HOME MADE FUNGICIDE

I’ve talked a lot about the virtues of white and cider vinegar in the Clean and Green article. Today it has jumped over to here to be of some use in the garden. I think that I have mentioned that white vinegar can be used neat as a weed killer, well cider vinegar can be used effectively as a fungicide. Mix two tablespoons full into four pints of water mix and spray. There is another recipe that uses baking soda. Mix in the same amount into water as with the vinegar. Stick to one mixture, if you mix the two together you will have a foaming mixture that would clean the bathroom from top to bottom!More natural cleaning tips and advice in the Green Clean Book

Horticultural.

VENETIAN BLIND CLEANING AND OTHER TIPS

We have been racking our brains at Clean and Green this week. A friend of ours has a small child who tends to drop her bottle onto the footwell in the car. This has happened a few times and the bottle has leaked milk onto the carpet. When the temperature is turned up in the car so the smell of sour milk gets stronger. We have been trying all the usual remedies such as vinegar, bicarbonate of soda etc., but the smell is still lingering. Have you any tried and tested methods for removing the smells from cars. We would like to hear from you.

A woman in the supermarket car park approached me last week. The lady was asking about how to clean venetion blinds. I thought I would share the information with you. We have also had some very good e-mail too about cleaning tips so they follow on afterwards.

VENETIAN BLINDS.
I remember when the venetian blinds were cleaned at the family home. For three days they were hanging in the garage drip-drying after being hosed down. The performance taking them down and putting them up again also used to take a day or two. To make life a bit easier we found that the blinds clean quite well using a piece of crust from a new loaf of bread. Slide this along the slats holding the bread firmly Change the bread as it becomes dirty. You could try cleaning roller blinds too if they aren’t the washable type. A very firm mixture of flour and water dough can be rolled across them as well.

BURNT PANS
Some people recommend that boiling beetroot in the pan gets rid of any burnt deposits. Sounds like a waste of beetroot to me! The easiest way to get the burnt bits out or the pan is to use salt. How much salt to use depends on how bad the burn is. If it is only slightly burnt then an hour’s soak in salt water is enough. If it is really caked then soak for twelve hours, boiling it up at the beginning and the end.

BASINS
This works well on porcelain sinks. Go to the cooking section of the supermarket and get some cream of tartar. Rub onto any rusty and discoloured areas of the sink. Leave for a while and rub off. Borax and lemon juice is also said to work wonders to remove rust too.

TEA STAINS
Bicarbonate of soda and salt are very effective in removing tea stains from crockery or plastic. If the stain is heavy, leave the cup or pot to soak in a solution of soda or salt overnight. It will just rub off in the morning. Don’t use on china with a gilt edge though as it could be damaged. Plastic containers can be cleaned this way.
A friend of mine used to clean his mug out using sand. As effective as this was it did eventually wear the glaze off. So we think that is a bit harsh!

LOOSENING BOLTS
We’ve found some good uses for the sweet sugary coke products that are on the market in the past. Here’s another one. If you have a seized bolt and you can’t find the W.D.40 to free it then get a can of coke. Pour on the coke and leave a minute to soak in. The bolt will be freed a lot easier. Watch out though it corrodes metal as effectively (what does it do to the stomach), so wash it off afterwards!

Environmental.

ALTERNATIVES TO TOXIC CHEMICALS

Toxic chemicals are all around us. Not just the visible ones such as tobacco smoke and exhaust fumes, but hundreds of chemicals that go unseen. Carpets and upholstery, industrial glues, paints, cleaning products and even perfumes have ingredients that can harm our immune systems. There are ways in which you can cut down on the contact from toxic chemicals. One example is to make your own surface cleaner (Tea tree and lemon essential oil mixed in water for example) and to go for natural air fresheners instead of chemical ones.

When you cut out chemicals from the house you might feel an improvement in the air quality straight away. Other effects are more subtle. It might be a month or two before you realise that you don’t have an afternoon headache or your complexion has cleared up or you can breath easier. Within six months you might find that you react very strongly to the smell of chemical cleaners. Just like perfume we eventually can’t smell it if we are in contact with it for a long period, our bodies become resistant to the odour. You will also find that your nose will be able to detect the nice smells again like fresh flowers and home cooking. This will make you realise how much your sense of smell is dulled by household chemicals.

When certain chemicals are no longer poisoning your system you might find that you become aware of certain foods or smells that make you feel ill. Heed the warnings and cut these out of your diet completely. This is the start of the detoxification process.

DETOXIFICATION
During the period of detoxification you need to follow your bodies needs. You might find that you are more tired than usual. Sleep is when your body does its essential maintenance work, so go to bed earlier for a while. Here are some other ways of helping your body.

Change your diet. This doesn’t have to be too drastic. Go for organic fruit and vegetables. A diet low in saturated fat will help to keep toxins from building up in the body. Go for oily fish such as sardines, mackerel, trout, salmon and herring. These contain essential fatty acids that fight the effects of chemical exposure on the body.

Exercise. Choose two or three activities that you enjoy and work these into your schedule each week. Anything that makes you sweat is particularly useful for boosting metabolism and helping the release of toxins through the skin.

Stress relief. The state of your body often reflects the state of your mind. Too much stress will depletes the body of nutrients needed to fight the effects of pollution. Choose activities that get you totally absorbed and allow you to switch off completely for a while. Yoga and meditation can be very relaxing and the deep breathing that is involved will promote the release of toxins via the lungs.

Hydrotherapy. Water in all its states helps to purify the body. Try relaxing in a bath with cider vinegar, epsom salts or sea salt added to the water. These will stimulate the skin to release toxins. If you belong to a health club have a steam sauna and a massage would also be a very good idea!

Plants. Common houseplants can help to remove toxins from indoor air. The most effective ones are aloe vera, English ivy, spider plants, peace lilies, philodendrons, bamboo plants, chrysanthemums and daisies. Each has been shown to remove harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene and xylene from the air.

SHOPPING
When you shop for cleaning products look out for the ones with the least amount of chemicals present in the list of ingredients. This won’t guarantee that the product doesn’t have harmful irritants in them but it will go some way to relieving the symptoms of industrial poisoning.

FRESH AIR
Here’s an alternative air freshener idea to get you started on the road to a chemical free environment. Mix a 200g box of baking soda with 10-15 drops of you favourite essential oils. Put into a cardboard box, which you can decorate if you wish, or a small dish. Put out of the way and let it get rid of most of the household pongs.

Environmental.

PEARLY WHITES

Ian
My teeth are all discoloured. Are the teeth whitening products on the market effective? RB by e-mail

Reply
There seems to be a lot of products on the market that claim to give you a set of pearly whites. Everywhere you look there are advertisements sporting someone with a huge mouthful of blindingly white teeth. And all of them have smiles so huge and laser-white that you almost have to wear sunglasses to look at them. The passion for having the whitest teeth possible is a popular obsession for millions of people the world over. People wanting to make their smile as bright as a white sheet have many options available to them for doing just that. This obsession can even turn people into what some dentists call “whitening junkies” or “bleach-orexics”—those who just can’t seem to reach the ultimate nirvana of shimmering whiteness that they’re hoping to achieve.
Most of the over the counter products contain bleaching and oxidising agents to whiten the teeth. The side effects of too much bleaching can include gum irritation and damage, and can leave teeth extremely sensitive and blotchy. Whitening products work only on the natural tooth; crowns and cavities cannot be whitened, which can leave your mouth looking like a graveyard of different coloured teeth.

Dentists usually advise patients to have a checkup before beginning any teeth-whitening procedure using over-the-counter products. Such at-home treatments can contain ingredients that are too acidic, and they can slowly erode the enamel of the teeth, although the risk for permanent damage is said to be relatively small. If the treatment begins to do damage, the person will usually just stop, but some harm may have already occurred, particularly to gums.

If you are really insistent on trying to achieve the dazzling white smile of a Hollywood star, you should remember that most celebrities have veneers over their teeth, and veneers do not require whitening (average cost in Ireland is €780 per tooth!). And of course celebrities have access to a smile-enhancing advantage that most average consumers don’t have access to—a digital airbrush!

The natural way to whiten teeth
If you like the idea of whitening your teeth and would like to do things naturally then there are other ways. Try cleaning your teeth with baking soda for a start; this will get rid of some of the staining.
To keep teeth bright and prevent yellowing, you need to remove the staining bacteria. This is exactly what happens when you chew certain foods that produce a high salivary flow. So, take a bite out of celery, carrots, cauliflower, and cucumbers. Another benefit of eating these is that the fibre in some of these foods physically works to clean teeth and remove bacteria.Watch out for dark foods and beverages. Anything that can stain a white T-shirt can stain your teeth too. That means most varieties of berries, as well as soy sauce, red wine, many fruit juices, coffee, tea, and cola drinks. You don’t have to avoid them altogether, but immediately after indulging, rinse out your mouth with water, chew gum, or brush your teeth. Keep in mind that citrus fruits contain acid that can cause enamel to deteriorate over time.

Household.

TALCUM POWDER

I was a bit under the weather a few days ago and took to the settee for a bit of rest and relaxation. I must confess to watching a bit of daytime television whilst I was laid up (purely in the name of research of course). I couldn’t believe the amount of adverts that were shown for cleaning products. There were adverts for washing powder, spray cleaners, air fresheners, fabric softeners and later in the day the adverts became more sophisticated and moved more towards body products to get your skin and hair all smooth and smelling like a summer breeze, (or is that fabric softener, I can’t remember, it’s a bit of a blur). Most of the products have the same ingredients in them so perhaps you could use hair conditioner as a fabric softener!!!

READERS QUESTIONS
We have had a few e-mails concerning last week’s comments on antiperspirants.

Q I use an antiperspirant that looks like a piece of rock crystal. These are made of natural materials aren’t they?

A. These Rock Crystals are made out of mineral salts, which is a natural product. The added ingredients in these though can contain the harmful aluminium metal. When you are buying this product choose the ones that clearly list the ingredients, avoiding any with aluminium. Make sure all the ingredients are natural. Avoid any with ingredients that are unclear.

Q I use talcum powder as an underarm deodorant and to dry my baby’s bottom, surely this is safe?

A. Talcum powder or magnesium silicate, to give it it’s chemical name, is made up of finely ground particles of stone. As this is mined from the ground it can be contaminated with other substances. For example, there have been reports of Asbestos being found in talc. One thing about talc, the dust can settle in the lungs and cause breathing difficulty and asthma. Be careful about leaving talc lying about –toddlers can wreak havoc if they find the container and although throwing it about may be fun for them, it may not be so good for their little lungs. As with all products, its best to use in moderation. When you have the time let your baby’s bottom dry naturally in the air.

Here is an easy and cheap alternative for you to try:Mix one part baking soda with eight parts of cornstarch. Mix in a blender and put in eight or so drops of your favourite essential oil. Store in an airtight container or shaker for future use. You will find that the bathroom doesn’t get covered in powder and you can breath more easily!

Household.

SCREW TOPS

The lids of jars can very awkward for people with arthritis or lacking in strength. I think that I have found a few good ways to open up those jars that have tight lids on them. There will probably need to be some trial and error to find the one method that works the best on that hard to budge top.

First, try an elastic band around the top or easier still wear rubber gloves. The rubber gives a grip that helps you open the lid. (Make sure your hands aren’t wet or greasy or you’ll never get the thing off.) Another way is to try and break the airlock. Try tapping the rim sharply all around the edge with the back of a knife. Or give the top a few hefty whacks; a heel of a shoe or wooden spoon will do the job. Make sure you don’t break the glass though. Run the top under hot water if the jar has already been opened and has got stuck fast with dried up gunge. Then there is piercing the top of the lid so the airlock is broken. This can be very effective. The last method, which is one that I find works very well, is a bit unconventional. Stand upright and grasp the top. Imagine that you are an oak tree. While you are doing this imagine that you are putting out large roots into the earth and sucking up energy from the ground and that this energy is channelled into your grip. Now try and open the jar, you’ll find that you can probably do it.

Household.

SHOE CARE

Warm weather and training shoes can be a lethal combination. This week at clean and green we have been delving into the sometimes-hazardous area of good shoe keeping. There are different shoes for different types of weather, sandals for summer and boots for winter for example and they all need looking after. I must confess that I have one pair of boots that I tend to wear all year come rain or shine. There’s something very comforting wearing steel toecap boots with metal in the soles and rubber that could withstand a chemical attack, (they do get a bit hot at this time of the year though).

Here are a few tips for keeping your shoes in good condition.

Smelly shoes. Training shoes can be one of the most offensive types of footwear. A friend of mine throws his into a 40 degree wash in the washing machine every week then hangs them up to dry. They still have to live outside though as they are still a major health hazard. There is a solution though. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda into them and leave overnight. In the morning you will think you had a new pair of trainers. Of course this works with any type of shoe as well, although natural leather doesn’t seem to make your feet as smelly as it breathes better than the synthetic materials that trainers can be made from. Check to see if you can get leather trainers if smelliness is a problem.

Shoe polishing. There are two main types of polish on the market-wax and silicone. Wax seems to be the most natural and the best. It gives a deeper shine and is better at keeping out the wet. To save the amount of polish used when cleaning the shoes try using the same brush for putting on the polish as taking it off. It works really well. If the polish in the tin has become hard and cracked all you need do is put the open tin over boiling water and it will return back to normal.

Salt-stained shoes. You can get these if you get your shoes wet on the beach or if the council grit the road in winter. You can cover them with polish but they tend to reappear again after a short period. Try using washing up liquid mixed with equal amounts of white spirit and enough water to make a cream. Work into the entire shoe, giving extra attention to the stain. This should take away the polish and hopefully the stain.

Storing shoes. “What flies high, flies low has no feet and wears shoes?” The answer to this riddle is dust (wears shoes..geddit?). This is one of the biggest problems that shoes face when they go into storage under the wardrobe or in the scullery. The best thing to do is to clean and polish them and put them into the box that they were brought home in. They will keep for years like that. Don’t put them into a plastic bag though as they could go mouldy.

Tight shoes. A very large number of people tend to buy shoes that are too small or too narrow for them. I don’t know what the reasons for this are but it is important to get a good fit .If your shoes are a bit tight though, as most new shoes tend to be then try warming the shoes first before you put them on. If you are pushed for time then sometimes putting the shoes on, taking them off and putting them on again seems to work. They seem to feel looser the second time around. Shoes that pinch you in a particular place can be very uncomfortable. Try holding the inside of the area over a kettle, when it gets hot press on it with a spoon or similar and draw the leather out. Then either wear the shoes (after they have cooled down!) or stuff them full of newspaper and leave for a few days. I filled a pair of my shoes once with newspaper and potato peelings. This was supposed to stretch the shoes. Unfortunately I forgot about them and they went very mouldy and were thrown away, so I wouldn’t recommend that.

Repairs. If you have a good pair of shoes and the stitching comes loose or they rip or the heels go, then get them repaired. I had my trusty boots sown up at a cobbler. I was charged three euro and the boots have so far given me an extra years wear. Not bad value for money is that.


Household.

QUIZ

Here at the Clean and Green testing centre we tend to get concerned with cleaning products. Especially those that contain hydrocarbons and chlorines, these can give off dangerous fumes. These pollute the air in your living space. Over the coming weeks we will be looking into this serious subject and hopefully deciding what products aren’t safe to use Here’s a quiz to get us started. See what cleaning products you have in the house that maybe you would be better off without.

QUIZ
Add one point for “yes” and take one point away for “no”

1 Do you buy cleaning products from mainstream supermarkets or hardware shops?

2 Do you spray or hang air fresheners in the house that weren’t bought in health shops?

3 Do you use bleach in the clothes wash?

4 Do you use disinfectants?

5 Do you use commercial carpet cleaners?

6 Do you use chemical toilet cleaners and chemical tile cleaners?

7 Does your cleaning polish say “flammable” on it?

8 Do you have any old, half used products under the sink?

Answer
If you have answered any of these with a yes or have any points then you might have some indoor air quality problems. These are especially harmful to those of you who suffer from asthma. Below are some suggestions to improve the situation.

1 The majority of mainstream companies have signal words on their products. These range from danger, to poison and flammable. When you are buying products try to go for those with mild words such as caution. These products generally are not as harmful as the others. Better still go for signal words like natural and harmless!

2 Many of the air fresheners on the market have some pretty disgusting chemicals in them. A lot, thankfully are being banned but never buy any with chemicals such as dichlorobenzene in them. This can cause cancer and it is claimed to poison the central nervous system, as well as the liver and kidneys. I tend to use simple air fresheners. Try adding a few drops of essential oil into a spray bottle full of water with a dash of washing up liquid. At the moment we’re using tea tree mixed with lavender, this disinfects as well as smells nice.

3 Chlorine in bleach is very corrosive to the skin. Never mix bleach with any other cleaner, as the fumes that are given off are very poisonous. Try using Ecover natural bleach or pure essential oil based antibacterial products from the health shop or chemist.

4 Try to avoid anything that claims to kill germs. Chances are they will contain triclosan. This substance is a serious skin poison and is said to be more hazardous than many chemicals listed as toxic.

5 Carpet cleaners and other laundry fragrance products contain loads of yukky chemicals. These linger in the house for months. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety, up to one third of chemicals used as fragrance are toxic. Use bicarbonate of soda and a few drops of essential oil. Sprinkle on the carpet and vacuum up after a few minutes.

6 Toilet and tile can cause skin irritation because of the corrosive ingredients. Look for a softer alternative. We tend to use washing up liquid and a bit of elbow grease. The addition of a scouring pad and rubber gloves are invaluable!

7 Many products that contain the word Flammable are petroleum based. Petrol based products have proved to depress the central nervous system which causes headaches and lack of concentration. Olive oil, white vinegar and an essential oil of your choice mixed together can be an effective furniture polish.

8 If you have any half full containers of chemical cleaning products under the sink then these will be giving off harmful vapours. This will be especially bad for the person doing the dishes! Some of these chemicals are known to cause cancer. If you are not using them then dispose of them safely.

Environmental.

PUPPY PUDDLES

Photo: Patch.

We are looking after two dogs this week. Like most dogs, these two visitors have their own personalities. Patch, the older dog wags his tail and looks at you expectantly (for food) and is always happy. He has a habit of cocking his leg on the furniture when he comes to visit as well (it’s a male dog thing). The puppy, a whippet called Rosie jumps up on the table and the bed like a cat (she co-habits with three cats which probably influences her behaviour). Because Rosie is young she has a tendency to chew anything. She was happily eating a box of washing powder and sucking on a used herbal tea bag today. She’s toilet training at present so we have to keep an eye on her and have the access to the back door clear at all times. Should either of the two dogs decide to relieve themselves on the carpet I have a few cleaning solutions at hand.

PUDDLES
If a dog makes a puddle on the carpet, slosh soda water over the area. Soak up the wet with a clean cloth and repeat the procedure. If the puddle is caught before it dries there shouldn’t be a stain. To get rid of the smell you can dab the area with ammonia. This is a bit harsh but will stop the dogs from doing it in the same place because of the offensive aroma. A less harsh method would be to dab the carpet with a cloth and white vinegar. Test on a hidden area first though in case the colours run.

If soda water isn’t at hand, use fizzy mineral water; it will do the job just as well.


PESKY PUPPIES
Puppies tend to cut their teeth on anything they can get hold of. Many people loose at least one shoe and a bit of furniture as the puppies grow up. We lost the interior of our car when Max was young! If you want to keep the pup from destroying your family heirlooms get a bottle of Oil of Eucalyptus or Oil of Cloves and spread a few drops around the area. . Dogs have a very sensitive sense of smell and find these so offensive that they will stay well away. On the other hand if you want to give them a treat get some aniseed. The dogs love it and it is helpful when training a dog to follow you.

FIGHTING
The best thing to do when dogs start fighting is to keep well away from the area. If you do fear for the life of one of the dogs then throw pepper at them. The dogs will pay more attention to their noses than the fight and should give up. The pepper sounds harsh but it is safe enough to use for this purpose.

GROOMING
The larger dog, Patch has a thick coat of white hair. He only has to brush up against something and handfuls of his coat fall off. You could fill a vacuum cleaner bag every week with the stuff. This is why it’s important to brush the dogs regularly so the hairs don’t cover the front room carpet. If you do want to bring a shine to the dogs’ hair then run a piece of clean silk over them after brushing. Its well worth the effort and the dogs love the attention.

CHOCOLATE
If you have to give your dog tablets for any reason, then there is no easier way than to push the tablet inside a soft centered chocolate and hand it to the eager hound. Don’t give them too much though as chocolate can be poisonous to dogs.

Household.

WASHING MACHINE

The washing machine has been working overtime here at the Clean and Green testing centre. We are using a bit of trial and error to come up with the right combination and quantity of ingredients to create the perfect wash.

The four main products for cleaning the laundry are: washing soda, white vinegar, salt and baking soda. There should be little need to use any other product and you can pick these up quite cheaply at your local shop or supermarket. Here are the results so far.


Laundry cleaning for whites: 1/4 cup of washing soda (sodium carbonate) in place of bleach. (Bleach is one of the most toxic substances for the environment and should be avoided if possible.)
Add to this ¼ cup of white vinegar

Verdict: This seems to be very effective. We used ¼ cup of baking soda as a fabric softener in the final rinse, this will also get rid of any static that has built up. To make the clothes smell pleasant we have been adding either rosewater or a couple of drops of essential oil in with the baking soda.


Laundry cleaning for darks and coloured clothes: ¼ cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup of salt added to the machine. The same method of fabric softener was used as before.

Verdict: This is also proving to be very effective. The salt helps restore faded colours and does a great job removing dirt and grime. The vinegar can be used neat to remove some stains.



Cloth rags: There are a lot of disposable cleaning wipes on the market at the moment. Most of these, and paper towels too, have been bleached at some point, which will be causing pollution somewhere. Cut up old clothes, bed sheets and towels to make rags that can be re-used time and time again. Our Clean and Green consumer watchdog has seen a pack of 12 floor-cleaning clothes on sale in a supermarket for four euro forty nine, that money would buy a lot of vinegar to put on the rags!

Household.

TOP TIPS

Spilt wax: If wax is spilled on a carpet, use ice cubes to harden then gently scrape off as much wax as possible. Place brown paper over the remaining wax and use an iron on top of this. The heat will cause the wax to absorb into the paper.

Verdict: This is a very effective method but do make sure the iron isn’t too hot. We tried this a few years ago on a nylon carpet and we scorched it so much that we had to buy a rug!

Toothpaste: Use baking soda mixed with a little lemon juice to get your teeth sparkling white

Smelly shoes: To deodorise shoes and of course trainers, sprinkle baking soda inside them regularly.

Household.

POLISHING SILVER

We have a cutlery drawer in our house, much the same as everyone else. Ours has a hidden terror. Silver plated knives forks and spoons! We inherited these implements a few years ago and although the rest of the family don’t mind them, I find just the thought of them sets my teeth on edge. If I accidentally pick one out to use it quickly gets thrown back in to the shadows. If we have visitors around for a meal I have to choose my place carefully so I don’t sit anywhere that has been allocated any of the offending objects, I’ll go for the stainless steel ones every time. I might sound a BIT neurotic but I think there is a good reason for my allergic reaction. Over the years I have had to sit in the dentists chair many times, as my teeth aren’t the strongest things in the world, and most of the teeth have been packed full with amalgam, that silver coloured filler that is used. (Any more and I’m sure they wouldn’t be classified as teeth). Consequently when I put the silver plated cutlery in my mouth there is a genuine chemical reaction. (If you have fillings you can get the same effect if you chew on silver foil, but I wouldn’t recommend it!) I’ve tried in vain to get the children to lose them down the back of the settee, but they keep coming back to the drawer. Until Nintendo come out with a computer game where you have to bury silver objects in the garden so my lads can copy the idea, the knives, forks and spoons are staying with us.

With the cutlery there came a small tub of silver polish cream, I tried using it to put a shine on a spoon and although it worked well it also took ten layers of skin off my fingers. I decided to look into what was in it.

POLISING THE FAMILY TREASURES

Most metal polishes contain strong acids such as phosphoric acid and also caustics such as ammonia. The most powerful ones though contain sulphuric acid and hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is also found in rust removers and aluminium polish and this acid could eat right through to the bone. It’s no wonder my hands were sore after using the stuff; I should have been more sensible and used gloves!

Metal polishers are acid because acid dissolves tarnish. Some of these cleaners are so caustic though that they can do more damage. Harsh cleaners can dissolve lacquers that are commonly used on brassware and burn off metal plating. The dips that you can put things into can be the most damaging by leaving permanent stains as cleaned objects dry.

ALTERNATIVES

Lemon juice, vinegar and salt make good metal cleaners. Chloride such as salt or washing soda could damage delicate metals so don’t use them on treasured family heirlooms or things of value; you might want to get these professionally cleaned. (That’s the disclaimer out of the way so lets look at a few other ideas.)
aluminium,polishing,
MAKE YOUR OWN SILVER DIP

You can make your own silver dip by putting a plate- sized piece of aluminium foil in a saucepan with water and a handful of washing soda. Heat this and put the silver in the pan for a minute or two until the tarnish and stains are removed. Don’t leave the silver in for a long time as it will dissolve it and don’t put anything in that is just silver plated Silver plated things should only be polished when absolutely necessary. Try using a special silver polishing cloth and remember to wear gloves!

Some of the finest pieces of silver have a bit of tarnish in the crevices. This can add to the appearance of a piece and some experts in the trade think that it adds to the character and price of an item as well. So try not to over -polish your silver.

Household.

TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY

(Click on the title for a link to the Tools for Solidarity website)


At the Castle Espie fair, I was impressed by a Belfast based charity set up in 1992 called Tools For Solidarity (TFS) which refurbishes old tools to send to less developed countries around the world. The tools make a real difference in countries such as Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania where groups are also taught the skills required to learn a trade. Small co-operatives have been set up where people can earn a living making clothing and furniture and increasing their income so they can afford medicines and school fees. At home the centre in Belfast works on a cross community basis and youth organisations, volunteers with mental and physical disabilities and school groups all get hands on experience refurbishing the tools. They also learn more about aid, waste, re-cycling and other development issues.

The tools they need are for trades such as carpentry, joinery, mechanics, bike repair, construction, shoemaking and tailoring, this includes sewing machines. TFS is also looking for manual typewriters and they do accept a limited number of electrical tools, particularly electrical sewing machines. TFS is also interested in some machinery including lathes and welding equipment.The list for tools that are needed is endless and anything from gardening equipment to anvils and from pins, buttons and zips can all be used. I have a contact number for the nearest contact and collection point in Coleraine: Amyan MacFadden, Kilcranny House 04870342112 or 048 703 21816.

If you would be interested in finding out more about the none profit making charity or would be interested in setting up a collection point, the number for the Belfast office is 048 90 747473. Alternatively if you want to go to the web site it’s www.toolsforsolidarity.org.uk

Environmental.

GAS COOKER CARE

Your natural gas cooker is probably the most frequently used appliance in your kitchen and therefore the most important. The time you spend caring for it correctly is well worthwhile.
Natural gas cookers have few moving parts and when kept clean will operate trouble-free. The trick to maintaining a gas cooker is to clean it often, before grease or burnt food particles begin to build up.

Ensure that spillage is cleaned immediately, as food spills that reach into the stove and clog the pilot light burners, or settle in the main burners and clog the gas outlet holes, will cause the stove to operate erratically.

Enamel areas
Wipe over while still warm with a damp, soapy cloth.
Dry with a soft cloth.
Always wipe spills immediately, so they do not dry or cook on, remembering to turn off the natural gas flame first.
Use a liquid cleaner to remove stubborn marks and avoid scouring pads or powder, which can scratch enamels.

Control panel
Wipe over and occasionally remove and wash knobs.
Wipe off any build up on the panel.

Burners
For day to day cleaning, wipe over the burners after each use.
Aluminium should be rubbed over with soapy steel wool pads.
Brass and stainless steel should be washed in hot, soapy water.
Always rinse and dry well.
Light burners to check correct replacement.

Pan supports or trivets
Wash in hot, soapy water.
If they are very greasy soak in a solution of one tablespoon of washing soda to 4.5 litres of very hot water.

Griller
Remove griller tray.
Wash tray in hot, soapy water, using a fine, soapy steel-wool pad on heavily soiled areas. Rinse and dry well.
Wipe out griller compartment with a warm, soapy cloth.
Clean racks as for oven shelves.

Oven
There are two types of finishes-enamel and catalytic (self-cleaning). The catalytic surface is specially treated so it requires care when using (see manufacturer's instructions).
It is easier to clean the oven while it is still warm, but not hot.
Remove shelves and other moveable parts and wash in a hot water detergent solution.
More stubborn spillage may require a commercial cleaner (see manufacturer's instructions).
Wipe over oven shelves, occasionally rubbing with a soapy fine steel-wool pad. Rinse.

Glass areas
Clean over with a hot, soapy cloth - remember most oven doors lift off for easy cleaning.
Avoid soaking glass doors as it may damage the insulation.

Household.

DRAIN CLEANER

Hello.
I suffer from blocked drains quite often. I have a septic tank so I don’t want to put any bleach or anything with caustic soda in it, as it would damage the bacteria that break down the waste. I did try to unscrew the pipes under the sink but ended up flooding the kitchen when I turned the tap on. Have you any suggestions for safe drain cleaning.

Yours desperately GF

A. Sometimes it’s better to leave the pipes under the sink to the professionals! You need to be careful and look at the contents of the containers when buying cleaning products. Some of them contain sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid which could be hazardous to your health if it was splashed on your skin or if the fumes were inhaled. If you have any doubts, here are some safer alternatives.

ALTERNATIVES
Regularly run boiling water down the drain, this will stop build up of waste. Try not to pour grease down the sink and pull out any objects before they go down the plughole, small objects like matchsticks and hair can block the pipes really quickly.

Make a foaming drain cleaner. Get 200g of baking soda, 100g of salt and 200g of vinegar. When the alkali (baking soda) meets the acid (vinegar) they bubble and push the abrasive salt through the pipes. All three products clean the drain. Finish off with pouring some boiling water down the pipe after about half an hour.

Use a drain strainer. I find these things a bit daft as I usually empty the contents that they collect into the plughole without thinking. If you do get used to them though they can be very effective in stopping objects slipping into the pipes.

Use a plunger. These are great for dislodging blockages. Be careful with them though if you use a chemical cleaner first as the liquid could splash back into your face. If your drains still stay blocked after all of the above then you might have to invest in a long rod to push down the pipes as there will probably be something rather yukkie blocking the flow. Good Luck!

Household.

TOP TIPS

FEEDING HOUSEPLANTS
An old salt I spoke to recently recommended these additions to your house plant soil for healthy plant growth. Feed house plants with melted snow (in season obviously!) It is rich in minerals. Or use water in which eggs have been boiled. Or use flat soda water. Or use the water in which fish has been frozen. I would recommend you do not use a combination of all of these ideas as you might get a strange chemical reaction!

FERNS
Feed ferns with leftover weak tea or bury a weak teabag in the soil beside the roots. The other idea that is said to be beneficial to plants is to feed them with a teaspoon of caster sugar or olive oil every three months.

Horticultural.