Archive for August, 2012
Stains are inevitable in everyday life. We can’t do our best to avoid spills and splashes, but sometimes they just find a way to get to us. Common stains are easy to clean up if you know the right thing to do. Here are some of the conventional stains we may encounter everyday and how we can clean or remove them.
Before we go to specific stains, keep these general tips in mind: First, take action immediately, as the longer the stain sits, the harder it will be to remove it. Next, read washing labels carefully so you know you’re not further damaging the item. Also, soak the item for as long as you can and use the hottest temperature water possible. Finally, if your item is white linen or cotton, lemon juice will take care of most stains, but never use it on colors as it may damage them.
Mustard, Ketchup or Other Sauces
Use a color-safe beach and pre-treat the stain. Then, wash the item in hot or warm water. If the stain still remains, use stain remover and wash again.
Lipstick
Lipstick, depending on the ingredients and the material of the item can be cleaned with just regular washing in hot water. However, if the lipstick stain remains, use a stain remover, hairspray, or ammonia and then rinse it with warm water.
Ink
This is a tough one, and you’ll first need to apply some rubbing alcohol, then some detergent to the stain. Wash as you normally would, and it there’s still a stain do it again or try using hairspray by rubbing it in with a cloth before you wash it.
Grass Stains
Pretreat with a stain remover and use color-safe bleach or bleach and wash the item as you normally would. For more stubborn stains, you can use methanol or ethanol to treat the stain, wash it with warm water and soap, then soak the item in a solution of one part glycerin and two parts water for a few hours until the fabric softens.
Red Wine
Another tough one – this time, use salt or white wine to stop the stain from spreading and setting. Rinse it off with warm water after a few minutes. If the stain has already dried and set, you may still be able to rescue it with a mixture of one part glycerin and two parts of water. Rub it into the stain and wash as you normally would.
Blood
For fresh stains, dip the item in cold water, then scatter a small amount of ammonia on the stain. For stains which may have already set in, first wet it in warm water. Use unseasoned meat tenderizer and pour some over the stain, mixing it up with the damp cloth to form a paste-like substance. Use a paper towel to cover it overnight. The following day, use a solution of water and ammonia to wash off the paster and then wash as directed on the garment label.
Deodorant
Pretreat the stain with some liquid detergent before washing normally. For tougher stains, soak the item in white vinegar for up to half an hour before washing in the hottest water temperature (this may vary depending on the garment.)
The arrival of a baby is a blessing for any parent. But, before the baby arrives, one of the things you need to do is prepare the nursery. This is where your baby will spend the first few years of his or her life, so you should do this well. Aside from being a beautiful nursery, it should also be comfortable and practical as you will be spending a lot of time in there caring for your baby, feeding him or her, changing diapers, and putting them to sleep. So, to help you set up your nursery, here are some tips you can do:
The Basics
What’s inside is just as important as the outside, so make sure you check your nursery inside and out. That means you have to ensure the room is clean, gets plenty or light and ventilation, and there are no molds or fungi building up in the corners of the room. If you’re paranoid about lead in paint, you may want to consider stripping down any old paint (especially if it’s more than 10 years old) and putting up new wallpaper or lead-free, baby-safe paint on the walls.
Furniture
At the very least, you’ll need a good crib. What’s “good”? Well that depends on you and your budget. There are a lot of cribs out there with a lot of bells and whistles, but if you can find one that can “grow” with your baby, than that’s really the most important feature you need so you can keep your crib and not have to replace it every year. Whatever crib you choose, make sure it’s safe for babies, has no small parts he or she can swallow and not being recalled for defects.
Aside from the crib, you may want to get a changing table. As you’ll find out, babies will need their diapers changed a lot during the first year, and having a comfortable place where you can change diapers can be a godsend. You’ll also want a comfortable chair where you can sit if you have to feed or put the baby to sleep.
Other Items
There may be some other items you want to consider adding to your nursery to make it better. You can get shelving to keep your baby’s things organized. You can have a CD player so you can play some music for the baby (and yourself) and a nice area rug to brighten up your room (and keep the temperature warm for your baby.) Though these items aren’t necessary, they can make you and your baby more comfortable.
A happy pet makes for a happy owner. And the easiest way (with the least effort) to make your pet happy is to make them comfortable with pet-friendly interiors. This doesn’t entail refitting or renovating your house to suit your pets, or even buying expensive pet furniture (although these things do help). But it’s seeing and feeling your house through the eyes, ears and feet of your pet and looking at what simple things you can add or change to help them be more at ease with their surroundings. The following are some considerations you should think of:
Ventilation, space and lighting
Regardless of what kind of pet you have, whether fish, bird or hamster, or cat or dog, are the primary considerations.
A house that keeps a pet must be well-ventilated, preferably naturally, to ensure that both you and your pet are breathing fresh, healthy air. Regardless of how beautiful your home is, if you have bad ventilation and humidity your place will be unlivable for both you and your pet. Make sure your rooms also have ample natural light, which is beneficial to both you and your pets.
Space is a major design consideration in interiors, but when talking about pets this becomes a practical one. A pet-friendly interior means ample space to accommodate your family and pet without creating that cramped look.
Views of the outside not only look good in a room, but can also keep your bed from getting bored. If your pet is too small to reach the window, make sure you have a small ledge they can stand on when they feel like observing the outside world from the comfort of your home.
Pet corner
It helps to give your pet their own personal space. Designating a spot in your house as your pet’s HQ gives them a sense of belonging. Put their bed here, as well as their toys. You can have a pet corner in every room, a favorite spot where your pet curls up to relax, like a padded couch or ottoman, much better to lie down on than the hardwood or tile floors. Or maybe your pet’s corner is right beside your favorite reading chair. Place little touches like a rug to make them feel warm and cozy.
Little touches
If your pet is a cat other little touches can be a discreetly-placed scratching post. To accommodate your cat’s climbing instincts, use small ladders or an antique stepstool.
Mobility in the house
Pet friendly interiors provide mobility for pets around the house, so they won’t feel that they’re locked in just one room all the time. The size of the pet is also important to consider in arranging furniture, or knick knacks on top of furniture. Big dogs who like wagging their tails, for example, should stay clear of corner or coffee tables whose contents might crash on the floor.
Cleaning
Some pets tend to shed a lot of hair on sofas and carpets etc. This is more of a discomfort for the owner rather than the pet. Those who are finicky about it should opt for furniture that is easy to clean and wipe.
