BALLPOINT PEN PROBLEMS

I have a very old digital camera and do a bit of happy snapping. These devices are notoriously heavy on batteries and I tend to carry around a few spare ones in case of emergencies. I put the batteries into my wallet for safekeeping and for a while there was no problem. A week ago, however, I jumped into the car and put my seat belt on. This pressed down on my wallet and somehow caused the batteries to short circuit with the coins I had in there. I was getting this very hot sensation on my leg. You wouldn’t think that small 1.5-volt batteries were dangerous but they had generated enough heat to melt my cash card. The coins in the wallet were too hot to handle as well. A cautionary tale, I wonder what would have happened if they weren’t spotted?


BALLPOINT PEN PROBLEMS

Ian

I bought a new car just three days ago. I was very careful to not let my eighteen month old child eat in there but unfortunately she got hold of a blue ballpoint pen and emptied all of the ink onto my dark grey upholstery. I have tried washing it off with washing liquid and Vanish to no avail. Can you Help? Desperate from Derry

Ballpoint inks, especially blue, consists of so many, various "ink recipes" that it is impossible to know what solvents, resins, and oils are in them. With patience and persistence, most of these inks are removable through experimenting with different solvents. Others are indelible, and your situation may be hopeless leaving permanent stains. However, the methods below will either remove or lighten these ink stains. I have tried solutions of vinegar and baking powder but they seem to be ineffective. I am sorry then that I have to resort to solvents.

Treat a thickly folded absorbent white cloth or towel with Hair Spray, dab the affected area with the cloth, and blot with a dry towel simultaneously. I don’t like this method myself, as I would be worried that the glue in the hairspray might stick the fabric together. Test on a small area first.

Treat a thickly folded absorbent white cloth or towel with Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol, dab the affected area with cloth, and blot with dry towel simultaneously.

Treat a thickly folded absorbent white cloth or towel with Nail Polish Remover or Acetone, dab the affected area with cloth, and blot with dry towel simultaneously

Treat a thickly folded absorbent white cloth or towel with Spirits of Turpentine, (not the substitute that you can buy) dab the affected area with cloth, and blot with dry towel simultaneously

If one solvent cleaner does not adequately solve the problem, move down to the next in the order these cleaners are given.

NEVER apply solvents directly onto surface. Put them onto the cloth first

Note: Always test an inconspicuous area for colourfastness, etc. before treating the exposed area. Also note that certain stains are permanent.

Household.

GREEN BOX TOURISM IN INISHOWEN

(Click on the title for a link to the Green Box blogsite)

Hello. I saw an advert for Green Box tourism recently. What is the green box? V.M. Carn

The Green Box is a new eco-tourism project, which is expected to attract thousands of "green tourists" to Ireland every year

The initiative hopes to cut the impact holidaymakers have on the environment. The Green Box initiative was started in Fermanagh and Leitrim with great success. Inishowen is the next place to benefit. The peninsula has been chosen because it has features that are crucial for the idea to work. Think about the natural features we have locally that could be a boon to our tourist industry. We are surrounded by water. The peninsula has well maintained forestry. We have vast expanses of green pasture and hillside that could be used for rambling, lots of fresh air and very little light pollution. These are all things that will attract environmentally aware tourists from all over the world.
Tourism providers such as B+B’s, hotels and hostels who participate will be graded on a star system. If you are a B+B for example, you would get stars for recycling your waste and composting your left over food. Other details will help with the vetting process too. It will help if your business has energy saving light bulbs and cotton sheets. The food you serve could be from local Co-ops that have been set up to provide organic alternatives to the menu. The participants will benefit by a supportive network of like-minded companies that will hopefully thrive in this fast growing market of “Eco Tourism”

Check out the website on http://greenbox.ie/

Further reading:

http://www.inishowenonline.com/saveinishowen.htm

Environmental.