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Quick Takes: Spring 2009 |
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Written by Nevada Home
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Tuesday, 03 February 2009 |
PET CORNER: What’s That Smell? How to Deal With Pet Odors in Your Home
by Barbara Marquand
One of the first things visitors notice when they step inside your home probably isn’t the beautiful flower arrangement in the entryway or your art collection in the living room.
It’s the smell – and that’s not always a good thing if you happen to have pets.
Living with animals means dealing with odors. But it doesn’t mean you have to live with a permanent wet-dog-and-cat-litter-box aroma. Giving your pets and your home a little extra attention and taking care of accidents quickly will keep your house smelling fresh. Here’s how:
• Keep your pets clean. Cats are self-cleaning, but dogs need a little help. Bathe your dog regularly, but don’t use shampoo more than once every six weeks, advises Scraps Dog Co. co-owner Naniece Bucci. Even the so-called “gentle” shampoos dry out dogs’ skin if they’re used too frequently. If your dog likes to roll around in the grass and splash through the Truckee River, he’ll need a good rinsing every week or so. Bucci recommends rinsing dogs with water and using a little conditioner to preserve the oils in their skin between shampooing. She bathes her four French bulldogs (sans shampoo) every week, and the dogs love it because they get special treats at bath time.
Pet stores also carry scented sprays for dogs. Look for products with natural ingredients. Also, brush your long-haired dog or cat regularly to decrease the amount of hair left on the floors and furniture.
• Wash your pet’s bedding, and clean out dog crates every week. Put a sheet over furniture where pets lie and wash it regularly. Clean hamster cages weekly, and replace the bedding with fresh material.
• Scoop out the litter box twice daily, and clean the box with warm water and mild detergent between litter changes. That will cut down on odor and prevent messes elsewhere in the house. Cats may stop using the litter box if it’s too dirty.
• Clean up accidents quickly and neutralize the odors. Pet stores carry a variety of enzyme-containing products that digest the odor-causing salts and proteins. Bucci’s favorite product is Anti-Icky-Poo because it neutralizes the odor without adding another strong smell as some products do.
Call in the professionals to get your carpets really clean. Professional carpet cleaners use odor-neutralizing products that are stronger than those you can buy in retail stores, says John Helmer, president of Custom Floor Care, Inc. in northern Nevada, which uses environmentally friendly products. Plus there’s more to it than just spraying on the stuff. The water temperature needs to be right for the enzymes to do their job, and the carpets need to soak in the stuff long enough for it to work. After cleaning the carpets, neutralizing the odors and extracting them, Helmer’s company also applies a topical treatment that continues to eat away any lingering odors.
Helmer says not to use a lot of cleaning products because the chemical residue from detergents makes it harder for the professionals to lift the stains. Instead, he advises using a drop of Ivory liquid soap to one gallon of water for quick cleanups.
Some do-it-yourselfers advise using a vinegar and water solution to neutralize carpet odors, but animal experts say the scent of the vinegar may attract pets to remark the areas.
• What are the three most important rules to keep your carpets looking good and smelling fresh? “Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum,” Helmer says.
Professionals recommend vacuuming twice a week for a home with an active family. Use HEPA filters to reduce the pollutants emitted by the vacuum, Helmer says. And, of course, don’t forget to damp-mop hard floors and dust surfaces.
• Most air fresheners mask, rather than eliminate, odors, but once you’ve gotten things cleaned up, you can add a fresh scent if you’d like. But make sure that anything you use doesn’t irritate your pets. Bucci says she’s seen sensitive dogs react to plug-in air fresheners and spray-on fabric fresheners.
If you use a carpet freshener, choose an organic product, Helmer says.
Curtis DeTar, owner of Molly Maid in Reno, offers this tip: Put a scented dryer sheet in the vacuum cleaner bag. Every time you vacuum, the machine will pump out the aroma.
Of course there’s always good ol’ baking soda. Sprinkle it on the carpets, let it sit for a few minutes to absorb odors and then vacuum it up. Does it work? Helmer doesn’t know for sure, but, he says, “People swear by it.”
Barbara Marquand is a Reno-based freelance writer.
Color Corner: Don’t Be Afraid of Color
by Missy Allison
Choosing colors to live with can seem like a daunting task, which is why neutrals and creamy whites are so prevalent on the walls surrounding us all. Painting with color is a quick way to change a room’s look entirely, fairly easily and inexpensively. Paint goes up fast and if need be, can just as easily be rolled right over if a mistake has been made. In any case, standing before a massive display of paint chips may be the worst way to try making your color selection(s). Without a clear sense of direction, the rainbow can be overwhelming!
Take some time to assess your environment before making color selections. How is the space being used, and how would you like it to be used? Should color engulf the room completely, or will one wall create interest and a focal point? Is the space large with picture windows or small and without natural lighting? Does the color look good against skin tone? This point is often overlooked. Color may make a room look alright, but if it makes the people in it look bad, something will always seem wrong. Is the view of the space worth capitalizing on; would bringing colors in from outside showcase the view with seamless transition? Are there existing furnishings, artwork, or collections that colors can be borrowed from to create flow? When I moved into my 1930s-era home, I knew I would display my vintage ceramics collection in the kitchen, and from those pottery glazes my color palette was born (photo on the right). An extreme use of color to be sure, however, the room is one of the happiest I’ve ever been in and always a conversation starter!
Don’t be apprehensive about using color, it’s everywhere in our world. Nature is anything but neutral!
Missy Allison is an area interior designer and co-owner of www.luckystargallery.com.
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