At this time of year when everything is closed up that old-sock smell seems to pervade houses and the interiors of well-loved cars a spray of diluted oil of cloves which has a festive Christmassy smell will immediately improve the aroma of your home and car. I was asked if there are some herbs from the garden that would ban mouldy smells and yes they will add fragrance but oil of cloves as well as adding a pleasing fragrance will actually kill the mould safely and naturally. Do however use diluted as described below.
To make buy a small inexpensive bottle of “Oil of Cloves” plus a throw away paper face mask, from your local pharmacy or these items can sometimes be found in the pharmacy section of some supermarkets.
For the Car:
Fill an empty 1 litre spray bottle and add a 1/4 teaspoon of the oil. Wearing the face mask, shake the mixture well, open all the car doors and boot then spray your car upholstery especially in the corners and under the seats but avoiding the automatic seat mechanisms.
Shut the doors for 10 minutes to let the spray completely settle, then if possible open the car doors and leave the car in the sun. Don’t vacuum right away leave for a couple of days (You can still use the car but do see note below) to allow any mouldy corners to dry out and die from the effects of the cloves which will cause bits of dried-out stuff to appear. You can then vacuum the entire car.
CAUTION: Though quite safe to drive round in a closed car an hour or so after spraying DO NOT spray and then immediately jump into the car close the doors and drive off; some people can be quite sensitive to the spray.
For the house:
Choose a sunny day and do the same for your home, spraying curtains, walls and upholstery but, again, avoid any electronic goods or metallic surfaces. The spray is quite safe in large rooms even with everybody in it so a face mask is not always necessary it is best to use a face mask in confined areas of the house such as wardrobes or shower boxes.
Note: do not turn on heat pumps or blow heaters for at least an hour after spraying unless the room or area is unpopulated.
Here’s to a fresher home and car!
From
The Kitchen Garden Gnome
