Attention Realtors and Property Managers!

Eliminate any odor in a home with our product – 100% guaranteed!

If you are trying to sell or rent a home with a foul odor, it may be difficult to eliminate strong odors, thus making a home difficult to sell or rent.

Use Clear The Air to eliminate any and all home odors. Property management companies and Real Estate Brokers and Agents deal with odor issues on a routine basis. Cigarette, pet, musty/mildew, dead rodent, and cooking odors are most common. Real Estate is often slow selling/renting or discounted due to odor issues. It has been reported that approximately 5-10% of all listing have odor issues that may impact the sale.

Follow these steps to eliminate home odors:

• Hang 1 or 2 bags in each room that has odor. Some air circulation is best. One bag covers approximately 100 square feet. Bags will last approximately 3 months; we suggest leaving them up until house is sold/rented.
• If you have pet urine odors in the carpet (including cat urine) sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Cat Urine on carpet, tile, concrete, furniture, or any other surface. Leave down overnight; sweep or vacuum up and odor will be completely eliminated. One canister covers approximately 100 square feet.
• If you have odors outside on lawn or shrubs sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Lawns down. Leave down indefinitely, Clear The Air is an excellent nitrogen soil amendment. One canister covers approximately 100 square feet.
• If you have a dead rodent odor please click How to Eliminate Dead Rodent Odors PDF
• Many agents keep a case of bags in their trunk.

Unpleasant Odor Is One Of The Top Reasons People Can’t Sell Their Home

Did you know odors in a home will turn away a buyer in a heartbeat?

Clear The Air would like to share an article from Coldwell Banker that discusses the top mistakes a home seller makes when trying to sell their home.

A recent survey of real estate agents by ActiveRain has confirmed that there are certain things a seller should avoid if they are trying to get their home sold for the best price in the least amount of time. Out of 1000 real estate agents interviewed by ActiveRain, 28% said Unpleasant Odors are the number one turn off to a potential home buyer. (Coldwell Banker’s recent article)

Here’s what they had to say:

Unpleasant Odors in the House – “Mr and Mrs. Seller, your house stinks!”

Most agents aren’t going to be this blunt. But in some cases they wish they could be. They’ll take a more tactical approach and say something like…..’during the time your house is on the market, it might be a good idea to smoke outside’.

But what they know is that nothing will stop a potential buyer in their tracks faster than a strong odor of any sort. In some cases this could just be the left over smell from last nights dinner. In more extreme cases, agents tell horror stories of entering homes that have a bad smell of pet urine or smoking.

The main concern for the buyer is, of course, “is the house going to smell like this once we move in?” Real Estate agents confirm that many a buyer has passed on a home after coming to their own conclusion on that answer.

Your agent isn’t suggesting a fresh coat of paint and new carpet because they don’t like how things look. They are making this suggestion because they realize that the smoke odor in your home is going to be a major turn off for anyone thinking about buying your home.

Check Out San Diego Humane Society’s Dog Up For Adoption!

We love featuring dogs and cats looking for their forever home.

Check out Cinnamon Girl who is looking for her forever home and is currently at the San Diego Humane Society. Here is what they have to say about her:

Cinnamon Girl #127853
American Pit Bull Terrier/Mix – Female –  5Yrs 5Mths 3Wks
Adoption Fee: $95.00

Why I’d make a great companion: “I wanna live with a cinnamon girl, I could be happy the rest of my life with a cinnamon girl…” You just can’t argue with Neil Young’s lyrics, can you? And I just know you could be happy the rest of your life, too, with a Cinnamon Girl like me! You see, I’m just about the sweetest gal you’ll ever meet. I’m super friendly and affectionate and, frankly, I’ve been told it’s impossible not to fall in love with me. Plus I have the PERFECT temperament. Mellow and easy-going, I’m content just to feel loved. And I promise to return the love I receive in spades! ‘Cause what thrills me most in life is sharing my love with those around me & I simply can’t wait to find a special family with whom I can do just that! It will be important for my new pet parents to be conscientious about my health and monitor my diet, as I certainly love my treats!

Type of home I’m looking for: I would do best in a home with children 12yrs old and older and as the only dog in the home, please.

Other things you should know about me: My adoption fee includes my spay / neuter, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, a gift from Hill’s Science Diet, a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista, and limited veterinary medical coverage from VCA Hospitals up to $250!!

I’m currently located at
Gaines Street
5500 Gaines St. San Diego, California 92110
(619) 299-7012

My adoption fee includes my spay / neuter, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, and a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista!

5 Tips to Make Cleaning Fun

If your sense of shame outweighs your desire to entertain, it might be time to step up the housework.

Piles of stuff, a smelly fridge, an oven that needs cleaning, toothpaste on the bathroom sink—if this describes the way your home looks most of the time, finding a few cleaning shortcuts will definitely help you out.

It’s not necessary to spend every day engaged in heavy housework if you know and practice the cleaning tweaks recommended by the pros.

Soaker Method

Spray it down and let the cleaner do the work for you. Often, allowing a cleaner five minutes to soak into a surface will save you 20 minutes of strong elbow grease. The same goes for toilet bowl cleaner when you treat the bowl before bed and swish it in the morning. For odors that just don’t want to leave, Clear the Air products will get your house smelling fresh and clean. Placing a bag or sprinkling granules around the house will completely eliminate those stubborn smells.

Make an Appointment With Yourself

If it’s clutter that has you firmly in its overwhelming grasp, make an appointment with yourself several times a week. Even 15-minute intervals provide enough time to whittle down the piles of mail, toys and dislocated items that belong in other rooms or out of your life altogether. Pencil yourself in on your desk calendar, just like you would a doctor or dental appointment. This way you’ll be more apt to honor the commitment you’ve made to a more organized home.

Make Cleaning Convenient

Imagine how difficult it would be for your mechanic to fix your car without the proper tools. Mechanics have implements that make their jobs easier, such as specialty wrenches, extension arms and more. If you approach cleaning with the same mentality—that it takes tools to get the job done right—the task will take on a whole new energetic feel. Find the products that work best for you and make those little household jobs easier:

• Antibacterial wipes
• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Specially shaped mop heads
• Over-size buckets
• Handy cleaning caddy

The items mentioned above shouldn’t cost much, but you should also invest in a a high-output, low-weight vacuum, like the ones made by Dyson and sold at department stores.

Hampers in Every Room

If even one person in your family is guilty of leaving a trail of discarded clothes in their wake, keeping a laundry hamper in every room will make life much easier. Those little piles of socks and leggings that were pulled off and tossed in the corner go far in giving your home a disorganized feel. Keep the clothes off the floor and neatly tucked away in hampers.

An Ounce of Prevention

It’s the little things that matter—like one doormat that sits just outside every entrance and a second one that lays just inside. It’s the double whammy of dirt prevention. Removing shoes at the door, Keeping a cleaning tablet dissolving inside your toilet tank and adding a few drops of olive oil to your floor rinse to help prolong the shine on your wood floors are all excellent preventative measures you can take to help cut down on the workload throughout the week.

Does Your Kitty Make Biscuits?

This kitty is so cute falling asleep while making biscuits!

Does your kitty knead, or make biscuits?

If your kitty makes biscuits, it’s a sign he or she loves you! Check out more ways to see if your cat loves you.

Marshmallow Needs A Furr’Ever Home!

Marshmallow – A  suuuper SWEET treat!

Check out Marshmallow from the San Diego Humane Society! She needs a forever home and is as sweet as can be!

Behold, the marshmallow!! T’was ever there a sweeter treat? And, true to her name, Marshmallow, the 11-month old kitty, is just as sweet as can be. Now, as is the case for any marshmallow, this adorable red tabby can require a little bit of time and care in order to warm up and soften. You see, she had a rough start and was forced to fend for herself during a time when she should have been pampered. As is such, she can be a bit wary of new people and environments.

But this sweet girl has made remarkable progress in the short time that she has been with us, and we just know that when she finds the right home, she is certain to show how very beautiful she is both inside and out. In addition to being sweet and having an adorable face, Marshmallow’s favorite pastimes include looking out the window and watching the world around her, playing with her feather toy, and rolling over for a good belly rub.

We simply can’t wait for this wonderful kitty to find a loving home, where she can feel safe and loved and let her inner sweetness shine!

If you are interested in meeting Marshmallow, please come by our Central Campus on Gaines street to meet her, or call us at (619) 299-7012.

Animal ID 134588

Why You Should NOT Declaw Your Cat!

Declawing your cat is not the answer!

If you are thinking of declawing a cat, or a veterinarian suggests declawing at the same time as neutering, before you make a decision for non-reversible surgery, please consider these reasons NOT to declaw.

Your cat will live his remaining years with the result of your decision, one way or another.

First it is important to know scratching is normal. Cats scratch for several reasons. First, it feels good. It also “files” their nails and helps make room for newer growth.

Declawing can trigger behavioral problems. Although veterinary research has not turned up evidence that declawing alters a cat’s personality, the simple mechanical changes the procedure brings can eventually result in behavioral changes. Declawed cats may be more likely to bite, for example, since their first line of defense is gone.

Declawing your cat rids him of his chief weapon of defense. A typical counter-argument is, “My cat is indoors-only.” Even indoor cats sometimes manage to escape. A declawed cat does not stand a chance against a large dog, a bigger cat, or a predator. Although he still has teeth, by the time he gets in close enough to bite, it may be too late.

A declawed cat will lead to other problems such as resistance to using the sandbox. Declawed cats often associate the pain when digging in litter with the litter box itself, and will avoid it, choosing softer carpeting instead.

When cats lose their ability to give a quick warning scratch, they will often resort to their second line of defense: a good, hard bite. The cat’s owner may sometimes find himself the victim, just when he thinks his cat is enjoying a petting session.

Cats need the exercise that their claws and toes provide. Watch a cat stretch, whether horizontally on a carpet or vertically with a tall scratching post. He will grab the carpet or sisal with his claws, using the resistance to pull and stretch his muscles. Cats’ claws actually play a large and positive role in their amazing muscle tone and agility.

Instead of declawing your cat, consider other options. Trimming your cat’s claws frequently and buying a scratching post to sub in for that treasured armchair (sprinkling catnip on it may help get him interested).

Flood Clean Up Tips

Floods can be extremely destructive and cause extensive damage.

If your home has flooded, check out our tips to clean up from a flood with the help of Clear The Air.

Clear The Air eliminates musty mildew odor that is a result of a flood. It is extremely important to cleanup and disinfect everything in your home that may have been contaminated. Flood water may contain bacteria that can cause serious illness.

We would like to share some helpful tips to help with cleaning up from a flood:

• Act quickly to avoid mildew and odor by removing all loose dirt and debris. Use a disinfecting solution to wash walls, floors or other surfaces which have been touched by flood waters.
• Hang 1-2 bags of Clear The Air in each room with odors. One bag will cover up to 100 square feet. The bag will continue to eliminate new odors for up to 3 months. In addition to the bags sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Concrete or Carpet and Furniture granules on the floor and furniture, leave down for 24 hours, then sweep or vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• Clean and disinfect all interior walls, counters and floors. You will also want to clean and disinfect all kitchen items such as dishes, glassware and utensils.
• Wash clothing with chlorine bleach to remove mildew and germs. Make sure the clothing labels mention they are machine washable and colorfast.
• Always remember to wear gloves and protective clothing and avoid touching your face or eyes. Make sure to be thorough and wash and dry everything well.

Check Out Juniper, Looking For Her Forever Home!

Meet Juniper!

Juniper is a hidden gem at the San Diego Humane Society and is looking for HER forever home! Check out why she is so special:

Ever met a dog who’s a leaner? Y’know, the type who sooo enjoys being pet that they start leaning into you? It’s like they are trying to get as close to you as possible. Um yah, it’s pretty much the cutest thing ever, just sayin’.  …Well on that note, I’d like to introduce you to Juniper, an adorable 1-year old Chow/ Golden Retriever mix, and a total leaner. And she might even roll over and grant you the honor of giving her a belly rub while you’re at it!

While it’s true that Juniper can be a little shy at first – that’s only at first. Once she gets to know you, her abundance of charm and her sweet personality comes shining through! And what’s more, Juniper loves being friends with people and doggies alike. In fact, this special girl would love to have a dog buddy at home, to whom she promises that she’ll be a most loyal and devoted play pal! ‘Cause Juniper certainly does love to play! Fetching tennis balls is one of her favorite activities, but Juniper also enjoys simply romping around with her doggie buds. And, of course, throwing a toy into the mix is always encouraged. But with all her playfulness, this sweet girl still knows how to sit back and enjoy life, especially if cuddling on the sofa is involved!

Juniper is currently living in a foster home where she has almost completely mastered potty training, and where she is also learning some very cool skills like “touch,” “shake,” and “come.” Not too shabby, eh? Her foster family has also been working to help Juniper feel more comfortable with the big scary world that’s all around her, and they tell us that she is making lots of progress. Of course, some things – like the vacuum cleaner – still make her very nervous. Her foster family says that Juniper’s ideal home would be one that’s adult-only (as the kiddies tend to make her really nervous), that’s not too loud or chaotic, and that has a high fence and another dog in the home, or at least lots of doggie play dates for her!

Juniper’s adoption fee of $95 includes her spay, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, a bag of food from Hill’s Science Diet and a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista! As we said, this very special hidden gem is currently in foster care, so please contact us at (619) 299-7012 to set up an introduction or get more information!

Check out more on Juniper at the San Diego Humane Society‘s Hidden Gem list on their website!

Go Green And Keep Pests Out Of Your Home

No one wants pests in their home.

Unfortunately many solutions to getting rid of pesky pests involve harmful pesticides which are poisonous to you, your children and your pets.

As a green product itself, Clear the Air likes to find green solutions to keeping pests out of your home.  We would like to share some helpful tips on keeping your home pest free, naturally!

Before spreading poison throughout your living environment, which you, your children, and pets will breathe in, try these all-natural alternatives:

Prune Shrubs – To control pests inside the house, a lot of work needs to be done outside the house. Insects often find their way into the house by climbing on shrubs and trees that are touching the outside walls of your house. Trim everything back so there is a foot clearance between plants and exterior walls.

Rake – Likewise, many insects that live in leaf and lawn debris are going to find easy access indoors if they are hanging out near the foundation of your house. Rake this area well. Pull weeds and only keep plants and shrubs that are well cared for near your foundation. Anything that is dead or dying will attract insects.

Clean the Kitchen – Ants often infest a kitchen faster than you can put the cap on the soda bottle. To prevent an all you can eat ant buffet, keep your kitchen clean. Washing dishes after each meal and putting all food away in the refrigerator will go a long way towards keeping the ant pests out of your house.

Relax – Most insects won’t kill you, but the poison you spray on them might. So, if your insect problem is minor, then don’t worry about it too much. Take some preventative measures and let it go.