Eliminating wood smoke odor from a house can be terribly challenging. According to University of Missouri, "Fires cause considerable damage to homes and their contents; however, 'after the fire' activities can cause more damage." Smoke odors can ruin household upholstery and fixtures if not properly

Although a litter box is the best place for cat urine, cats sometimes have other ideas. Litter-trained cats with bladder problems such as diabetes or a urinary tract infection often start to urinate outside their litter box because they associate the litter box with pain. (Take your cat to a vet!) A

L.L. Bean is a popular outdoor clothing and accessories company. L.L. Bean has a wide array of backpacks and knapsacks for you to choose from. Like any other brand of backpacks, L.L. Bean backpacks and knapsacks can become dirty and dingy with daily use. When a backpack becomes wet or food is left i

Mosquitoes are more than an annoyance. They spread diseases like malaria, encephalitis and West Nile virus, so you'll want to avoid them when you're working in your garden. Several varieties of mint can help keep mosquitoes away.

Mopping floors will help keep them clean and will help protect you and your family from bacteria, viruses and other contaminates that can make your home uncomfortable and unhealthy. Clean the floors as often as needed to keep them looking and feeling clean. Prevent damage to the floors by following

Water and oil stains are unattractive on any surface, including countertops, floors and walls. The stains are also a challenge to remove from walls, since any cleaning solution may also remove paint or other finish from the walls. The key is to work slowly and use a solution that won't penetrate the

Ask any blonde-haired person and they will tell you that hard, rusty water can turn your hair orange over time. Hard water also makes it difficult to clean your appliances, dishes, sinks, toilets and clothes. A solution to this is to soften the water through the use of salt. Most hard water contains

Oberne Hosick and Company Hard Water Soap 1886

If you live in a home with shellacked wood floors and wish to refinish them, you'll have to remove the old shellac first. This is not a difficult job, but it is exceptionally time consuming and requires a substantial amount of elbow grease. Though it will take many hours to remove the floor shellac,

Have you been laughed at during a staff meeting for wearing one blue and one black sock? Or maybe, like millions of people, you have spent endless hours, days even, searching and wondering what happened to your expensive Argyles? Do you find yourself upset, frustrated or confused by an unrelenting m

The hibiscus is a tropical member of the mallow family. It blooms in all colors, except blue and black, and from 2 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Because of its tropical nature, hibiscus cannot grow outdoors in areas with frost and is best grown in zones 9 and above, according to the U.S. Departme

Bras are costly pieces of lingerie. Some average-priced models can run close to $50 each. To protect your investment in these undergarments, it's important to learn how to properly clean them. While methods vary, there are a couple of options that professionals deem tried and true.

Cleaning a hood vent is a crucial step in owning and operating any type of commercial kitchen. It reduces your risk of having an exhaust fire and must be performed at least once a year.

Cloudy water in your pool can result from a large number of possible causes, ranging from a high pH level to an infestation of biofilms -- congregations of microorganisms -- and algae in the water supply. The sources of the cause may also vary from case to case. A common remedy to the problems caus

You can have your house clean and fresh in minutes when you use the best cleaning tools and equipment.Andreja Donko/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesAlthough a particular piece of cleaning equipment may be capable of making your house spotless, it will get little use if it's a pain to maneuver. On...

Whether you have a ceramic tiled floor, countertop or backsplash, the surface will get dirty and require cleaning. It's important not to just grab any cleaner and start scrubbing away. Although ceramic tiles are durable, they can become damaged or scratched if the wrong cleaning products and methods

Master Quick Shine is manufactured by Petronio Shoe Products Corp. and is a shoe shine spray that claims "No Muss, No Fuss" because it is quick and easy to apply and leaves behind a shining shoe surface. It was originally developed for shoe repairers to apply a fast high gloss. If you have just purc

Surfaces and equipment used in the preparation of food should be sanitized as well as cleaned. Sanitizing solutions reduce the number of live bacteria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that food preparers sanitize preparation surfaces and equipment with solutions containing between 2

Mold can grow on almost any surface given the right conditions. Moisture is just one of the components for mold to take a foothold. Food sources, such as wood timbers or errant materials left behind from insects or rodents, are another factor along with the correct amount of light. Some molds requir

We hope you were wearing work clothes when you were doing that painting job ... because latex paint is almost impossible to get out of clothing. But just in case you spilled on your nice jeans or favorite shirt, here are some things you can try to get it out.