Ball point ink stains:
Pour rubbing alcohol on the stain, then scrub.
Blood stains:
With fresh blood stains, immediately put in cold water and scrub. If that doesn't do the trick, or the stain is old, pour hydrogen peroxide on the stain to cover it and let it bubble. Scrub and rinse, then wash in the laundry after the stain is gone.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Vacuuming
A lesson in using a vacuum cleaner?
1) Vacuuming posture; just like throwing a ball, you should have one foot in front of the other! If you push the vacuum forward and back with your right hand, place your left foot forward and rock back and forth from forward to back foot. Tighten your tummy muscles, but keep breathing!
2) Vacuuming carpets: it is said you need to vacuum 3-5 times over the same area of the carpet to get it clean. Think of the first run for loosening dirt, the second to suck up the dirt and loosen some more, and the third to get more dirt. Obviously the more times the better, but who has time? Also, like mowing the lawn, you need to overlap runs, to make sure you are reaching all areas. So what I do is to overlap half the run. That way each section gets double coverage and if I do only two runs per section, that means each area gets four runs of vacuuming. If I have time, I will do three or four runs for more thorough cleaning.
3) I just cleaned an apartment that had a one-inch wide swath of dirt around all edges of the room. You have to use the proper tool to get the edges of a room, the vacuum head won't reach.
4) After vacuuming, you have to clean the vacuum! Check the bottom of the brushes and rollers, and pick out all the dust and hair that you can see. Vacuum the brushes and rollers. Dust and lint on the brushes will decrease the amount they can pick up. Hair and pieces of string wound up in the rollers will decrease efficiency of the vacuum. If the bottom of the vacuum cleaner is full of dust, get a damp cloth and wipe it off. Why spread around more dust?
5) Vacuum cleaner bags. Of course, when they are full you need to replace them. Otherwise you are not only no longer collecting dirt, you are more likely to be spreading dirt. HEPA bags or not? Unless you truly have allergies, don't waste your money on the special bags. Just get the regular kind and change them as needed. Also, whenever changing the vacuum cleaner bag, you should probably wipe out the canister with a damp cloth.
1) Vacuuming posture; just like throwing a ball, you should have one foot in front of the other! If you push the vacuum forward and back with your right hand, place your left foot forward and rock back and forth from forward to back foot. Tighten your tummy muscles, but keep breathing!
2) Vacuuming carpets: it is said you need to vacuum 3-5 times over the same area of the carpet to get it clean. Think of the first run for loosening dirt, the second to suck up the dirt and loosen some more, and the third to get more dirt. Obviously the more times the better, but who has time? Also, like mowing the lawn, you need to overlap runs, to make sure you are reaching all areas. So what I do is to overlap half the run. That way each section gets double coverage and if I do only two runs per section, that means each area gets four runs of vacuuming. If I have time, I will do three or four runs for more thorough cleaning.
3) I just cleaned an apartment that had a one-inch wide swath of dirt around all edges of the room. You have to use the proper tool to get the edges of a room, the vacuum head won't reach.
4) After vacuuming, you have to clean the vacuum! Check the bottom of the brushes and rollers, and pick out all the dust and hair that you can see. Vacuum the brushes and rollers. Dust and lint on the brushes will decrease the amount they can pick up. Hair and pieces of string wound up in the rollers will decrease efficiency of the vacuum. If the bottom of the vacuum cleaner is full of dust, get a damp cloth and wipe it off. Why spread around more dust?
5) Vacuum cleaner bags. Of course, when they are full you need to replace them. Otherwise you are not only no longer collecting dirt, you are more likely to be spreading dirt. HEPA bags or not? Unless you truly have allergies, don't waste your money on the special bags. Just get the regular kind and change them as needed. Also, whenever changing the vacuum cleaner bag, you should probably wipe out the canister with a damp cloth.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Safety - Alone in a Parking Lot or Parking Garage
On the one hand, they say to park far away from your destination, in order to get exercise walking the distance between. Depends on the area and how well you know it.
However, when it is dark, park as close as you can and in a well-lighted area. No valuables should be visible in the car. Lock the car doors.
When alone, use the elevator instead of the stairs.
A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
a) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, and in the back seat. The less clutter there is in your car, the easier it will be to note that something is wrong.
b) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. You could be pulled into a van while attempting to get into the car.
d) Have your car keys out and ready before you reach your car.
e) Once in your car, lock the doors and leave. Do not sit and organize your purse or check the receipts, etc.
The main thing is to be alert and aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye on suspicious-looking people, and be ready to run or scream. Hopefully you will at least be able to get into your car, lock the doors, and drive off.
However, when it is dark, park as close as you can and in a well-lighted area. No valuables should be visible in the car. Lock the car doors.
When alone, use the elevator instead of the stairs.
A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
a) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, and in the back seat. The less clutter there is in your car, the easier it will be to note that something is wrong.
b) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. You could be pulled into a van while attempting to get into the car.
d) Have your car keys out and ready before you reach your car.
e) Once in your car, lock the doors and leave. Do not sit and organize your purse or check the receipts, etc.
The main thing is to be alert and aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye on suspicious-looking people, and be ready to run or scream. Hopefully you will at least be able to get into your car, lock the doors, and drive off.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Internet Safety
Supposedly the techno-savvy younger generation is educating their elders about internet security, but the techno-savvy generation seems to make mistakes...
You hear that prospective employees and college counselors and whoever may be important to your future is able to look at your MySpace and Facebook pages to get an idea (realistic or not) about your personality and work ethics.
So why aren't you cleaning up your pages? So what if it's someone else posting those dirty jokes and questionable pictures. Take a gander, then delete it. And what is it with all these pictures of people holding glasses and cups, doing gang signs, and making faces? If you are getting your picture taken, whether at a bar or at a wedding, put that glass down!!
Okay, now what about your kids?
1) Keep the computer in a common area. (Your kids should just assume that you can look over their shoulders at any time, and they should be able to look over yours...)
2) Monitor your child's activity online.
3) Install and use parent-control software to limit access. You might like to know what kind of access their friends have.
4) Know who their online friends are.
5) Disable the webcam.
6) Don't give a child a cell phone with a camera and Internet access.
7) Educate your child about online hazards.
a) Once online, an embarrassing photo or message cannot be reversed, and may become public.
b) Predators can find you online, on social networks, chat rooms, and gaming sites.
8) Set rules:
a) Never give out full name, address, city of residence, phone numbers, name or location of school, or age to anyone. If "Grandma" wants that information, she should be asking the parent. (I.e., it may not be "Grandma" who is asking.)
b) Never post or upload (or download) anything online that they wouldn't want to be seen on the front page of the newspaper.
c) Never send pictures of themselves online to people they don't know.
d) Never respond to (or initiate in anger) any messages that are belligerent, harassing, obscene, or
suggestive.
e) Never meet face-to-face with someone they meet online.
9) Encourage civil behavior. Be nice, or if you can't think of anything nice to say, say nothing at all. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
10) Encourage critical thinking. Don't believe everything you see on the internet. Be wary of strangers and their offer of money, gifts, etc.
You hear that prospective employees and college counselors and whoever may be important to your future is able to look at your MySpace and Facebook pages to get an idea (realistic or not) about your personality and work ethics.
So why aren't you cleaning up your pages? So what if it's someone else posting those dirty jokes and questionable pictures. Take a gander, then delete it. And what is it with all these pictures of people holding glasses and cups, doing gang signs, and making faces? If you are getting your picture taken, whether at a bar or at a wedding, put that glass down!!
Okay, now what about your kids?
1) Keep the computer in a common area. (Your kids should just assume that you can look over their shoulders at any time, and they should be able to look over yours...)
2) Monitor your child's activity online.
3) Install and use parent-control software to limit access. You might like to know what kind of access their friends have.
4) Know who their online friends are.
5) Disable the webcam.
6) Don't give a child a cell phone with a camera and Internet access.
7) Educate your child about online hazards.
a) Once online, an embarrassing photo or message cannot be reversed, and may become public.
b) Predators can find you online, on social networks, chat rooms, and gaming sites.
8) Set rules:
a) Never give out full name, address, city of residence, phone numbers, name or location of school, or age to anyone. If "Grandma" wants that information, she should be asking the parent. (I.e., it may not be "Grandma" who is asking.)
b) Never post or upload (or download) anything online that they wouldn't want to be seen on the front page of the newspaper.
c) Never send pictures of themselves online to people they don't know.
d) Never respond to (or initiate in anger) any messages that are belligerent, harassing, obscene, or
suggestive.
e) Never meet face-to-face with someone they meet online.
9) Encourage civil behavior. Be nice, or if you can't think of anything nice to say, say nothing at all. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
10) Encourage critical thinking. Don't believe everything you see on the internet. Be wary of strangers and their offer of money, gifts, etc.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets
This is another one of those viral e-mails. As I have said before, I would avoid having any dryer sheets in my home, but you might learn something useful here. When you check snopes.com, most of this is baloney...
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
Baloney. If you have ants and have cleaned the area of the food that is attracting them, and caulked up all the holes where they enter, then you could try a spicy blend to keep them away (cinnamon, basil, pepper, spearmint). But who wants spices on the floors? Clean with vinegar, and the vinegar itself is a repellent!
2. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don’t get opened too often.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda. Sprinkle it between pages and leave open to air out. Then brush out the baking soda.
3. Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet through a belt loop when you are outdoors.
Baloney. May even attract them. Again, you can make your own with herbs and essentials oils, but where do you find all that stuff? The best bet, although expensive, is lemon eucalyptus oil.
4. Eliminates static electricity from TV screen, wipe screen with a used sheet to keep dust from resettling.
Well, duh, it's used for static cling. But it will make the TV screen streaky. Try wiping with... vinegar!
5. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors by cleaning with a sheet.
Okay, may do the trick, but with elbow grease. Can use WD-40, but that's another petroleum product. Prevent soap scum from developing with regular vinegar clean-ups!
6. Freshen air in your home. Place a sheet in a drawer or hang in the closet.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda or cedar blocks.
7. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet before sewing.
Well... you can also run the thread across a wax candle, but do you really have that much of a problem with tangling?
8. Prevent musty suitcases. Place a sheet inside empty luggage before storing.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
9. Freshen air in your car. Place a sheet under front seat.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
10. Clean baked goods from pan. Put sheet in pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. Antistatic agent weakens bond.
Baloney. If you have a problem with things sticking to your baking pans, then invest in parchment to line baking sheets.
11. Eliminate odors in waste baskets, Place a sheet in bottom of basket.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
12. Collect cat hair.
Baloney. I would take a piece of packing tape, and put it sticky-side out around my hand. Then pat at the hair, while turning the tape to a clean area to capture more hair. Replace tape as needed.
13. Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe blinds with a sheet to prevent dust from resettling.
Well, duh, it's used for static cling. Try wiping with vinegar.
14. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sandpapering. A used sheet is like tack cloth.
Baloney. Use packing tape, or better yet, vacuum!
15. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place a sheet in bottom of laundry bag or hamper.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda, or do the laundry!
16. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet in your shoes overnight.
It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
17. Golfers keep a sheet in their back pockets to keep the bees away.
Baloney. Leave the bees alone.
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
Baloney. If you have ants and have cleaned the area of the food that is attracting them, and caulked up all the holes where they enter, then you could try a spicy blend to keep them away (cinnamon, basil, pepper, spearmint). But who wants spices on the floors? Clean with vinegar, and the vinegar itself is a repellent!
2. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don’t get opened too often.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda. Sprinkle it between pages and leave open to air out. Then brush out the baking soda.
3. Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet through a belt loop when you are outdoors.
Baloney. May even attract them. Again, you can make your own with herbs and essentials oils, but where do you find all that stuff? The best bet, although expensive, is lemon eucalyptus oil.
4. Eliminates static electricity from TV screen, wipe screen with a used sheet to keep dust from resettling.
Well, duh, it's used for static cling. But it will make the TV screen streaky. Try wiping with... vinegar!
5. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors by cleaning with a sheet.
Okay, may do the trick, but with elbow grease. Can use WD-40, but that's another petroleum product. Prevent soap scum from developing with regular vinegar clean-ups!
6. Freshen air in your home. Place a sheet in a drawer or hang in the closet.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda or cedar blocks.
7. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet before sewing.
Well... you can also run the thread across a wax candle, but do you really have that much of a problem with tangling?
8. Prevent musty suitcases. Place a sheet inside empty luggage before storing.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
9. Freshen air in your car. Place a sheet under front seat.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
10. Clean baked goods from pan. Put sheet in pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. Antistatic agent weakens bond.
Baloney. If you have a problem with things sticking to your baking pans, then invest in parchment to line baking sheets.
11. Eliminate odors in waste baskets, Place a sheet in bottom of basket.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
12. Collect cat hair.
Baloney. I would take a piece of packing tape, and put it sticky-side out around my hand. Then pat at the hair, while turning the tape to a clean area to capture more hair. Replace tape as needed.
13. Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe blinds with a sheet to prevent dust from resettling.
Well, duh, it's used for static cling. Try wiping with vinegar.
14. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sandpapering. A used sheet is like tack cloth.
Baloney. Use packing tape, or better yet, vacuum!
15. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place a sheet in bottom of laundry bag or hamper.
Well... It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda, or do the laundry!
16. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet in your shoes overnight.
It replaces the smell with its own, and who wants that petroleum sheen on everything? Here I would use baking soda.
17. Golfers keep a sheet in their back pockets to keep the bees away.
Baloney. Leave the bees alone.
Criticizing
Back during my dark days of depression, everything irritated me. I remember criticizing your dad in front of you, with the purpose that you would learn what not to do or what you should do. We can't remember specifics (perhaps you can tell us what you remember!), but for example I would say he needed to help me more with housecleaning. My naive thought was that all the children would then learn to help their spouses/roommates more with housework.
This is wrong on so many counts!
Now, when hearing someone criticize another, I realized that what was really learned was that it is okay to criticize. Aargh! I know now it is NOT okay to criticize, at least in public! Oh, we can complain to our confidantes about the annoying behaviors of others, and vent our irritations to a close sibling, but we should hold our tongues in a public setting. And kids should not be privy to the troubles of their parents.
It is also "wrong" in that I was depressed and irritable, so no matter what your dad did, I was critical. If you find yourself being irritable, and wanting to complain about things (that didn't bother you at all in the past), look for the source of irritation. Of course, my clinical depression was then sorted out by medication, so I no longer was as irritable, nor as critical. (I fear I am naturally a critical person, though. But don't worry, the person of whom I am most critical is... myself.)
Even in my "normal times", I would occasionally start an argument with your dad. I eventually realized that we had a "fight" every time the night before your grandparents were to arrive for a visit. So my anxiety at the in-laws coming made me irritable and critical... (Now I am no longer anxious when they come!)
When I see others being critical, it appears "wrong" that they are making a big deal about some little thing that hardly matters. That's easy for me to say now, because when I was depressed, everything was a big deal. But if you feel like criticizing something, take a step back and ask if it really matters.
If it does matter, be specific. Needing more help with the housework doesn't give anyone a clue about what they can actually do. I have realized that no one can actually read my mind, and no one thinks like I do, so it's less likely they will be able to guess what I need.
And finally, can we make our criticism in a positive way? Maybe not, but starting out with a thanks for anything else that person does or means to you may help!
Dialog between men and women is another whole blog, but I can now say that I used to assume what your dad thought and felt and ... I was wrong!
It's odd how now I feel hurt whenever I see someone criticizing another in front of an audience ( I inwardly wince). Imagine how much hurt I was causing to everyone involved in the past! Je me regret! (I'm sorry, I regret it..)
This is wrong on so many counts!
Now, when hearing someone criticize another, I realized that what was really learned was that it is okay to criticize. Aargh! I know now it is NOT okay to criticize, at least in public! Oh, we can complain to our confidantes about the annoying behaviors of others, and vent our irritations to a close sibling, but we should hold our tongues in a public setting. And kids should not be privy to the troubles of their parents.
It is also "wrong" in that I was depressed and irritable, so no matter what your dad did, I was critical. If you find yourself being irritable, and wanting to complain about things (that didn't bother you at all in the past), look for the source of irritation. Of course, my clinical depression was then sorted out by medication, so I no longer was as irritable, nor as critical. (I fear I am naturally a critical person, though. But don't worry, the person of whom I am most critical is... myself.)
Even in my "normal times", I would occasionally start an argument with your dad. I eventually realized that we had a "fight" every time the night before your grandparents were to arrive for a visit. So my anxiety at the in-laws coming made me irritable and critical... (Now I am no longer anxious when they come!)
When I see others being critical, it appears "wrong" that they are making a big deal about some little thing that hardly matters. That's easy for me to say now, because when I was depressed, everything was a big deal. But if you feel like criticizing something, take a step back and ask if it really matters.
If it does matter, be specific. Needing more help with the housework doesn't give anyone a clue about what they can actually do. I have realized that no one can actually read my mind, and no one thinks like I do, so it's less likely they will be able to guess what I need.
And finally, can we make our criticism in a positive way? Maybe not, but starting out with a thanks for anything else that person does or means to you may help!
Dialog between men and women is another whole blog, but I can now say that I used to assume what your dad thought and felt and ... I was wrong!
It's odd how now I feel hurt whenever I see someone criticizing another in front of an audience ( I inwardly wince). Imagine how much hurt I was causing to everyone involved in the past! Je me regret! (I'm sorry, I regret it..)
Housecleaning 101
You know that I like to use vinegar (white distilled vinegar) and have already referenced the 1,001 Uses of Vinegar (http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/). It will disinfect, deodorize, and remove stains.
Housecleaning that is cheap, green, and healthy requires very little equipment. I use a rag, a rag towel, vinegar, baking soda, a Swiffer, and a vacuum cleaner! People don't realize that green-living saves not only the environment, but money as well!
The main principle of house cleaning is "from the top down". I could never understand seeing my girl scouts sweeping the floor before wiping off counters. They then had to sweep again. Start by wiping down ceiling light fixtures, ceiling fans, then window and door frames, tops of hanging picture frames and mirrors, then furniture. Vacuuming the floor should be last, after cleaning the baseboards!
Dusting: One of those microfiber "feather" dusters can do a temporary dusting, but a good dusting requires a damp cloth to wipe off the dust, and a clean cloth to wipe and "polish" the surface dry and to remove water spots. You can do this on polished wood, as well as counters, glass, porcelain, and chrome. Be sure to rinse the damp cloth often to remove dirt and dust, so that you aren't just swirling around the dust on your furniture. On surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, I will splash a little vinegar on the damp cloth to do the wiping. It has been suggested to fill a spray-bottle with equal parts water and vinegar as an all-purpose cleaner, and you may find this easier to do. I just don't want to dirty or even own another plastic bottle!
Windows: You could use that all-purpose cleaner bottle of equal parts water and vinegar, or fill another bottle with water and 1/4 cup vinegar to clean glass and mirrors. Hey, I just splash vinegar on a damp cloth and clean. Then wipe dry with newspaper for a streak-free finish.
I have three levels of housecleaning:
1) Manly cleaning means a swipe with the feather duster and vacuuming only the floor surfaces that I can see.
2) Regular cleaning means dusting with a damp rag and removing, cleaning and replacing all items on the dusted furniture. All funiture is moved to make sure every square inch of floor surface is vacuumed.
3) Spring cleaning means everything is removed from shelves, closets, drawers, etc., is cleaned, and is replaced only if it is to be kept. Things that have outlived their usefulness get taken to Goodwill, or trashed if no longer usable.
Of course, the actual housecleaning that gets done is a variant of all three levels!
Housecleaning that is cheap, green, and healthy requires very little equipment. I use a rag, a rag towel, vinegar, baking soda, a Swiffer, and a vacuum cleaner! People don't realize that green-living saves not only the environment, but money as well!
The main principle of house cleaning is "from the top down". I could never understand seeing my girl scouts sweeping the floor before wiping off counters. They then had to sweep again. Start by wiping down ceiling light fixtures, ceiling fans, then window and door frames, tops of hanging picture frames and mirrors, then furniture. Vacuuming the floor should be last, after cleaning the baseboards!
Dusting: One of those microfiber "feather" dusters can do a temporary dusting, but a good dusting requires a damp cloth to wipe off the dust, and a clean cloth to wipe and "polish" the surface dry and to remove water spots. You can do this on polished wood, as well as counters, glass, porcelain, and chrome. Be sure to rinse the damp cloth often to remove dirt and dust, so that you aren't just swirling around the dust on your furniture. On surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, I will splash a little vinegar on the damp cloth to do the wiping. It has been suggested to fill a spray-bottle with equal parts water and vinegar as an all-purpose cleaner, and you may find this easier to do. I just don't want to dirty or even own another plastic bottle!
Windows: You could use that all-purpose cleaner bottle of equal parts water and vinegar, or fill another bottle with water and 1/4 cup vinegar to clean glass and mirrors. Hey, I just splash vinegar on a damp cloth and clean. Then wipe dry with newspaper for a streak-free finish.
I have three levels of housecleaning:
1) Manly cleaning means a swipe with the feather duster and vacuuming only the floor surfaces that I can see.
2) Regular cleaning means dusting with a damp rag and removing, cleaning and replacing all items on the dusted furniture. All funiture is moved to make sure every square inch of floor surface is vacuumed.
3) Spring cleaning means everything is removed from shelves, closets, drawers, etc., is cleaned, and is replaced only if it is to be kept. Things that have outlived their usefulness get taken to Goodwill, or trashed if no longer usable.
Of course, the actual housecleaning that gets done is a variant of all three levels!
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