Killing garbage odors
Dear Heloise: My trash can smells awful! For a few years now, it’s sat in the hot Texas sun, and the smell of garbage just seems to be soaked up by the heat. How can I get rid of trash can odors?
— K.A., in Texas
Kelly, take one or two slices of bread and soak them in vinegar. After they are completely soaked, place them on a paper towel and put them in the bottom of your empty trash can. Leave them there overnight, and the next morning, you can remove them. This should help kill the odor.
— Heloise
Louisiana spices
Dear Heloise: My wife is from New Orleans and loves to cook. Her dishes are absolutely delicious, but the odor of her cooking can and does last for days afterward. I can be sitting in the living room and still smell dinner from two days ago. How can we get rid of those delicious southern spices?
— F.R., in Pennsylvania
F.R., scented candles can help, but so can taking a fresh furnace filter and adding a few drops of essential oils to the top side of the filter.
Then just place it back in the furnace.
When the furnace turns on with heat or cool air, the scent of essential oils will fill the whole house.
— Heloise
Black mold on bath mat
Dear Heloise: I have black mold growing on my plastic bath mat. I put it out in the sun in hopes of killing the mold, but I swear it just seemed to make the mold grow! How can I get rid of the black mold?
— L.D., in Mississippi
L.D., your bath mat can be washed in your washing machine using hot water, your regular laundry soap, and 1 cup of bleach. If you have white towels or a washable throw rug, you can also toss these in for a little friction. Let the bath mat dry naturally on the patio or hang it over the shower curtain rod.
— Heloise
