To Smell Or Not To Smell - That Is The Question

     As women, we understand that our sense of smell is so much keener than those of our spouse.  We smell odors that he doesn't seem to notice.  How can he miss that awful smell coming from the trash?  Why doesn't he notice when his feet stink?  And then we wonder about certain odors, and why they are so difficult to get rid of.  There HAS to be a way to get rid of ________ (fill in the blank).  Well here are a few pointers that might save you an embarrassing moment or just make you feel more confident.

Bad Breath (scientifically called halitosis):
     Brush your tongue.  Sounds simple, but it reduces the cause of bad breath by up to 75%, which is better than the 25% when just brushing your teeth.  Want to reduce the germs that cause bad breath even more?    Store your toothbrush bristles down in a cup of mouthwash.  Refresh the mouthwash every time you brush.
     Drink tea - Black and green teas contain catechins that mask smelly breath compounds.  Drink some tea without sugar after your meal.
     Chew a lemon rind - Love garlic but it doesn't love you?  Dip a piece of lemon in a pinch of salt and chew it.  The lemon oil and salt will help diminish the smell.

     Orange wedge before you get out of bed - To rid yourself (or your spouse) of morning breath, place an orange wedge beside your bed.  When you wake up in the morning, eat the orange wedge and feed one to your spouse.  Presto...no more morning breath!



Smelly Feet:
     Freshen up your shoes - To keep your feet smelling fresh, position a dryer sheet in the sole of each shoe.



Onion Smell On Your Hands:
    Hands smell like onions - After cooking with onion, many times your hands will smell like ion for days.  Just rub your hands on a stainless steel faucet and no more onion.





Perfume:
     Keep perfume in the fridge - Perfume's smell usually only lasts for 2 years.  To make your perfume last longer, place your perfume in the fridge.  The scent will last almost forever, because heat and light is what causes it to deteriorate.  It also feels refreshing when you put it on.



Odor in the Air or On th Floor/Carpet:
     Vinegar - One of the cheapest and most effective deodorizers is vinegar.  Need to freshen a room or closet?  Place a bowl of vinegar in the room and it will absorb any odors.  Have a pet that has 'accidents' on your hard wood floor or carpet?  Place 1 part vinegar to 1 part water in a spray bottle and spray the area of the accident.  The vinegar smell evaporates when it dries and deodorizes the spot of the accident!


These are just a few tips I've collected over the years that have helped to vanquish odors in my home.  Would LOVE to hear about any tricks or tips you might use!!