Dear clean and Green.
I have recently invested in a hardwood floor. I have opted for a solid wood type as opposed to the veneer ones and have invested a lot of money in it. Could you give me some tips how to look after it as I would like it to look good for many years to come.
Thanks S. J.
REPLY-With a little care of your new investment you should get a lifetime of value. The initial investment in a good hardwood floor is daunting but you wont have to pull it up and change it after a few years like you do a carpet. Some people like to age the wood naturally and leave the floor to it’s own devices, this is all right but it is a good idea to take a few steps to keep it looking fresh.( If you are in any doubt about these tips, consult the company that fitted the floor.)
PROTECTING YOUR SOLID INVESTMENT
The wood will need to be protected from dirt, grit and sand as much as possible, which is easier said than done around here. These are the wood’s worst enemies as they act like sandpaper, causing scratches dents and dulling on the surface.
Water and other spills- Standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Wipe away spills as they happen.
Hard cleaners; Avoid oil soaps. These can build up and create problems when it’s time to put a coat of varnish on the floor. Use neutral pH cleaners made for wooden floors. (I’ll think up a recipe for you to use in a week or two)
Furniture; Lift the furniture to move it. Avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches.
Dents; Vacuum with a brush attachment and don’t use vacuums with beater bars, they could make marks in the grain.
Sun; Direct sun can discolour the hardwood floor. Close the curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect the floor from the strong summer rays.
REGULAR CARE
Sweep; Brushes with fine nylon ends trap the dust and grit effectively although the natural brush is as good if you get a very soft one.
Vacuum; Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment and don’t clean in a hurry with the wrong fitting, you will scratch the finish.
Cotton mop; Use a good cotton mop with a full head. Some mops are so thin that the metal attachment that holds the cotton string can scratch the floor.
Check with the manufacturer; You didn’t tell me what wood the floor is. There will be certain treatments for different types of wood. Check with the manufacturer to see if there are any specific things you should be doing to keep the investment in tip top condition.
Household.
Thursday, 5 April 2007
NETTLE KNICKERS
TAKING THE STING OUT OF NETTLES
We’ve mentioned the virtues of nettle soup quite a few times in this column. The iron content is supposed to set you up for the year if you have a big bowlful in spring. A student in England has found an alternative use for the gardens most unwelcome plant…. knickers.....
We’ve mentioned the virtues of nettle soup quite a few times in this column. The iron content is supposed to set you up for the year if you have a big bowlful in spring. A student in England has found an alternative use for the gardens most unwelcome plant…. knickers.....
The Department of the environment have given a grant of €743,000 to test out the nettle fibres to see how they stand up as clothing. Students in England have come up with this novel way of proving that the material is versatile.
As yet the conclusion is that clothes made from the plant are a bit itchy to wear but the students are finding plenty of other ways to exploit the versatility of the plant fibres. They are testing how strong the fabric is on cushion covers and curtains and they are also thinking of making hardwearing uniforms, which need to be tough and durable.
Nettles used as clothing and fabric isn’t a new idea by all means. Hundreds of years ago nettles and flax hemp were commonly used for clothing but their popularity dwindled when cotton became widely used in the 17th century. One reason for the renewed interest in this method of manufacturing is because of the growing fears of a worldwide shortage of cotton. Countries such as China and India are using more and more cotton in their products. Cotton tends to be difficult to grow and needs good quality land a warm climate and fertile soil.
Nettles used as clothing and fabric isn’t a new idea by all means. Hundreds of years ago nettles and flax hemp were commonly used for clothing but their popularity dwindled when cotton became widely used in the 17th century. One reason for the renewed interest in this method of manufacturing is because of the growing fears of a worldwide shortage of cotton. Countries such as China and India are using more and more cotton in their products. Cotton tends to be difficult to grow and needs good quality land a warm climate and fertile soil.
Land such as this is being exploited more and more for intensive farming food production. Nettles on the other hand will grow well in cool damp climates like ours.
There may come a time in the not too distant future where the fields of Ireland will be harvesting nettles to clothe the world...
TOP (AND NOT SO TOP) TIPS
We have been building up a selection of some rather strange suggestions for cleaning and handy tips. Most of them seem so unusual that the chances are you might never ever have to use them. We thought that they needed a mention though. Some of them probably haven’t stood the test of time though, such as putting your cucumber in a glass of water with a lump of charcoal in it. If the water is changed daily it will stay fresh for ages. Thank heavens fridges were invented!
SOME USEFUL IDEAS
There are some ideas that might be useful though, like the tip about a wobbly table leg (thank you E. from Illies). If your table legs wobble then get some wood glue and sawdust. Mix them together and put it on a piece of paper. Push this under the leg that wobbles and press down until it is firm. When the mixture has dried the table won’t need the old beer mat underneath the leg any more.
BATTERIES
If you find that your batteries are fading fast ant the shop is shut then try warming them up. This will help you get the last bit of energy out. (This idea reminds me of the story I once heard about the woman who took three-foot strides to save shoe leather! But thanks anyway Mr D. from Burt).
DRIPLESS DRIPS
Put a slightly damp cloth on a tray when you are serving your friends drinks. This stops the glasses from moving around and soaks up the spills.
SOME LESS THAN USEFUL IDEAS
Where do some people get their ideas? Some of these ideas are pretty wacky, even dangerous. I haven’t printed the one about the best way to siphon petrol from a car, as I don’t think that it is a very good idea Mr. B. from Carndonagh (I don’t want to be putting suggestions into people’s minds -especially when it’s your neighbours car)!
BOILING MILK
One tip was to put a teaspoon in a pan of milk to stop it boiling over. This idea does NOT work and it took me an hour to clean the cooker top! Neither does brushing around the top of the pan with glycerine Ms R. from Clonbeg.
FLEAS
Someone stopped me in the street the other day and said that applying paraffin, or paraffin and milk to a dog’s coat got will get rid of fleas. This might be the case, but it will probably get rid of the dog too! Paraffin is poisonous to animals and should never be used on them.
BUTTER
Here’s one you will never do. It was said that if you wanted to refresh rancid butter then add sweet milk, this will make the butter sweet again…. it doesn’t, anyway, what is rancid butter? All I can say to that one Shaun from Malin is put your butter in the fridge!
AN APPLE AS A TOOTHBRUSH?
We had a suggestion that eating an apple last thing at night before bedtime cleans the teeth. We hate to contradict but it does exactly the opposite. It leaves the teeth bathing in acid all night, which eats into the enamel of the teeth. It might keep the doctor away but it will mean more work for the dentists.
WHISKEY
It has been said that the darker the whiskey, the stronger it is. After much experimenting…hic…I can tell you it isn’t true. The darker the colour just means that more caramel has been added to colour the drink.
That’s about all from the world of useless ideas. There are a lot of old ideas floating around that can be dangerous or just plain daft. If you have any more of them please let me know!
Household.
SOME USEFUL IDEAS
There are some ideas that might be useful though, like the tip about a wobbly table leg (thank you E. from Illies). If your table legs wobble then get some wood glue and sawdust. Mix them together and put it on a piece of paper. Push this under the leg that wobbles and press down until it is firm. When the mixture has dried the table won’t need the old beer mat underneath the leg any more.
BATTERIES
If you find that your batteries are fading fast ant the shop is shut then try warming them up. This will help you get the last bit of energy out. (This idea reminds me of the story I once heard about the woman who took three-foot strides to save shoe leather! But thanks anyway Mr D. from Burt).
DRIPLESS DRIPS
Put a slightly damp cloth on a tray when you are serving your friends drinks. This stops the glasses from moving around and soaks up the spills.
SOME LESS THAN USEFUL IDEAS
Where do some people get their ideas? Some of these ideas are pretty wacky, even dangerous. I haven’t printed the one about the best way to siphon petrol from a car, as I don’t think that it is a very good idea Mr. B. from Carndonagh (I don’t want to be putting suggestions into people’s minds -especially when it’s your neighbours car)!
BOILING MILK
One tip was to put a teaspoon in a pan of milk to stop it boiling over. This idea does NOT work and it took me an hour to clean the cooker top! Neither does brushing around the top of the pan with glycerine Ms R. from Clonbeg.
FLEAS
Someone stopped me in the street the other day and said that applying paraffin, or paraffin and milk to a dog’s coat got will get rid of fleas. This might be the case, but it will probably get rid of the dog too! Paraffin is poisonous to animals and should never be used on them.
BUTTER
Here’s one you will never do. It was said that if you wanted to refresh rancid butter then add sweet milk, this will make the butter sweet again…. it doesn’t, anyway, what is rancid butter? All I can say to that one Shaun from Malin is put your butter in the fridge!
AN APPLE AS A TOOTHBRUSH?
We had a suggestion that eating an apple last thing at night before bedtime cleans the teeth. We hate to contradict but it does exactly the opposite. It leaves the teeth bathing in acid all night, which eats into the enamel of the teeth. It might keep the doctor away but it will mean more work for the dentists.
WHISKEY
It has been said that the darker the whiskey, the stronger it is. After much experimenting…hic…I can tell you it isn’t true. The darker the colour just means that more caramel has been added to colour the drink.
That’s about all from the world of useless ideas. There are a lot of old ideas floating around that can be dangerous or just plain daft. If you have any more of them please let me know!
Household.
IONISERS FOR THE HOME
Ian. I was told of a device called an Ioniser that can be used in the home. What are they and what benefits do they bring? Regards B. L. By e-mail.
Reply. An Ioniser, or a negative ion generator, is a device that emits a stream of negative ions into the air. The result is a cleaner fresher air due to the electrostatic settling of dust and the supposedly invigorating effect of breathing negative ions. These ions are apparently found in abundance in the vicinity of waterfalls and mountain tops. In addition an ioniser can reduce airborne odours. I remember my cigarette-smoking parents had one of these machines in the 70’s and over the years it collected vast quantities of cigarette residue and dust from the air, so they definitely attract some things. Eventually there was a metre square of the wall behind the machine a nicotine yellow colour!
The principle of ion generation is fiendishly simple, (if you know anything about electrical charges). The charge on an object is greatest at the sharpest point, so if a high negative voltage is applied to a sharp needle then the charge at the tip is so high that ions are literally thrown off and then repelled by the negative field on the needle. This results in a physical draught and a slight hissing noise. In a very dark room you will also see a faint purple corona glow on the needle tips. The amount of electricity they use is very small. Most technical wisdom suggests that while negative ions make you feel good, positive ions can cause headaches and nausea.
Electrical appliances pump positive ions into the atmosphere and these positive ions, are said not to be good for your health Think about your home and how many electrical appliances are working right now - TV, computer, stereo, fridge, toaster. If you have an ioniser next to your electrical equipment it is said that the negative effects are greatly reduced.
Household,environmental.
Reply. An Ioniser, or a negative ion generator, is a device that emits a stream of negative ions into the air. The result is a cleaner fresher air due to the electrostatic settling of dust and the supposedly invigorating effect of breathing negative ions. These ions are apparently found in abundance in the vicinity of waterfalls and mountain tops. In addition an ioniser can reduce airborne odours. I remember my cigarette-smoking parents had one of these machines in the 70’s and over the years it collected vast quantities of cigarette residue and dust from the air, so they definitely attract some things. Eventually there was a metre square of the wall behind the machine a nicotine yellow colour!
The principle of ion generation is fiendishly simple, (if you know anything about electrical charges). The charge on an object is greatest at the sharpest point, so if a high negative voltage is applied to a sharp needle then the charge at the tip is so high that ions are literally thrown off and then repelled by the negative field on the needle. This results in a physical draught and a slight hissing noise. In a very dark room you will also see a faint purple corona glow on the needle tips. The amount of electricity they use is very small. Most technical wisdom suggests that while negative ions make you feel good, positive ions can cause headaches and nausea.
Electrical appliances pump positive ions into the atmosphere and these positive ions, are said not to be good for your health Think about your home and how many electrical appliances are working right now - TV, computer, stereo, fridge, toaster. If you have an ioniser next to your electrical equipment it is said that the negative effects are greatly reduced.
Household,environmental.
WOOD CARE IN THE HOME
Ian. I have some solid wooden furniture in my home that I would like to clean. Have you a recipe for a natural alternative to the chemical products you see in the shops. Thanks N L. Dublin
Reply.
Caring for wood is a very rewarding pastime. Looking after the wooden surface in between cleans is as important as well. Don’t put hot or wet things on the wood and protect from knocks and sharp points such as ballpoint pens. The wood should be able to stand up to most other things. Unvarnished wood can be cleaned and polished with a dab of vinegar on a slightly damp cloth. A little light olive oil on a cloth will also polish and protect the wood. However, if you are feeling ambitious, here are a few recipes.
Idea number 1- polish
Spray bottle
Lemon oil
White vinegar
Cloth nappy or similar
Fill the spray bottle with 1/2 lemon oil and 1/2 white vinegar.
Shake the bottle and spray mixture on furniture, rubbing with soft cloth.
Idea number 2-polish
Fill the bottle with two thirds oil (olive and walnut are good choices). Top up the bottle with white vinegar then add 20-30 drops of essential oil (Lemon or bergamot for example). Shake before use and add sparingly onto a soft cloth.
Idea number 3 – wax
This mixture can be used occasionally to polish and protect the wood.
2tablesppons full of beeswax
3 tablespoons full of oil
1 tablespoon full of white vinegar
Grate the beeswax into a bowl or glass-measuring cup. Add the oil and vinegar and put the bowl into a shallow pan of boiling water. Stir until melted and leave to cool a bit. While the liquid is still liquid, pour into a small jar. Apply sparingly and allow to dry before buffing with a clean cloth.
Test all of the mixes on a small area first!
Household.
CONIFER PLANTING
Ian
I have an acre of land that I would like to plant up with trees. Should I plant conifers like the forestry commission do for a bit of shelter? Thanks L E by e-mail
Reply
You could just plant the area with conifers but it wouldn’t do much to help the ecology of the area. The forestry commission are coming under a bit of criticism at the moment because of the lack of diversity of trees being planted in Ireland. One claim is that the use of incorrect trees in the countryside makes the forestry commission one of the silent polluters of waterways and land. The trees planted in dense swards across the landscape are said to be acidifying waterways, killing soil and stunting biodiversity. Forestry has increased over the last few decades and this should be a good thing. Unfortunately it has not been a return to oak and deciduous forests. Most planting is Sitka spruce or pine. These are ideal for Christmas trees or for making cheap furniture as they grow quickly and get a faster financial return for the investor. The Environmental Protection Agency claim that Coillte use fertilisers that can leech through the ground, which pollutes rivers and damages the soil. The North Western Fisheries Board were very concerned about the pollution of its waterways. So much so that they wrote to the Forestry Commission to complain about their use of sprays when planting the trees. A study carried out found that there could have been no other source of contamination in the recorded areas. Even without spraying the decomposing conifers cause acidification of the ground. Another study in 2003 by Professor Ted Farrel of UCD, found that tree harvesting of conifers released huge amounts of phosphates that pollute groundwater. The densely planted trees also kill off plants and therefore the wildlife suffers. At present there are 334,432 hectares of conifers here in Ireland compared to just 17,235 hectares of Irish broadleaf trees. So to answer your question, by all means plant a few conifers for evergreen shelter, but mix them into a varied planting scheme of broad leaved trees to create a varied microclimate for a diverse range of flora and fauna. You never know the Forestry Commission might realise that this is the way to go for a long-term investment of our countryside.
Environmental.
PAPAYA
A PAPAYA A DAY
A neighbour of ours spends a lot of time abroad. I was chatting to her recently and we got onto the subject of fruit. One fruit that she tries to eat regularly is the papaya. They are available here but in my experience we have to travel to the large multinational supermarkets in Derry for a supply. My neighbour reckons that the fruit works wonders on the body and has been known to prevent cancer and even to repair the damaged cells. Papaya has a soft, delicate flavour and when eaten regularly will ensure a good supply of vitamin A, C and beta-carotene. Experts have claimed rejuvenating properties for papaya, especially for the control of premature ageing. The fruit is used in meat tenderising products and the same chemicals also aid the digestion in our bodies. Poor digestion leaves the body without the correct nutrients. Those who find it almost impossible to digest anything frequently find that papaya used regularly, marks the turning point in the climb back to vitality and good health. The unripe fruit is a rich source of papain, which is vegetable pepsin and is capable of digesting protein in acid, alkaline or neutral medium. Papain also exhibits pain-relieving properties. The fruit is also said to help external wounds heal better. Papaya contains arginine, which is known to be essential for male fertility and also carpain, in the seeds (which taste like nasturtiums as a matter of interest), this is an enzyme thought to be good for the heart. Fibrin also occurs and this substance is not commonly found in the plant kingdom; in people it forms part of the blood clotting process. After treatment with antibiotics the use of papaya juice will quickly assist the restoration of the normal bacteria in the gut which will have been destroyed by the treatment. Although the papaya is a wonderful fruit, it is not recommended for women who are pregnant. You can pick up the fruit for about one pound sterling each, which seems expensive but you could make one last a day or two by leaving it in the fridge after cutting a bit off for a snack. Failing the fresh supply you could get the tablet form from a health shop.
A neighbour of ours spends a lot of time abroad. I was chatting to her recently and we got onto the subject of fruit. One fruit that she tries to eat regularly is the papaya. They are available here but in my experience we have to travel to the large multinational supermarkets in Derry for a supply. My neighbour reckons that the fruit works wonders on the body and has been known to prevent cancer and even to repair the damaged cells. Papaya has a soft, delicate flavour and when eaten regularly will ensure a good supply of vitamin A, C and beta-carotene. Experts have claimed rejuvenating properties for papaya, especially for the control of premature ageing. The fruit is used in meat tenderising products and the same chemicals also aid the digestion in our bodies. Poor digestion leaves the body without the correct nutrients. Those who find it almost impossible to digest anything frequently find that papaya used regularly, marks the turning point in the climb back to vitality and good health. The unripe fruit is a rich source of papain, which is vegetable pepsin and is capable of digesting protein in acid, alkaline or neutral medium. Papain also exhibits pain-relieving properties. The fruit is also said to help external wounds heal better. Papaya contains arginine, which is known to be essential for male fertility and also carpain, in the seeds (which taste like nasturtiums as a matter of interest), this is an enzyme thought to be good for the heart. Fibrin also occurs and this substance is not commonly found in the plant kingdom; in people it forms part of the blood clotting process. After treatment with antibiotics the use of papaya juice will quickly assist the restoration of the normal bacteria in the gut which will have been destroyed by the treatment. Although the papaya is a wonderful fruit, it is not recommended for women who are pregnant. You can pick up the fruit for about one pound sterling each, which seems expensive but you could make one last a day or two by leaving it in the fridge after cutting a bit off for a snack. Failing the fresh supply you could get the tablet form from a health shop.
environmental,household,horticutural.
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