Champing at the Bit The Best Companion MEET OUR NEW VETERINARIAN, JESSICA NEIL!
KEEP THE SMOKE AT BAY RCaemmpovreetShemSomkeell of fi There’s only one way to make the great outdoors even greater — the campfire. But if your campfire smell lingers on your clothes for days after you enjoy the fire, it can be anything but “great.” Kill the smell with this go-to guide. But first — why does this happen? Fabric clings to whatever it comes in contact with, and some fabrics, like cotton, tend to cling harder than others. Smoke is light and small, so it can easily penetrate fibers of your fabric, and wood may contain chemicals and compounds that can be very damaging to clothing. Thus, not removing the smoke smell could permanently alter your clothes. Go bitter or go home! Lemon juice and white vinegar are strong enough to cut through stains and smelly particles, but they’re gentle enough to keep your clothing in good condition. There are a few ways you can use it. You can soak your clothes in vinegar and cold water prior to washing. Alternatively, add a splash of lemon juice to your washing machine before washing any smoky clothes. Try adding a little H2O. Water is actually a very powerful compound. In a heated form, it has the power to kill bacteria and eliminate gnarly smells. So, if you have strong, lingering campfire smoke smells, try washing your clothes in very hot water. This will pull the smoke from your fabric. However, don’t use this method all the time. Water can be harsh — even to the very item you’re cleaning. It’s time to keep it organic. Rather than relying on solutions or water to clean your garments, hang your smoky clothes outside. This is a useful solution for items that cannot be washed at home, but it may not be completely effective. If that’s the case, try rubbing your clothes with dryer sheets to lift the smell, too! Try It: Don’t trust a home remedy with your favorite clothing item. Instead, place a few T-shirts you don’t care about near your next campfire. The following day, try a remedy on that shirt! If you run into any difficulties, consult with a trusted dry-cleaning expert.
Dr. Jessica Neil has dreamed of joining this profession since she was a child. “I never really had a plan B when I was growing up,” she remembers. “I grew up doing 4-H and working with horses and pigs, and I always wanted to be able to work
on my own animals and other people’s animals. I considered it my only option!”
Originally from Colorado, Jessica attended college in Grand Rapids and graduate school in Arizona. After graduating in 2021, she completed a yearlong internship at an equine hospital in Kentucky. “It was a great experience,” Jessica says. “I wanted to pick one
species to feel really good about, and I learned so much. While out in the field, I also got to see the best sunrises and sunsets.”
Now she’s glad to be home and eager to branch out to other species when she joins Surface Creek Vet in July. She’s looking forward to treating the many dogs, cats, and livestock
that come through our doors. One notable addition will be that Dr. Jessica will begin seeing equine patients. “I thrive on being ambulatory and going to people’s houses,” she says. “You work in situations that aren’t always ideal, but you also get to think on your toes.”
Proving that Jessica loves pawed pets as much as those with hooves, she and her husband Tanner have a Jack Russell named Colt and a mini Aussie named Cleo. Tanner is also a Colorado native and hails from “just over the mountain” in Parachute. The couple loves to be outdoors and explore nature whenever possible. “We like to do all kinds of stuff,” Jessica says. “Camping, wheeling,
biking, paddleboarding — and we’re hoping to expand on that even more now that we’re home!”
Jessica is eager to hit the ground running, and Surface Creek Vet is just as excited to have her. “I’m looking forward to being at home and seeing people I’ve known my entire life and working with their animals,” she says. “I can’t wait to continue to grow those relationships!”
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