or the day after, is a tradition to supposedly bring good luck in the new year. And if mine is any indication, I'm in for a hell of a ride in 2019.
I set the Instant Pot or crockpot on top my range with a padded towel beneath when using those appliances. It saves counter space and is easy clean up from any spills. The range's controls are facing out and when I bent over to add the potatoes, I inadvertently pushed it in, setting the front burner to high heat. A few minutes later I noticed a very odd odor and the pad beneath the crock was on fire. I grabbed tongs and threw what was left into the sink, started the exhaust fan, opened two exterior doors and four windows. Smoke swirled but failed to leave. Needless to say, after what I went through because of the outdoor fire I did not need a house filled with heavy smoke.
The smoke wasn't leaving but cats did. Nit was rolled in a fight yesterday and came home completely covered in clay mud. Completely. Could not see his fur for the thick goo. And of course when they don't allow you to touch them, it makes for a difficult situation. He was worn out and I decided to barricade him in the back room and keep him inside (not an easy task). About a half hour into the smoke fiasco, I happened to look outside and saw the little devil wandering away looking somewhat like a chocolate iced yule log. He obviously found his way out the open doors.
I am still choking and after Fabreze, candles, fans, exhausts, and a good cleaning, all stinks. ALL. Everything was 100% cotton so I am surprised at the rank odor. What really surprised me is that the stove top was saved. These marks from the fire would be, so I thought, permanent. But after using two soaking applications of Affresh and really hard scrubbing, most all is gone. On top of that, the pork was terribly dry and tough, the raccoons are feasting tonight.
The large oval crock pot is ruined but we took it apart and discarded the electrics, recycled the metals. The inside yielded an aluminum inner liner that can be painted and used as a planter, and the removable white ceramic liner can be also. Jess will love both.
I'm eating a few oranges and will simmer the skins with cloves in one pot and vinegar in another to try to rid the smoke odor.
Off to a good start! Hope yours was better.
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17 comments:
That was a near disaster. Happy is wasn't worse.
My house still smells like smoke (though it is getting better) 3 weeks after I lit a fire with the flu closed. My house filled with smoke for almost 20 minutes until DSO got here. In the 19 years I've been here, the flu was broken for 18 years and I have NEVER closed it. Did not know how. The only thing I can think of is that my niece's husband closed it at Thanksgiving. I've shed more than a few tears. It bubbled the paint below the mantle. A real mess but not enough damage to file an insurance claim after my deductible.
Hope today is a better day!!!
Lord, I am just glad you are okay. have a better day tomorrow and the rest of 2019. big hugs
You may need to get one of those machines that discharge ionized O2 or something of that sort to get rid of the odor. Contact one of those disaster clean up companies.
Oh I so glad it wasn't worst than that . I did the same thing only didn't have a towel under and it ruined one of my burners. We found coffee grounds set out in bowls helped with the odor. Sure hope you can get the smell out and it doesn't affect you're health.
linda m
Chain of events, cause and effects........you are so lucky and able to use your humor and wit to give it a Kodak moment. I can see it all so clearly. We used an ionizer to try to clear the smell of cigarette and pipe smoke from a home we purchased with mixed results. I can say it helped somewhat, better in some rooms than others. Maybe it would help more in a smoke caused by fire. I found putting vanilla on cotton balls and leaving to set out helped, as did trying every dollar store air freshener I could find. Good luck with the odor and the muddy kitty.
Marly: I am so sorry that happened, wow you are lucky the house did not go up in flames, I used to put stuff in my crock pot leave for work come home to a great meal, after reading about house fires caused by unattended crock pots I stopped doing that.
The smell is so hard to get rid of, I hope it dissipates soon.
Catherine
P.S. they came and started working on taking the cabinets down today, they will finish the week of January 21st UGH
WOW!
So glad it wasn't worse than it was. I've done things like that in years past.
Have you tried turning your AC fan on ? Not the cooling part, just the fan. That may help to clear the air.
Sorry about Bud......I know you worry about your kitties even though they aren't lap cats.
Looking forward to seeing pretty flowers potted in your Instapot parts.
I didn't feel like doing anything yesterday (Wed.) it was like the life was knocked out of me.
I think everything Christmas will start to be put away today. Wanted to leave snowmen out but think they will go back in the boxes too.
Hoping this year will be a change for the good for all of us and quickly ! ! ! !
Hugs,
Charlotte in Va.
Maybe your 3 bads are done and out of the way for a while? Nit turned into a clay log, the crockpot destroyed, and the pork dry on top of it all. I wish I had some good advice on the smoke smell. It may be good that Nit got himself out of the house - now he can roll in grass and get more mud off. And it will be less stressful, probably for both of you, than you trying to clean him. I'm very happy it was't worse.
DO you have any fans , if so open window put fan in or in front of window. Have the fan face out so it blows the air outside not inside. Got it that is what the fire dept. does to remove smoke from homes. Wishing you a better year !
You do know how to start the year off all ablaze. LOL
Hi Marly,
So very happy you stopped things before they got completely out of control!! Disaster can happen SO QUICKLY!! One time I accidently turned on the front burner and when I took the lid off of the pot on the back burner, I placed it on the front burner, not knowing it was on! I walked to the pantry and heard this LOUD EXPLOSION!! The lid (it was glass) had shattered and if I had been standing there, it would NOT have been good!! Makes me shudder just to think of it!! God certainly was watching over me that day!!
As to the smell, how about cutting up some lemons and putting them in a pan of water on the stove and heating it? Lemon is such a clean smell and it may help!! I'm sure you now have a whole file full of ideas and suggestions and I do hope one or more of them work!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!
Big Heart Hugs~
Julie xo
What a way to bring in the new year. Looks like you're getting all kinds of great tips for a sweet smelling home very soon. I don't need any excuses to bake bread but that would be a welcoming scent … would make my belly happy too!
Pork and sauerkraut on New Years Day was always a tradition when I lived in PA. If I say that here I get weird looks. Seems they do something with black-eyed peas here in KY.
I can't get over your silver lining to the crock pot! I would NEVER have thought to take it apart like that.
An old time trick that I've used many times, is take a dish towel, saturate it with vinegar, any kind should work, and then wring out as much as you can, and twirl it over your head in all the rooms that are smoked up. This may take a few minutes in each area. I hold the towel in my hand and push the fabric around as I dribble on the vinegar, there's no need to use a lot, just get it saturated. Somehow that absorbs the smoke or dissipates it, but it really works.
Debby's solution is great, isn't it?
Oh, Marly, what a start to the new year! I am just glad you didn't have a full blown fire in your kitchen. Crazy how things like that can happen. Here's to a better rest of 2019 ♥
WOW! I'm so glad the fire wasn't worse. What a way to start the year.
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