Ways to Get Rid Of Stains from the Rugs

Author: rhusain

What about the stains on the non-washable articles? Take it to the dry clean perhaps the good idea, but you can also try to remove the stains at home before taking them to the dry cleaner. If you have children, milk and ice cream stains are the most common things on your rugs, not mentioned chocolate stains. These tips can help you out in making your work easier at home.

FRUIT STAINS ON NON-WASHABLES can often be sponged off with cool water, if the stains are fresh. On woolens apply the water with a medicine dropper. Place the material on a pad and squirt the water through the stain. If this fails to remove it, work a mild detergent into the stain while it is still wet and rub the material gently. Let the detergent remain on the material for several hours, then add several drops of white vinegar or 10 per cent acetic acid. After a minute or two rinse by sponging the spot with cool water.

NEVER USE SOAP ON A FRUIT STAIN. It will cause it to set.

SPRINKLE WINE STAINS WITH SALT, and then use the boiling water method to remove them.

CANDY AND SUGAR SYRUP usually wash out in warm suds. Sponge non-washable materials with clear warm water. If chocolate or dye stains remain, treat them as described for these substances. For rugs, wipe the spot repeatedly with a cloth or sponge wrung out of clear water.

SOFT DRINKS AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES contain tannin and make a stain that is very treacherous because at first it does not show. If it is allowed to remain, or if the article is washed and ironed, or pressed, the stain turns brown and is almost impossible to remove. Prompt sponging with cold water, or with a mixture of alcohol and water in equal parts, will usually remove such stains. If you want to be absolutely certain that the stain has been routed, rub in glycerin, let it stand for thirty minutes, then rinse or sponge the material with clear water. On rugs use clear water or detergent solution.

IF TEA AND COFFEE STAINS do not wash out on washable materials, use the boiling water method described for fruit stains. On non-washables use glycerin. Apply the glycerin to the stain and rub it in. Let it remain for about an hour then sponge the stain with clear water. If a grease spot appears after the stain has dried (from cream), sponge it off with cleaning fluid.

COCOA AND CHOCOLATE STAINS usually wash out during laundering. If traces remain, sponge them with hydrogen peroxide and rinse. On materials that will not wash, scrape off as much as you can, then sponge the stain with cleaning fluid to remove the greasy part of the stain. When the cloth has dried thoroughly, sponge the stain with warm water and dust it with powdered pepsin. Work the pepsin thoroughly into the cloth. Let it stand for half an hour, then brush off the pepsin and sponge the material with clear water.

MILK AND ICE CREAM STAINS are seldom a problem on washable materials. Just moisten them with cool water and wash them. On rugs sponge such stains with detergent solution, then with clear water. For stains on non-washable materials sponge withcleaning fluid to remove the oily constituents, then with cold water to remove the sticky part Follow title pepsin treatment described for chocolate stains if traces remain.

PRETREATMENT. Food stains on washable materials usually disappear in the laundry but pretreatment may make their removal more certain.

In cleaning the stains on the rugs, sponged off the articles with the cool water for the fresh stains. Use the mild detergent into the stains if it is failed to removed. Boiling water sometimes can be an effective way in removing the stains.

Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Chlorine Hazards – Do You Know The Facts?

Ever since a Scottish chemist mixed chlorine gas with limestone back in 1799 to create chlorine bleach (sodium hypochiorite), the world has been a cleaner, less dangerous place. This compound quickly caught on as a whitener for clothing and writing paper and later as a mildew remover for washable surfaces.

Chlorine is added to everything from household cleansers, vinyl, plastics, and wood pulp and recycled paper to swimming pools and washing machines. The same chlorine found in bleach is an excellent disinfectant for drinking water. Very small amounts are used to help purify the water supply of many cities in the U.S. and Canada. In the case of chlorinated drinking water, the problem is that chlorine undergoes many changes when added to water, forming small amounts of potentially cancer causing by products such as trihalomethanes.

Are these compounds indeed harmful?

The question has been under study for two decades and the research at this point indicates that chlorinated drinking water probably doesn’t increase cancer risk.

Household hazards

Chlorine bleach leaches out the dyes in fabric that is not colorfast, and if not properly diluted, it eats holes through the fabric. It will not remove rust and can discolor clothing washed in water that has a high iron content.

Even more serious are the health hazards associated with chlorine bleach. Never mix chlorine bleach with products that contain ammonia; the fumes caused by these combinations can be lethal. Also avoid combining chlorine bleach with acids, such as vinegar, or other household products containing acids, such as drain openers, toilet bowl cleaners, or rust removers; these blends may also emit hazardous gases. To avoid any problems, check the labels on household detergents for ammonia and acids before adding chlorine bleach to them.

Sensitive to chlorine?

Chlorine is not an allergen, but some people may find that fabrics washed in it can be irritating to their skin. Good substitutes for chlorine bleach in your laundry are the non chlorine bleaches. To help your wash look cleaner, pre treat stains with detergent and presoak clothes that is very dirty. Use the hottest water that your fabrics can stand, and add a little extra detergent to each load.

Chlorine and the environment

Laundry bleach biodegrades harmlessly into oxygen, salt, and water. Unlike some chlorines employed in industry, laundry bleach poses no environmental threat.

Chlorine bleach not only brightens laundry, it also removes mildew from your house’s exterior. Always dilute it, using one part bleach to three parts water.

If bleach splashes into your eyes, flush them with water for 15 minutes, then call your doctor. If bleach is swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Immediately drink 180 milliliters (6 ounces) of water, milk, or milk of magnesia. Then call your Poison Control Center.

Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Prevent Mildew in Your Home

Isn’t it awful to find a mildewed washcloth in the bathroom closet, or a mildewed sweatshirt that was left in the garage after someone washed the car? While you can try to removemildew using various commercial products or home-made cleaners, chances are you may never get rid of it, and you’ll have to throw away the item, leading to the purchase of replacements or doing without for a while.

Mildew is even spoken against in the Old Testament, where it could creep into clothing and even wall structures. Following treatment if themildew remained, the structure could be condemned and vacated.

To prevent mildew from growing in your home, here are a few tips that you may want to consider:

1. Fix leaky faucets. Remind everyone in the house to turn off the spigots after using them, indoors or outside. Then, don’t delay in getting leaks fixed by applying a new nut or replacing rusted fixtures. Watch for signs of drips overnight that could signal a slow leak. Wipe up standing water from spigots, indoor laundry hoses, or around drains to preventmildew formation.

2. Clean laundry, sink, and tub fixtures weekly. Use antibacterial cleaning agents if you wish, but even a mild soap solution will help to get rid of bacteria and fungus that can contribute tomildew buildup. It’s a good idea to air out these areas well by opening windows or running the whole-house fan to dry up lingering moisture. Keep your indoor thermostat set at a lower temperature (below 70 degrees is best) to prohibit the growth of any unwholesome organisms.

3. Maintain water-based appliances. Check your hot water tank, tub fixtures, and laundry equipment for possible weak areas that could become leaks. Tape them before they actually start dripping water. Replace hoses or other parts that are starting to rot or become worn. Look for standing water and wipe it up promptly.

4. Tell everyone to spread out wet clothing that has been caught in a rain shower or snowstorm, or perhaps even children’s play in or near a pool, on a laundry room table or bar so it can air out. Leaving wet clothing in a pile or wadded tightly to prevent air circulating through it will causemildew. Boots should likewise be aired out by removing or turning inside out the interior lining.

5. Don’t let wet laundry sit for very long. Bundle it immediately from washer to dryer. You may want to wash damp bathroom towels promptly rather than putting them in a laundry basket with other dry dirty clothes. Have everyone hang up towels and washcloths after bathing rather than leaving them lying in piles.

With a little bit of forethought and effort, you can defeat mildew before it takes over your home. Enlist the help of each family member to keep your household mildew-free.

Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Tips on Taking Care of Woolen Blankets

Author: rhusain

Woolen blankets need extra attention as they can become hard and harsh if we don’t clean or wash them in a correct way. Pay attention on this guidance to keep your blankets last longer and comfortable to use.

How do I clean the electric blankets? What will be the best way to clean them without damaging them? Here are some ideas to clean the electric blankets and Orlon blankets.

WOOLEN BLANKETS, except electric ones, can be dry cleaned if you prefer. All of them can be washed but, during the last few years, the technique has been changed. Recommended today is the easy soak method that saves energy and prevents shrinkage. Use lukewarm water and an unbuilt synthetic detergent. (Unbuilt detergents are those are those containing no soap and no builders such as washing soda, borax, and other chemical compounds that are alkaline in reaction. All soaps and all water softeners contain alkalis, which are damaging to wool.) First pretreat any spots or especially soiled areas with detergent. Dampen them and apply the detergent with a soft little brush or sponge.

You can use the easy soak method in either tub or washer. Fill the washer with lukewarm water, add the detergent, then put your blanket in. without operating the washer, let the blanket soak for 15-20 minutes. Then turn it over once or twice by hand and spin off the water. Refill the machine with lukewarm water, and then again without operating it, let the blanket soak-rinse for 5 minutes. Extract the water and turn the blanket. Soak-rinse a second time in this same way, then spin and hang it in the shade to dry lengthwise with the fold in the middle on a good tight line. Or hang the blanket over parallel lines placed about a foot apart for quicker drying. Do not use clothespins; they will leave a mark. When the blanket is thoroughly dry, fluff the nap up with a stiff clean brush and press the bindings but not the blanket. A mothproofing mixture (EQ-53) can be added to the second rinse if desired. The blanket can then be stored safely in the linen closet without wrapping. This method of washing blankets gives fine results. The detergents rinse out easily, leaving the blankets soft and fluffy, and there is less shrinking, matting, or pulling than when they are agitated in a washer or squeezed and rubbed by hand. This treatment is recommended for all washable woolens.

ELECTRIC BLANKETS can be washed the same way. They should not be dried in mechanical driers and they should not be dry cleaned unless the manufacturer’s instructions stipulate that this is safe. Agents used in dry cleaning may damage the insulation of the wires inside the blanket. Mothproofing substances are generally ruled out for the same reason. Store the clean blanket in a suitable box, preferably the one it came in, and arrange the electrical parts as they were when the blanket was originally packed to prevent damage to the wiring. You can then wrap the box securely with paper and seal all the openings and folds with gummed tape to frustrate moths.

ORLON BLANKETS made of 100 per cent Orion fiber, can be either dry cleaned or washed. If they are to be washed, pretreat spots or very soiled bindings by brushing them with a detergent or soap solution. Wash one blanket at a time in warm suds (100? F.) either by hand or in a washing machine.

For machine washing use a synthetic detergent, or soap and a water softener. Wash the blanket for five minutes and stop the machine after two or three minutes of the final spin dry cycle, or use the complete special fabric cycle if it is available. Dry the blanket in the air, hung evenly over a clothesline; smooth the bindings. Or use a tumble dryer at low heat (120-140? F.) for about twenty minutes. Don’t get it too dry. If desired the bindings can be pressed with a steam iron, or with a dry iron set for rayon. Brush up the nap.

Use lukewarm water and inbuilt synthetic detergent use a soft little brush to remove the spots. But you can also take them for dry cleaned if you prefer. Avoid dry-cleaned the electric blankets unless there is some instruction from manufacture as it can damage the wires inside blankets. But electric blanket can be laundered. Orlon blanket can be dry cleaned or washed using synthetic detergent or soap.

Source: Free Articles

Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Homemade Laundry Detergent – Value For Your Money!

Author: Renata Lavlor

The use of homemade laundry detergent may not only save you money, but also help take good care of your clothing. Once tested, you will find the results are better than the ones you pick from the supermarkets! With the use of the right ingredients, according to your needs, you will have an incredible laundry product to use! You may come across a lot of advertisements on laundry detergents and may also end up paying a huge price to pick one up at the supermarkets. The end result, everyone wants their laundry clean and smelling fresh! So, why not try your hand at making your own homemade laundry detergent?

Soap for powder? Laundry detergent is a cleaning substance/agent used to clean dirty laundry. Traditionally, granular or coarse powdered solids were used to clean clothes, but the usage of liquid detergent has gained popularity as a trend over the years. Some brands offer you choices on the manufacture of laundry soaps in the form of tablets or dissolvable packets, to help measure soap used for each load of laundry. In some countries where clothes are washed by hand, use of detergent soaps is more popular. In this era, environmental friendly detergents have gained popularity and with the rising costs and depreciating value for your money, homemade laundry detergents are the answer to your problems.

Ingredients 3 ingredients are mainly used for making laundry detergent – soap, washing soda and borax. The right proportion of each of these ingredients will give you a slimy liquid that will need to be tested before use.
Pros and cons. Nowadays, with the tough economic changes, more and more people are opting to make homemade products. This not only saves you money, but it also ensures you have a safe product to use, as most commercial detergents can harm your clothes or can be harmful to your skin over a period of time. The most common issue is skin allergy as laundry detergents contain strong chemical components. Making homemade laundry detergent will help you deal with this issue as you will be able to prepare the right mix. Homemade laundry detergents are more environment-friendly than commercial laundry soap. Skin allergies can be avoided by using eco-friendly homemade laundry soap recipes from chemical free products. A valuable green idea for doing dirty laundry while saving the real green bucks at the same time!

Precautions, test and warnings! After you have a mixture of homemade laundry detergent ready, it is advisable you test it before further use. In case of skin allergies, consult a skin specialist to avoid any blisters, burns, itches, etc. Homemade laundry detergent is low sudsing and hence will be perfect for high-efficiency front loading washing machines. In case of hard lumps, dilute with more water and stir before you rinse your dirty laundry. It is advisable to use of half a cup of your homemade laundry detergent as this will be sufficient for a full load of laundry. Since there are no exact expiration dates, you will be the best judge on how long your homemade laundry detergents last. Liquid laundry detergents may turn thicker over a period of time due to bacteria, while the powdered laundry detergents may last longer.

The verdict! Making homemade laundry detergents is an easy, money-saving task and since your clothes are your second skin, taking care of your clothing becomes your priority!

Source: articlesbase.com

Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Now’s the time to look for these damaging pests (Quad-City Times)

Just when you thought you’d heard of every insect pest that’s determined to eat your landscape plants, there appears the bagworm, a tree-defoliating caterpillar that typically has been more of a problem in southern Iowa and Illinois, south of Interstate 80.

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment

Molecular Structure Could Explain Albinism, Melanoma (redOrbit)

Arthropods and mollusks are Nature’s true bluebloods – thanks to hemocyanin, an oxygen-carrying large protein complex, which can even be turned into the enzymatically active chemical phenoloxidase.Scientists have long known that members of the phenoloxidase family are involved in skin and hair coloring.

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment

Instead of Pink or Blue, Think ‘Green’ for Baby Shower Gifts (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)

One of the best gifts you can give a mother-to-be is the ability to create a safe and healthy home environment for her new baby.

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment

Back to Basics at the Pump (Carteret County News-Times)

(ARA) – For most drivers, filling up at the pump is an automatic routine. But considering that cars are typically one of our largest investments, it’s important to remember the way we take care of them can mean the difference between trouble-free driving and costly repairs.

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment

CA-BUSINESS Summary (The Globe and Mail)

DETROIT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Chrysler LLC will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday after talks to restructure its debt with bondholders collapsed, a U.S. government official said.

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment