heat to release the fragrance. Activated charcoal, containers of coffee or cat box filler will absorb odors in the trunk. Fill ashtrays with baking soda or cat box filler to remove stale smoke odors.
Cigarette smoke: Dampen a dishtowel with white vinegar and wave around the room for a minute or two. Or, set small bowls of vinegar around the room. Fill ashtrays with cat box filler. If a small item (such as a book) smells of cigarette smoke, seal it in a bag with a couple of fabric softener sheets for several days. Repeat if necessary.
Resource: University of Kentucky Extension
Trudy W. Pickett is extension family and consumer agent at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office, 1791 N.C. 11/55. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or trudy_pickett@ncsu.edu.