Skunked!! Now What?

Your dog barks frantically, or maybe zooms off in another direction. Then you smell it. Skunk! Some escape with just a spritz, other dogs come back dripping in skunk juice. Not good.

Skunks are nocturnal, or more accurately, crepuscular; active mainly at twilight, dawn and full moon (dimly light) nights. Skunks have a strong sense of smell and hear well, but do not see very well. They do, however, have very good aim with their offensive scent.

The scent glands are similar to dog and cat anal glands. They are located on either side of the anus and produce an oily secretion. The secretion contains sulfur compounds (what produces the rotten egg smell).

Skunks are adept as using their scent glands as a weapon against predators. Spraying is not the skunk’s first line of defense. They engage in a series of displays to ward off potential attacks before spraying. If a skunk feels threatened, they will hiss, stamp their feet and raise their tail as warning signs. A mother skunk with babies may spray offensively.

Once they decide to spray, the tail goes up, and the offensive secretion is sent off to its target.

Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Skunk Odors will completely eliminate the smell from your dog, the furniture, carpets, lawn/shrubs, and you!!

This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral can be sprinkled directly on your pet, as well as inside and outside to eliminate skunk odors. Clear The Air does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area. Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally ”clears the air“ leaving the air fresh and clean.

Clear The Air is made from an all-natural mineral, is non-toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth. It is safe around children and pets even if eaten. Granules are totally safe for all lawns and vegetation. No need to remove granules from your lawn or vegetation, as they provide an excellent time-released nitrogen fertilizer.

Cotton Is Looking For His Furrrrrever Home!

Cotton – the Purrrrfect Choice!

Cotton is a “Hidden Gem” at the San Diego Humane Society. Check out his story…he is looking for a forever home. If you or someone you know is looking to adopt a kitty, please consider Cotton from the San Diego Humane Society:

Look up the word “sweet” in the dictionary and it’s altogether possible that the definition you find will simply read: “Cotton the cat.” Of course, the same can easily be said for any similar such words, e.g. “Lovable,” “Affectionate,” “Loving,” etc. And you could rest assured that you were being given completely accurate information (from a crazy awesome type of dictionary no less).

You see, this 7-year old Himalayan/Domestic Longhair mix is the epitome of all such words and sentiments. Truly. Like seriously, you have no idea. Cotton has managed to take all of our collective hearts, steal them, and also melt them simultaneously. All he wants is to nuzzle, purr, and affectionately knead his way into your arms.

Want to hold him like a baby?
Guess what? He wants you to, too!

Looking for a feline who isn’t afraid to express his sweeter, softer side?
Well, you’re in luck because he just so happens to be looking for you, too!!

Now, it is perhaps worth mentioning that the aforementioned feline is the sweetest and most loving and adoringly adorable kitty you have ever met… just so long as you are a human being. Or at least not another male cat. He seems okay with the ladies. Might even do well with a doggie. He just ain’t too keen on other male kitties so much. But boy-oh-boy with this boy, and the abundance of love he has to share, you will never find yourself lacking in the love department with him by your side!!

Cotton is also FIV positive. What does that mean? Sound scary?? It really isn’t, it just means that it’s harder for him to fight infection. Many FIV+ cats live long and happy lives! They can live as an only cat or with other FIV+ cats.

Cotton is currently available for adoption at our San Diego campus but is residing behind-the-scenes, so you will need to be sure to ask for an introduction! His adoption fee of only $65 is such a small price for the ginormous amount of love that he will introduce into your life! It also includes his neuter, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, and a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista! For more information about this lovable gem of a kitty, or if you’d like to meet him, please contact Customer Service at (619) 299-7012 or stop by our Gaines Campus. Animal ID 140626

New Carpet – Did You Know The Odor Can Be Toxic?

New carpet is wonderful because it gives you a fresh, new, clean feeling.

Did you know, however, that a caustic chemical may lurk in your new carpet?

Some carpets are made with a chemical called VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds, and are a substance that contains carbon and that evaporates or “off-gases” at room temperature.

A number of building and household materials may be sources of VOCs. New carpeting, backing, and adhesives; draperies; wood products that use certain glues, finishes, and waxes in the manufacturing process; and vinyl type flooring and wall coverings may all release VOCs into the air.

Studies of animals have shown that breathing some types of VOCs over a long period of time can increase the risk of getting cancer.

These odors can easily be removed with Earth Care’s Clear The Air Odor Eliminators. Simply sprinkling Earth Care Clear The Air granules on the carpet and hanging Earth Care Odor Remover Bags will eliminate the new carpet odors. This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area.

Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are absorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean. Clear The Air is made from an all-natural mineral, is non-toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth.

Are you planning any type of home improvement project? Make sure to keep our Clear The Air on hand to eliminate harmful chemicals such as VOCs that lurk in paint, glues and carpets.

How To Cool Down Your Home During The Summer

Summer is almost here but it is already pretty warm out.

How do you cool down your home during the summer without running your air conditioning constantly? Check out our tips to keeping your home cool without costing too much money:

• Cool down your home at night – Open windows and doors with screens and run any house fans you have. This will keep your home cool at night and a majority of the day. Just make sure to close them back up in the morning when it starts to warm up.
• Make sure there are no lamps or TVs near your air conditioning thermostat. The heat from those appliances will cause your air conditioner to run longer.
• Install white window shades or blinds to reflect heat away from the home. You can also install blackout curtains to make sure any heat from the outside is blocked from coming into your home.
• Plant trees and/or shrubs to shade the air conditioning units but not block the airflow.
• Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. They produce the same light but use 1/5th of the energy and heat.
• Unplug your home electronics like TVs and stereos when not in use. You should also turn off your computer when not in use.
• Go around your home’s windows and doors and apply any caulking and weather-stripping that is missing or eroded away. This will help keep heat out of your home.
• Make sure your fireplace damper is closed to prevent hot air from coming into your home.

New Baby? Keep Your Diaper Pail Smelling Fresh!

Diaper pail odors can become extremely strong and overwhelming.

If you would rather not have the first thing you smell when you walk into your baby’s room be a smelly, poopy diaper, continue reading…

Eliminate diaper pail odors with the help of Clear The Air! With frequent cleaning, use of Clear the Air’s Odor Eliminators, and limiting the diaper’s exposure to the air, your home can be the best smelling home with a baby in it on the block.

Keep one or two of our Odor Eliminator Bags at the bottom of your diaper pail. You can also sprinkle our Odor Eliminator at the bottom of your diaper pail. We also recommend hanging a bag from the changing table, closest to the diaper pail to absorb odors as well.

If you empty the diaper pail more frequently it will help cut down on the odor. This will also help your Odor Eliminator Bags last longer.

Don’t use air fresheners. These only mask the odor and do not actually absorb the odor like Clear the Air’s Odor Eliminators. All you end up getting is a flowery/poopy diaper smell. Not too pleasant!

Regularly wash out the diaper pail to limit bacteria in the air from the pail. Wash the pail with hot water and soap once in a while. This will help keep bacteria from growing.

Do you have questions about using our product? Please comment on our blog or contact our customer service department. Our products are 100% safe, even if ingested, making it perfect to use around children and pets!

6 Ways to “Green” Your Boat

Getting your boat back out on the water is one of the best ways to kick off the summer season, but just like other vehicles, boats can negatively impact the environment.

Fortunately, there are plenty of simple “go green” adjustments you can make to your boating habits and help ensure that our waters stay clean and healthy. A summary of ideas is below:

Use Clear The Air Odor Eliminating Bags

Boats typically are filled with powerful odors such as bilge odors, mold and mildew odors, fuel odors, head and holding tank odors, galley odors, smoke odors and pet odors. Earth Care will eliminate all these odors. In the past boat owners have had to use caustic chemicals, expensive detailing, air purifiers and caustic ozone machines to rid their boat of odors. Earth Care Odor Remover Bags can simply be hung in your boat and they will completely eliminate all these odors.

Earth Care draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. It is made from an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth. It is also safe around children and pets even if eaten. It does not have to come into contact with odor producer to eliminate the odor. Earth Care does not cover up odors it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean.

Green cleaning products

You want your boat to look and smell like it just came off the showroom floor, but it’s important to avoid toxic cleaners as often as possible (aka always). Remember that any type of cleaning product used on the boat’s exterior gets into the water. Look for eco-friendly products that are biodegradable and water-based or just search for products stamped with “Design for the Environment,” which is an EPA certification to identify environmentally-friendly cleaning agents.

While there are many green cleaning products available specifically for boats, homemade vinegar solutions are often just as effective and less expensive. For example, a mixture of one part white vinegar and two parts warm water can be used to clean plastic, while chrome can be cleaned with apple cider vinegar and a soft cotton cloth. A fresh cloth with a bit of baby oil helps to restore its bright shine.

Properly disposing trash

Never throw trash overboard, including fishing line and plastics which can take hundreds of years to decompose. They are also deadly to marine life which can get tangled in it or choke on it by confusing it for food. Use onshore facilities to recycle paper, plastic, glass, and metal waste.

Educating yourself as much as possible before going out on the water is one of the most important green things you can do. There is SO MUCH information available for you to become an expert on green boating practices that there is no excuse for neglecting responsible boating habits. There are also tools like boating safety practice quizzes that will help you determine whether you’re completely comfortable with the knowledge you need to stay green on the water.

Prevent fuel spills

Topping off fuel tanks usually leads to spillage. This can be prevented by filling the fuel tank slowly, using an absorbent pad or rag to catch any spills, and leaving the tank about 10 percent empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms.

Green energy

Marine solar panels are a great option for tapping into a green energy source for your boat. They’re not only useful for keeping things functioning when batteries die out, but they can also be used to charge all types of electronic devices such as a laptop, satellite phone, or smartphone.

Replace traditional fluorescent lighting

Standard fluorescent lighting produces mercury, but LED bulbs don’t contain toxins and are also more effective in lighting quality. They tend to have a longer life span, typically burning for 20 years or more before going out, and don’t use nearly as much energy as other alternatives. LEDs can be used for 95 percent of modern lamps, including spot lights, dome lights, recessed lights, navigation lights, emergency lights and more.

How To Trim Your Dog’s Nails

Routine nail clipping is important for your dog.

If your dog’s nails get too long, they could splinter or snap. This is uncomfortable for the dog and can lead to infection. You should make nail clipping part of your dog’s regular grooming process.

If your dog isn’t used to getting his nails trimmed, the last thing you want to do is frighten and overwhelm him by rushing the process. Take a little extra time to slowly introduce the nail clippers, as well as the sensations involved in trimming. The first time you use the clippers, don’t plan on giving your dog a full pedicure. Instead, just clip one or two nails, and remember to give your dog treats or play a game right after trimming.

Here’s an informational guide to help you trim your dog’s nails:

1. Choose a time your dog is mellow and relaxed. Most dogs do not enjoy having their nails trimmed so finding a time he is calm will be to your best advantage. Position your dog so you have a good view of the paw you need to clip.
2. Hold your dog’s paw firmly in one hand and the clippers in the other.
3. Find the vein inside your dog’s nail, also known as the “quick”, before you start clipping. For dogs with lighter nails it is easy to see. If your dog has darker nails, you may not be able to detect it.
4. Clip off a small end of the nail and gradually work towards the quick making sure you do not cut too close. If you do cut into the quick hold a piece of tissue on the nail for a few minutes. You can also use a powder that will stop the bleeding that you can find at your local pet store.
5. File any rough ends of the nail if necessary. Praise your dog for letting him or her cut their nails so if feels like they have done a good job for sitting still for you.

Pew! Do You Have Doggy Odor In Your Home??

If you have dogs, you know about that “doggy odor”.

Even the cleanest of dogs can get doggy odor and it can be markedly present in dog beds and blankets along with couches and human beds (if your doggies get to sleep with you).

If you want to try and eliminate that doggy odor, Clear The Air can do it for you! Our Odor Eliminators can eliminate doggy odor from pretty much any source, big or small, seen or unseen.

If you want to eliminate doggy odor from your home, here is how:

If you have doggy odor in your carpet: Simply sprinkle Earth Care Clear The Air granules on the carpet and hang Earth Care Odor Remover Bags to eliminate doggy odors from the carpet. Wait for 24 hours to vacuum up the granules from the carpet.

If you have doggy odor in your dog beds: Take the dog beds outside where there is plenty of air circulation and sprinkle our Earth Care Clear The Air granules all over the beds. Allow 24 hours for the granules to stay on the dog beds. You can then shake off the granules and your odor will be eliminated. If the odor is extremely strong, you may want to wash the bed first, let it dry then apply the granules to the bed.

If you have doggy odor in your car: If your car smells like your dog’s bed, it’s time to use our product! Simply hang or place two of our Earth Care Odor Remover Bags in your car. Our product works best when there is air flow in your vehicle. We recommend rolling down the windows when your car is parked and not in use. If the odor is extremely strong, sprinkle some of our Earth Care Clear The Air granules on the floor boards of your vehicle. Leave the granules for 24 hours then you may vacuum them up.

This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area.

Have questions about eliminating a pesky odor? Please comment on our blog or contact our customer service agent, Pat.

How To Go Green At Home

Top ten tips for going green.

Clear The Air is a green product and we care for the environment. It is important to take steps to go green at your home and we would like to share some helpful ways to do that:

1. Use Clear The Air – Our product is an all green product to eliminate odors all around your home. Once the granules are saturated you can dispose of them in your garden.
2. Use energy efficient light bulbs – Not only do CLSs save energy but they will save you money too; both on your electric bill and they last 10 times longer.
3. Unplug your TV, computer and phone charger – Basically anything that glows or is used to make something else glow uses energy even if they aren’t being used.
4. Recycle – Not just in the kitchen but your electronics as well. Items such as TVs, stereos, cell phones and computers can all be recycled and you can even get money for some of the items.
5. Buy your produce locally – Most food in the grocery store has traveled around 1,500 miles before coming home with you. If you buy from a local farmer you are not only getting the freshest food possible but you are saving money all the way around.
6. Check for leaks – Your home may have leaks in the toilet, sink, shower and more. A dripping faucet can waste up to 74 gallons a day. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day.
7. Don’t mow your lawn as often – More length on your grass creates more surface area to absorb sunlight which will create a thicker turf and deeper roots.
8. Buy energy efficient appliances – Look for the “Energy Star” logo on your appliances. They will use much less energy when you run them at home.
9. Wash full loads – This goes for your dishwasher and washing machine. Most energy consumed by washers goes to heating the water.
10. Use critters in your yard – Birds eat many insects. Just create a water source and trees and shrubs for cover and nesting. Ladybugs are great for your garden as they eat aphids. Visit The National Garden Association to find out other critters that are beneficial for your yard.

How To Keep Pests Out Of Your Home

No one likes pests in their home.

Unfortunately sometimes when we get rid of pests, such as mice and rodents, their odor can linger.

Clear The Air Odor Eliminators will eliminate those odors easily and safely. Earth Care Bags do not have to come into contact with dead rodent or odor causing agent. Simply hang the bag near the odor and in 24 hours the odor will be gone. Earth Care acts like a magnet by attracting and neutralizing smells. It is made from an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth. It is also safe around children and pets, even if eaten. Earth Care adsorbs odors rather than masking them with a fragrance.

Check out our tips to keep pests out of your home:

Rodents and raccoons:

• Raw bacon or peanut butter makes good bait for a mousetrap. Make sure a mouse will have to tug the trap to remove the bait. If you’re using peanut butter, dab some on the triggering device and let it harden before setting the trap. If bacon is your bait, tie it around the triggering device.
• If a raccoon sets up housekeeping in your attic or chimney, chemical repellants such as oil of mustard, are temporarily effective. (The smell may bother you as much as it does the raccoon.) Your best bet is to let the animal leave, and then cover its entrance hole with wire mesh so that it cannot return.
• To keep rodents out of your house, seal every opening they could squeeze through. Some need less than 1/4 inch of space. Put poison in deep cracks or holes, and stuff them with steel wool or scouring pads pushed in with a screwdriver. Close the spaces with spackling compound mixed with steel wool fragments.

Insects:

• If your home becomes infested with fleas, vacuum rugs thoroughly before spraying, and throw the dust bag out at once.
• Keep ants away from your home with a concoction of borax and sugar. Mix 1 cup sugar and 1 cup borax in a quart jar. Punch holes in the jar’s lid, and sprinkle the mixture outdoors around the foundation of your home and around the baseboards inside your house. The ants are attracted by the sugar and poisoned by the borax.
• If you have cockroaches, sprinkle borax powder in the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Avoid sprinkling where children and pets could be affected.