How do you keep your house smelling "fresh"

margecat

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I have 9 cats, and on top of it, 1-2 cats that regularly have accidents. Hobbes prefers to urinate on piddle pads (yet does #2 in the litter box; go figure!). We have to always have 3 down on the carpet in the master bedroom, under which I laid plastic runners. I hate it, but we have to do it. Marge is gotten much better with her going in bad places; I had to move a litter box into the foyer, near her hiding spot, which is under the chest of drawers there. Again, I hate having a litter box inside (the others are in the garage, accessed via a cat door in the laudry room; we only use the garage for this and storage--now cars, so it is safe for them). And I especially hate having that box greeting the visitors! If I know someone is visiting, I move it into the laundry, as Marge will hide anyway.

On top of this, 4 cats are long-haired. Imagine the fur! Dust is not my problem; it is the fur! I cannot stand to see the fur *tumbleweeds* lying around--drives me nuts.

I just have to clean more often than most folks. I am a neat freak, but even I don*t want to spend my life cleaning! I vacuum almost every day. Luckily, we only have carpet in 2 rooms upstairs; the rest are laminate flooring, so any accidents don8t sink through, and smell. I have large area rugs in those rooms, which I vacuum, and I use the Dust-Buster on the stairs, which are wood (this is where most of the fur collects; I think they tussle on the stairs). I try to sweep the kitchen floor every night, and mop it more often now. I also use a lot of vinegar-water mix in a spray bottle, which neutralizes odors, and is an excellent cleaner. In warmer weather, I leave some windows open to air the house. I think this really helps. I sprinkle baking soda on the rugs & carpets, let it sit, then vacuum. This removes smells. Some people also mix a bix in the litter for this reason, but some cats dislike it (when they pee, it fizzes up, and scares them).

I know I talk about the Swiffers a lot (no, I don*t own stock!), but they are great for quick clean-ups, and the scent lingers, & is fresh. I highly recommend them, even if you are a mop and bucket person--just keep some on hand for quick clean-ups, accidents, etc.

I also love the Clorox-type cleaning wipes that disinfect. Again, they leave a nice, fresh scent. They would be good to use if you have unexpected company arriving soon--go over a few surfaces, Swiffer the main part of the floors, and throw open a window.
 
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yarra

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Wow! There is some wonderful advice! Thanks so much you guys!

I am always paranoid when my mom comes over. You guys are right. She is a neat freak and I hate being judged by her. Even though she probly won't say anything, I know she's thinking it, because she will bring it up months from now.

I went and got some swiffer wets.

I came home and ALLLLLL the kittens were out running around. LOL Polly and Little Boy were looking rather shell-shocked on the guest bed. The kittens are 7 weeks old, still small and TEARING UP THE PLACE! Holy cow was it funny. ANYWAY, now it smells like poo. I can't tell where it is coming from. They were all neatly contained in the kitchen, but evidently learned how to jump over the barrier sometime today...there is NO TELLING where the poo might be.


I dont' know what I am going to do now. They won't stay in the kitchen. LOL It's a lot of work for them to jump over, but they do it! SIGH.

At least they are all cute. lol
 

meowers

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Not to brag, but recently a friend came over (my two cats were hiding) and later she remarked that she had forgotten I even had cats it smelled so clean inside. The she said 'where are you hiding the litter box?"...it was right behind her under the table


All I do is try to have the windows open a couple hours a day at least. Fresh air is really your only must have.

I scoop compulsivly
But, then I dump into kitchen garbage (its easier) so just change all garbages often.

Vacuum at least once a week.

I febreeze everything when I remember (maybe once every two months) and we do lots of laundry. If you use smelly candles once in awhile, they help keep your house fresh too in a very mild way.

WBCL really traps those odors. We all like it.
 

rockcat

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Not to change the subject, but as a side note - I see that so many of you burn candles regularly. I want to ask that you please be extra careful since you have cats. I met a woman who had a cat that knocked over a candle (probably with his tail) and started her house on fire! She was only gone from the room to call her children in for dinner.

My Mom sent me these awesome vanilla scented wax battery operated candles. They look, feel, glow, flicker, and smell like regular candles - except there is no wick and no flame! I just found some that were similar in CVS. Also, burning a lot of regular candles cause a dark line (called a draft line) to settle on the edges of carpet.

Ok, hijack over!
 

margecat

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Originally Posted by Rockcat

Not to change the subject, but as a side note - I see that so many of you burn candles regularly. I want to ask that you please be extra careful since you have cats. I met a woman who had a cat that knocked over a candle (probably with his tail) and started her house on fire! She was only gone from the room to call her children in for dinner.

My Mom sent me these awesome vanilla scented wax battery operated candles. They look, feel, glow, flicker, and smell like regular candles - except there is no wick and no flame! I just found some that were similar in CVS. Also, burning a lot of regular candles cause a dark line (called a draft line) to settle on the edges of carpet.

Ok, hijack over!
I think I saw some in Home Depot, too.

I also like the regular battery-powered flameless candles. I even have the votive-sized ones that are rechargable (a gift, but I did see them in the QVC Outlet store last week.) I even use them as nightlights in the hallway upstairs. I have ceramic Jack O*Lantern on the table, and use 1 of the votives. Looks really cute!
 

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I always ask certain people who come over, if my home smells like animals and so far the answer is no. Thats really important to me that it doesnt smell like animals. I have only hardwood floors that I vacuum and then use a steam cleaner and spray vinegar onto the floor before I use the steam cleaner.

With the litter boxes, every few months, I just toss the whole boxes and get new ones, since plastic can really hold onto odor.

I also open a few windows, too, to let fresh air circulate.
 

enuja

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Originally Posted by Rockcat

Not to change the subject, but as a side note - I see that so many of you burn candles regularly. I want to ask that you please be extra careful since you have cats. I met a woman who had a cat that knocked over a candle (probably with his tail) and started her house on fire! She was only gone from the room to call her children in for dinner.
A stable candle-holder with a thick metal spike and keeping your candles away from things like piles of paper and other tinder should suffice.
 
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yarra

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Originally Posted by Rockcat

Not to change the subject, but as a side note - I see that so many of you burn candles regularly. I want to ask that you please be extra careful since you have cats. I met a woman who had a cat that knocked over a candle (probably with his tail) and started her house on fire! She was only gone from the room to call her children in for dinner.

My Mom sent me these awesome vanilla scented wax battery operated candles. They look, feel, glow, flicker, and smell like regular candles - except there is no wick and no flame! I just found some that were similar in CVS. Also, burning a lot of regular candles cause a dark line (called a draft line) to settle on the edges of carpet.

Ok, hijack over!
You are so sweet.


I use very heavy jar candles. If I use a small votive, it will be for mood only, and it's in a large heavy container.

I do utilize my candle warmer a lot.
this thing is AWESOME! It looks exactly like those little hotplates that people put their mug of coffee on? You can get them at Walmart, especially this time of year. it warms up the candle, releases the scent, and no worry of catching anything, even kitteh's wiskers, on fire.
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by Yarra

You are so sweet.


I use very heavy jar candles. If I use a small votive, it will be for mood only, and it's in a large heavy container.

I do utilize my candle warmer a lot.
this thing is AWESOME! It looks exactly like those little hotplates that people put their mug of coffee on? You can get them at Walmart, especially this time of year. it warms up the candle, releases the scent, and no worry of catching anything, even kitteh's wiskers, on fire.
That works too!
BTW, I love your siggy!
 
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yarra

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Originally Posted by Rockcat

...BTW, I love your siggy!
Thanks!!! I am a huge Buffy fan. I worked SOO long and hard on that siggy. LOL I thought it was appropriate to dig it out for Halloween.


Are you a buffy fan too?
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by Yarra

Thanks!!! I am a huge Buffy fan. I worked SOO long and hard on that siggy. LOL I thought it was appropriate to dig it out for Halloween.


Are you a buffy fan too?
Never watched the show, but you're right. It's perfect for Halloween.
 
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