Photograph Credit: Yankee Candle

As I dusted, wiped, and scrubbed my entire downstairs last week, I lost steam around Wednesday morning. My arms, shoulders, and upper back were sore from all the labor, and I was only about a third of the way done. Yikes!

Though my husband noticed the clean smell when he came through the door, I became accustomed to the smell and felt tired and unmotivated. As I sought for an easy task to get moving, I decided to switch my spring candle with my summer candle.

When I lifted the lid, the aromatic power of the pineapple cilantro ignited my senses, and I was off to light the candle. As the sweet smell permeated my home, I gained energy and strength and got to work.

On Thursday, I continued to work and as I finished on Friday, I kept coming back to my favorite summer scent, the pineapple cilantro candle from Yankee Candle (which rarely goes on sale). For me, this candle created motivation through the sense of smell.

When I lack energy and that walk or exercise routine fails to spur my motivation, I turn to my favorite scents to get moving. This little refreshment spurs me on to completion.

Tracy’s Tip: I keep a sweet-smelling soy candle on my desk upstairs. As I am paying bills and scheduling items, I periodically take a break, inhale a deep breath, smell my candle, and continue with my project.

As you hit a slump with your ongoing projects, surround yourself with your favorite scents to create motivation through the sense of smell. Happy refreshment!

Question: What is your favorite summer candle scent?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Brian Short)

Oh, how I appreciate my garbage disposal! Yes, that hole in my sink that takes all the leftovers and unwanted particles and chomps them away. In using time wisely in the kitchen, my disposal is a time saver.

Having lived without one growing up and in the early years of our marriage, I know the convenience my garbage disposal provides.

While keeping my garbage disposal uncluttered, maintained, and cleaned, I follow these 8 steps to deodorizing my garbage disposal:

1. Fill an ice cube tray with white vinegar and place in freezer.

Tracy’s Tip: Mark this ice cube tray and only use it for freezing vinegar. 🙂 I wrote the word “vinegar” on my ice cube tray, so that I do not accidentally use it for water ice cubes.

Though I do not use ice cube trays often, I do keep some for those events that need decorative ice cubes (e.g., fruit in ice, mint in ice, etc.). To prevent unwanted vinegar at an event, I keep this ice tray with my cleaning supplies.

2. Remove the tray from the freezer when frozen.

Tracy’s Tip: Try to freeze and use the vinegar ice cubes on the same day. The vinegar aroma remains in the freezer for a few hours to 2 days when freezing the same day.

3. Run cold water in the sink.

4. Turn on the garbage disposal.

5. Crack the ice tray into the garbage disposal.

6. Allow the disposal to “eat up” all the ice cubes.

7. Turn off the garbage disposal.

8. Turn off the water.

For more options to cleaning and deodorizing your garbage disposal, How To Clean Stuff recommends dish soap and citrus or baking soda, to name a few.

Around the blogosphere, many suggest using baking soda to deodorize your garbage disposal, even professional plumbers. However, if you have plastic pipes, do not use baking soda with boiling water or after using a commercial drain cleaner. Per Earth Easy, you may melt your plastic pipes or create toxic fumes.

In applying these 8 steps, your garbage disposal will smell fresh. Cleaning and deodorizing your garbage disposal maintains your time-saving investment while using time wisely. Happy cleaning!

Question: How do you deodorize your garbage disposal?