Bowls of charcoal placed in the room are recommended for removing smoke odors, so maybe it will work for you. Charcoal absorbs odors, but don't get the kind with lighter fluid in it, or it will leave an odor of its own! ... View related article.
Try using a disinfectant, like Lysol liquid all-purpose cleaner, in with your regular detergent. I use about 1/2 - 1 cup per susceptible load--germy, smelly work and T-shirts, clothes that have been wet too long, etc. (Disinfectants say that they "kill germs that cause odors", and are more safe for fabrics than chlorine bleach.) Bonus; you can use less detergent that way, too. An extra rinse might be good, especially if anyone in your house has sensitive skin. After that, you can use the vinegar or fabric softener that others have suggested, if you want. Also, I put a little disinfectant in the armpits of "habitual BO-ridden" T-shirts, just as a habit. Works great! ... View related article.
A game that sounds easy, but is actually pretty tricky is to put (dry, uncooked) rice in a bowl with paper clips mixed in with it. Each person takes a turn feeling around and picking out paper clips with his eyes closed for a set amount of time, 1 or 2 minutes. The one with the most paper clips wins. If you make the "Asian-inspired table lanterns" posted by Suzanne, you may be able to buy a roll of parchment paper in the plastic wrap/foil section of the grocery store for cheaper. I don't know. Just an idea. The paper may be thinner, but it is made for cooking, so it should be safe to be around a teeny tealight. I think I got tealight candles for less than $4 at Wal-Mart. You could look online or at the library for symbols to paint on them or draw on with a permanent marker. (Water-based marker may bead up or smudge.) Happy birthday! ... View related article.
They do make fabric softeners, or maybe it's those detergents with fabric softener in them, that smell really strong.Start sniffing boxes of detergent or softener, and the one that knocks your nose off is the one, if you like the scent. There's one that used to advertise long-lasting scent; I just don't remember which one. ... View related article.
A couple of big boxes of baking soda, one for the freezer, and one for the fridge. Maybe you should change all your storage containers, and rewrap your frozen food. Plastic absorbs odors sometimes. We always used to wash out the fridge with baking soda water, anyway. It may take several boxes of baking soda over several weeks (months?) and quite a few washings to get things back to normal. Maybe leave an open pitcher of water in the fridge, and change it every day. That should help a tiny bit, and it's cheap and almost effortless.(You know how things get that "refrigerator taste" when left open.) ... View related article.
There are dehumidifying agents out there, some reusable (you bake it when it gets moist), some not--like Damp Rid. (It turns into liquid, then you dump it out.) Clay cat litter absorbs moisture, and it's cheap. Baking soda absorbs odors. If you don't already have cat litter, you could try getting some that has baking soda already in it. You could put it in an open box, bowl, or cloth bag (like a pillow case, knotted) in the closet while it's empty overnight to absorb moisture, then put the linens in the next day. (Hmm, sounds like it'd work.) If you use a box or bowl, it should be wide, so it has more litter exposed to the air. The cloth bag would be best, I think. ... View related article.
You can put a small coffee can with 1/2 and 1/2, vanilla and sugar (ice cream mix) in it, lid on tight inside a big coffee can with ice and salt packed in around it to make ice cream. Tape the large lid on, and roll the can around for 20-30 minutes, then check to see if you have ice cream. Kids love this, and moms look really silly playing "kick the can" in the street. Great fun! ... View related article.
www.savingdinner.com has free sample menus and shopping lists for 2 or more. The recipes are generally good and healthful. There are regular, frugal, vegetarian and lo-carb options. ... View related article.
