All New Shabby Chic Thread!

jennyjelly

Pennib - make a little cotton bag (like a lavender bag) and grate some very scented soap into it and leave it in the drawer. The smell should soon go.

mollymunchkin

Apparently to remove musty smells from drawers you sprinkle bicarbinate of soda and leave for 24 hours then vacuum out.

According to the expert, Google.

fruit-loop

bicarbonate of soda is great for smells anywhere. I keep a small pot in my fridge! It also works on carpets, just sprinkle on hoover up later.

I use bicarb for loads of things! Its great on tile grout too.

bibbly

fruit-loop wrote: »

Its great on tile grout too.

Knew about the smells - it's great for getting rid of vomit smells (sorry!) but never knew about tile grout. Will try that, thanks!

Bibbly

pennib

Thank you everyone for your tips. Have tried the drawer freshners/soap/lavender etc but because the smell is so ingrained in the wood doesnt touch it after a while. Havn't tried bicarb, didnt think of that. brilliant, thanks.

natc

Hi guys,

I can so vouch for the bicarbonate of soda - love it! Always have a pot in the house for emergencies! My OH recently spilled nearly a whole pint glass of guniess on our CREAM room carpet, soaked it all up with kitchen roll etc, then sprinkled the soda on, left it till morning.,.. it had soaked up the lot, it was brown! And there was no smell or stain : ) Its worth a try. I even use it in OHs work boots!!! Just to keep the stench at bay - mmmm nice i hear you say!

Well, ive just had a quick 5 minute upcycle! I was dying to do something "creative" quickly, needed a fix....Id bought 3 suede wall art picture things (!!!) from the CB on Sunday - 25p for the 3 , ive just covered one with Pink thick wallpaper id got as a sample for our bedroom ages ago, just found it poking out of a cupboard!

Never uploaded pics before, please bear with me

Ooooh struggling - how do you post a pic?! hahahaha:rotfl:

debbsi

Hi everyone - I'm a lurker too - been one on this thread and many others for ages.
I've just started to redecorate the kitchen / conservatory in a lovely off white (dulux egyptian cotton) and bought a items of furniture - a set of 4 oak chairs for 99p!!! an oak sideboard for £5.50 and a parker knoll style chair for £30 from ebay - I intend painting the sidboard and chairs in an off white not sure which one yet. I am now looking for a table for my chairs.
I also collected a small side table from freecycle - this will be my practice piece before I am let loose on the other stuff.

I have been married fo 10 years - but together for 22!! We have 2 great children - DD 18 and DS 13 on sunday. We also have 2 mad whippets - Bailey 4 and his son 10 months.
I work for the NHS as an Occupational Therapy technician and am doing my degree (in OT) part-time (kindly paid for by the NHS) I have just completed my first year. Oh I am almost 38! and we live in the Rossendale Valley near Blackburn.

I will take some before and after pics and post once we have completed our first piece - cant wait!!

Deb x

MrsMoo2U

pennib wrote: »

p.s. I have just turned 30 (in my head) although my oldest is 41!!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

LOVE IT!

I am still 18 until I look in the mirror and see my Mum staring back!

Bicarb of soda is fabulous. I am also very into organic living. I use bicarb and lemon juice for all sorts of things. A good tip with bicarb for carpet freshener is to choose your favourite essential oil (not perfumed but the real thing from a health shop) put bicarb of soda in a plastic bag or container, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil and then leave in a warm place (airing cupboard) for a few days. Then simply sprinkle over the carpets leave for 10 minutes and vacuum. It is lovely. Also use neat oils on the windows after cleaning with vinegar. So you just put a few drops onto a scrumpled newspaper and rub the windows, makes them really shiny and when the sun shines on them the vapour is released. I guess you could also use bicarb and oils in the wooden furniture.

Thanks to everyone for the introductions, it is nice to hear about you all.

jennyjelly

debbsi wrote: »

we live in the Rossendale Valley near Blackburn.

Ooh, I was born there in the Rawtensatall hospital (a VERY long time ago!)

danemi1

love love love this thread - so much inspiration and all these fab tips - ggggreat!

funny you should say about windows - I have been cleaning windows most of the day - seeing as its such a nice day thought I would give them a rare treat!!! Then off to school I'd said I would help on their WOW day - it was akin to Wimbledon - tennis on the courts then inside to watch some in their classrooms screens - I thought there would be someone else to help as I could hear a voice on the way to the staff room - no I wasnt imagining things - cept it turned out to be the head who had a quick chat with me and then thanked me and said see you later - I then had to sort strawberries and cream for 60 children - yep I did say 60 - wow - actually it was a good laugh - folk popped in to say hi - think they could smell the strawberries and then the children mosied on down to collect them - then I had a bit of time in the class with them - my son was really chuffed I was there which was nice - did wonder if he would be at the oh no its mum lets hide stage but not at all - kids eh

Now then where's that essential oil and newspaper = I like the sound of that - the smell being released as the sun hits the window - fab!