Problem: Article: You can prevent cat odors in your home by maintaining your cat's litter box. Try to check on the litter box once to twice a day. Scoop and remove any feces and urine clumps from the litter box as soon as possible so the smell doesn't linger. Doing this will encourage your cat to use the box in the future and prevent your cat from going to the bathroom in other areas of your home. Get into the habit of emptying the litter box first thing in the morning or at night before bed. This way, any feces or urine in the litter box will not sit in the litter for a long period of time. You should change the litter in the litter box twice a month to keep it fresh. Do a full wash of the box each time you change out the litter so it stays clean and odor-free. Scented litter will only mask the smell and make it hard for you to determine when the litter needs to be cleaned. Some cats can also be turned off by scented litter and decide not to use the litter box at all, leading to stinky spots in your house. Go for unscented litter that is light in color so you can see when there is feces in the box that needs to be removed. To minimize odor in the box, you can sprinkle baking soda at the bottom and then put the litter on top. This can help to keep the litter smelling fresh. Place the litter boxes in different areas of your home and clean each box regularly. Try to have at least one litter box per cat in your household so each cat has the space and privacy they need to go to the bathroom. Having multiple litter boxes will also ensure all the cats are not using one litter box. This can lead to a stinky litter box situation in your home. It is generally recommended that you have one litter box per cat plus one. That means that if you have 2 cats, you should aim for 3 litter boxes. If you have a multi-level home, try to have at least one litterbox on each floor. Use a vacuum made to clean pet hair and dander. Vacuum any areas where your cat plays or lounges, such as around cat trees or scratching posts. Make sure you also vacuum furniture where your cat likes to play, rest, or lounge. Try to vacuum these areas once a week so there is not a buildup of hair, dander, and cat odor. Invest in a vacuum cleaner that is made to clean up pet hair, as this will make vacuuming your cat's play area easier and quicker. Another source of odor may be your cat's sleep area. Wash your cat's bed regularly so odors do not linger. Put its bed and any blankets or pillows it uses in the washer. Get in the habit of washing your cat's bedding once a week so it stays clean and odor-free. To minimize odors in your home, maintain your cat's eating bowl and drinking bowl. Clean its eating and drinking bowls once a day. Do not let wet food sit in its bowl overnight. Toss any dried food remaining in the bowl after a few days. This will keep your cat's eating area clean, free of bacteria, and odor free.
Summary: Empty the litter box regularly. Use unscented litter. Have multiple litter boxes if you have more than one cat. Vacuum your cat's play area regularly. Wash your cat's bedding. Keep your cat's eating area clean.

Problem: Article: To get the skate material to loosen you need to heat it so that the molecules soften, but the materials don't come apart. 175F (79C) is the ideal temperature for this process as it won't be hot enough to melt any plastic on the skate. Use an oven thermometer if you have one. Sometimes ovens don't display the correct heat. To prevent inaccuracy, double check the temperature with a thermometer. Most ovens have a way of showing you when it's preheated. Some will make a small sound where others will have a small light that will turn off. Shut the oven door tight to prevent any loss of hot air. Applying constant heat to a skate when baking it can result in permanent damage. By putting it in a pre-heated oven that's not pumping out any more heat the skate will bake, not break. Hockey skates are large and most ovens will only be able to fit 1 at a time. Even if you can fit 2 in your oven, baking the skates 1 at a time will ease the pressure on you, especially if it's your first time baking a skate. Then, undo all the laces and lay them over the center of the skate and loosen the tongue. If the tongue is not loosened before baking you may have a hard time fitting your foot in it when it comes to molding. Set a timer so that you don't lose track of time. By the time the skate is ready, you should be able to smell a faint plastic scent and the shoe will be soft. Take the shoe out immediately and begin the molding process. You can check midway through the baking process to make sure everything is alright. Open the oven door and gently press the outside material of the skate that should have softened. Do not overbake the skates. If you do you can permanently damage the skate.
Summary: Pre-heat your oven to 175F (79C). Turn the oven off once it is pre-heated. Place a single skate on a baking tray and loosen the tongue. Bake the skate for 6-8 minutes.

Problem: Article: You can give your lips a quick exfoliation treatment with just a damp washcloth. To remove dead skin from your lips on a daily basis, take a clean washcloth and hold it under warm running water. Then, use the washcloth to gently scrub your lips. Use gentle circular motions to scrub away the dead skin. Pat your lips dry with a clean, dry towel when you are finished. Lip exfoliating scrubs are available in drug stores, department stores, beauty stores, and online. If you want to get a premade scrub, then you should be able to find one with no problem. If you'd rather make your own, then you can use ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen. To make your own exfoliating sugar scrub, add a tablespoon of sugar to a teaspoon of olive oil or coconut oil (at room temperature). Combine the sugar and oil until it they form a paste. You can keep the scrub in a small jar or other container in your refrigerator for up to a week. If you prefer to make the scrub fresh when you need it, then just take a pinch of sugar and few drops of oil and mix them together whenever you want to exfoliate your lips. You only need a small amount of sugar scrub to exfoliate your lips, about a teaspoon or less. Use your index finger to apply the sugar scrub to your upper and lower lips and move it around in circular motions. Rub the sugar scrub all over your lips. Make sure that you scrub all of the surfaces of your lips and the areas around your lips. Do not use sugar scrubs more than twice per week or you may irritate your lips. When you are finished, take a clean washcloth and moisten it with warm water. Then, use the washcloth to wipe away the sugar scrub. You can also splash a bit of warm water on your lips to get the scrub off of your lips. After you have removed the sugar scrub from your lips, take a dry towel and pat your lips dry. Do not rub your lips dry with the towel, just use a gentle patting motion to remove any excess moisture. Make sure to follow up your exfoliation treatment with a good lip balm.
Summary:
Use a washcloth to exfoliate your lips. Buy or make a sugar scrub for your lips. Apply a small amount of sugar scrub to your lips. Wipe away the sugar scrub with a damp washcloth. Pat your lips dry.