Cleaning Archives

Out Damn Spot! Remove Cat Urine

Its transition time in our house. The youngest daughter is in the process of packing up (again) and getting ready to move out for college (again). It is an exciting time. When you are starting graduate school, the whole world is ahead of you. She is going through all the things she has had packed away in storage for the last year to determine if they were really worth dragging half way across the country.

She ran across a pair of khaki pants that had been stained by Mr. Lou, her cat that has been gone for almost two years now. Ewwwww. Two year old cat urine! Without saying a word, she placed the pants in the laundry basket, thinking that either the wash could remove cat urine stains or she would just throw the pants away.

I can’t think of any stain worse than male cat urine, locked away for two years, staining a pair of light colored pants.

So, I knew that sodium percarbonate kicks butt on organic stains. Cat urine is most certainly organic and sodium percarbonate is the top ingredient in Molly’s Suds Oxygen Whitener. What I didn’t know is if Molly’s Suds can remove cat urine stain that has been set for so long. The only way to find out is to try it!

You get the best results from a sodium percarbonate solution when you activate it in the hottest water as possible. I took about 1 1/2 quarts of hot water out of the tap and decided it wasn’t hot enough. I popped the plastic container in the microwave and zapped it for two minutes. That was hot water! I added 1 ounce of Molly’s Suds and gave it a stir. In to the hot tub went the stained pants leg. Of course the solution went to work immediately.

The oxidation was full force with more foaming action than I had ever seen before. I allowed the pants leg to soak until all foaming had stopped (a sign that the oxidation process was complete) and the water cooled.

Eww the water looked really yellow and icky. With trepidation, I took the pants let out of the soaking solution. At first glance it looked as if the ENTIRE stain was gone COMPLETELY. Not sure, I rinsed the garment out in the kitchen sink. Yup, looks like the entire stain was removed. Like magic, Molly’s Suds had worked to remove cat urine!

Molly’s Suds had saved the day again. The old, set in stain was gone, no toxic chemicals had been used. The air was free from chemical fumes (like with chlorine bleach) and the fabric had not been damaged.

Now there are many oxygen bleach products on the market. Maybe some of them would have been up to the task of removing a set in stain like this cat urine, but I seriously doubt it. The mass distributed oxygen bleach products make generous use of fillers. Molly’s Suds Oxygen Whitener does not. It is a simple solution of sodium percarbonate and soda ash. That is why just a little goes along way.

So, the pants went through the laundry cycle and were returned to young daughter. She smiled and said “Thanks Mom”.. I say “Molly’s Suds”

Cheryl

Cleaning Up Mold – Mold 101

We have been getting plenty of calls from people who were flooded as a result of the recent rains on top of the deluge from Irene and Lee.

Mold in basements, mold on docks, mold on decks, in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms…..mold is everywhere! They all want help in cleaning up mold.

Sounds like a good time to review Mold 101.

Mold Wants Water – Stop the Water

Mold wants moisture This is not hard to come by lately, especially if you are in the mid-Atlantic, Northeast or Deep South. The first step to cleaning any mold problem is to get rid of the moisture. If there is a leak, fit it! You are wasting your time and money if you are cleaning up mold and not stopping the source of water. The mold will just return when the water returns.

Mold Wants Food – Cut Off the Food Supply

The second step is removing water-damaged materials. If this includes taking down walls or removing cabinets, make sure that you set up a containment area and run a HEPA air cleaner for mold to keep from spreading the spores. Cleaning up mold also means containing mold. When we did mold remediation, we removed drywall in 4 foot sections. If the furring strips and studs are in good condition, they can be HEPA vacuumed with a sealed vacuum (such as made by Nilfisk) to remove any spores. By removing the water damaged areas, you are removing the food source for the mold. If you are cleaning up mold and not removing the food source, you are wasting your time and energy.

Kill The Spores – Die Mold Die!

The entire area needs to be treated with an antimicrobial agent to kill any remaining mold. We recommend Vital-Oxide antimicrobial spray over bleach. The active ingredient in Vital-Oxide is chlorine dioxide. It will kill the mold spores without the pungent odor and corrosive properties associated with chlorine beach. It is also much safer to use than bleach. Vital Oxide is vital to cleaning up mold to keep it from returning.

Keep the Mold from Coming Back

Once the treated area has dried, you might want to use a sealant like SureCote if the area is going to continue to be exposed to the elements (like an outside deck or patio). The SureCote will provide a clear, protective coating that resists mold growth. If the area is not outside, you can skip the SureCote. Just proceed to rebuilding.

Remember, Mold 101, first stop the moisture, then clean up, then treat with an anti-microbial.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Must Have Allergy Control Products

After taking an extended trip, I have come to the conclusion that:

There really is no place like home
There really are some must-have allergy control products. These are the allergy control products I just can’t do without.

Must-Have Allergy Control Product #1 Allergen Wash

I was fortunate that one of the stops on my multi-state trip was my mother’s home. I knew I could depend on her to have a bottle of Allergen Wash. Not only could I wash out all the dust, dirt, and grime but I could get rid of the allergens also.

You might not think of allergens in the laundry, but on this extended road trip, I didn’t get many opportunities to do laundry and I knew that my clothing was collecting pollens because some of it was damp (did I mention that this trip included spending an afternoon hauling the contents of a Budget moving truck up a flight of stairs in 100-degree weather?) it was ripe for molds and dust mites. It was great to see Mom and it was great to see her washer and dryer and that bottle of Allergen Wash.

Must-Have Allergy Control Product #2 Allergy Bedding

It was also nice to sleep on a bed that was completely protected in zippered dust mite-proof mattress covers and pillow covers. Of the many places I slept on this trip, only two of them were places where the beds were completely covered.

It makes such a difference in how I feel in the morning when I get up. Covers = Cheryl which is a bright ray of sunshine. No Covers = Cheryl that can’t see straight, can’t think straight, and is a growly, crabby bear. I don’t try to hide it…I know how I am!

Must-Have Allergy Control Product #3 – ADMS Spray

This brings me to the third allergy control product I can’t live without……my bottle of ADMS Spray.

The ADMS Spray is a lifesaver when you are going to be staying where you can’t control your environment.

As I have written before, a quick spray on the air conditioner, bedding, and carpeting and most hotel rooms can have a drastic reduction in the level of allergens waiting to greet you. I didn’t have a room that gave me problems on the entire trip!

It is certainly good to see the countryside, but it is even better to be home. In your own bed. In your own bedroom that has no carpeting. With your Austin Air HealthMate humming you softly to sleep.

Til Next Time

Cheryl