Windsor Star

Scents and sensible solutions

- REENA NERBAS

Q Is there a way of getting rid of musty tropical smells from suitcases? We came back from the Dominican Republic at Christmas and the smell is still lingering.

A Wipe the suitcase interior with dish soap and water. Air dry. Pour a handful or two of fresh coffee grounds inside of a sock, close with an elastic band and store the sock inside of the suitcase. Coffee is a great odour absorber.

Q My dog has terrible breath, and I have decided to brush his teeth every day. Should I use the same toothpaste on my dog as I use?

A You’ll want to purchase toothpaste specifical­ly formulated for dogs. Many human toothpaste­s contain fluoride, which is poisonous to dogs.

Be patient as you start out on this new venture and begin with short brushing sessions so the dog can adjust to the new routine.

And speak to your vet, because bad breath may be the culprit of a more serious condition; for example, if the dog has a rotten tooth and you touch it, this will be very painful for him.

Meanwhile, your dog ’s food is another possible reason for his odorous breath.

Q Do you have any ideas as to how to keep a toilet brush clean and free from odour?

A After cleaning your bathroom, fill the toilet brush cup with vinegar or bleach. Soak the brush for 30 minutes, dump out the contents and let the brush air dry.

Extra Tip: The toothbrush holder is one of the most neglected items in the home. Place the cup inside your dishwasher so that it becomes clean without you having to spend time scraping old toothpaste out of tiny holes.

MEALS IN A JAR

Large Mason jars are perfect for taking salads to work. Pour salad dressing into the bottom of the jar. Add tomatoes, radishes, peas, lettuce, cheese, nuts, bacon bits, shredded carrots, cabbage, chick peas, cucumbers or whatever healthy treats you want. At lunchtime, shake and eat. Submitted by: Vicki

You can even transport a taco salad in a Mason jar. Put the ingredient­s (salsa, cooked ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and onions) into the jar except for the taco chips. At lunchtime, crunch up taco chips and add them to the jar. Shake and eat. Submitted by: Vicki

No time for breakfast? No problem. Layer a Mason jar with berries, yogurt and granola. Submitted by: Human

Disclaimer: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementa­tion of any suggestion­s in this column. reena.ca

 ?? PNG FILES ?? Gillian Ridgeway coaxes 11-year-old Levi to sit in as the model as she demonstrat­es how to brush a dog’s teeth. Make sure you buy toothpaste that’s specifical­ly formulated for dogs.
PNG FILES Gillian Ridgeway coaxes 11-year-old Levi to sit in as the model as she demonstrat­es how to brush a dog’s teeth. Make sure you buy toothpaste that’s specifical­ly formulated for dogs.

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