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WHITENING & STAIN REMOVER SOAK
so firmly embedded into the fibers that it stays. In this instance, the item of clothing either gets dyed darker or sent to the scrap bin.
You will require two lidded containers that hold 5 gallons each.
Combine the Following:
>2 cups borax
>2 cups washing soda
>1 cup Cascade Complete All-in-1 Gel
>1 cup hydrogen peroxide
>2 cups vinegar
>1 to 2 gallons of HOT water
Slowly pour the HOT water into your blended ingredients while stirring the mixture. The powder will makes hard clumps if not well stirred. Should this occur, these can be smashed with a wooden spoon against the side of the bucket. Put the stained fabric right into a five gallon bucket. If I've a large amount of items, I sometimes use 2 buckets, one for whites and another for colors. Pour the liquid onto the fabric in the bucket. If using two buckets, equally divide the formula between the buckets. Add more hot water so the fabrics are immersed. Cover the bucket and allow it to soak overnight.
After soaking for seven hours (or until morning), pour the contents of the bucket into your washer (or wash tub) and run the garments through a rinse and spin cycle. Then, wash the clothes just like you would typically. I've had good success with soiled socks, linens and dingy undershirts. If you shop garage and yard sales, this is a good solution to try and restore fabrics to daily use.
This is a formulation that's been improved over time for me. Feel free to adjust it to suit your own needs.
MAKING BEDS, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
Disclaimer:I admit that my beds are not always made neatly. I further admit that there is more than one way to make a bed. What follows is the result of research and listening to people who make beds for a living and take care of patients for a living, not my own personal bias.
There's more to making a bed than just having something that looks nice. Standard nursing care has long recognized the importance in having wrinkle-free, smooth bedding to aid in the recuperative sleep of patients and as a preventative against bed sores. In cancer patients, sleep disorders are common. Along with lowering the noise level and dimming the lights, making sure that the bedding is dry and wrinkle-free is part of creating an environment where the patient can get the rest needed to be able to regain health.
Learning how to make a bed properly, even luxuriously, will not only prove useful if you are hosting guests, you will also find it helpful if you are caring for a sick loved one. Most importantly, you will find that when there isn't time to do any of the other things you might like to do for self-care. This is ONE thing you CAN do that won't cost you anything and will help you get the rest you need . . . . PLUS it should impress your husband. Who says you have to stay at a fancy hotel before you can enjoy the luxury of a finely made bed?
Before you make the bed
One way to make this chore easier is by folding your bedding in half lengthwise after laundering -- this means matching the sides and corners and smoothing out all of the wrinkles. This will create a crease in the center of your sheet that will serve as a guide when you are trying to center sheets on your mattress. This is a major help when making a large bed.
Hospital Corners, a solid foundation
The most common complaint about hospital corners is that this method of securing sheets does not allow for movement. However, the bedding can be loosened to accommodate the comfort level of the person using the bed when he or she gets into the bed. Having bedding in place keeps the legs from becoming entangled in the sheets and restricting movement during sleep.
In addition to contributing to a good night's sleep, hospital corners can save you money. Knowing how to fold hospital (or mitered) corners means that you can purchase flat sheets or make your own without being bothered with elastic binding. Also, this tight pleat will anchor your bedding without fraying the edges like some other methods.
Making hospital corners is a skill that takes time and patience to learn. Knowing how to make a bed tightly will ensure that there are no wrinkles when it's time for bed. I've watched lots of footage on how to make a bed.
Best Video for Hospital Corners
It should come as no surprise that none of them come close to the precise detail as one made by Sgt. Shane Medders. I highly recommend that you follow this link to see his video.
http://video.about.com/usmilitary/How-to-Make-Military-Corners.htm
The runner-up for instructional videos is an instructional video of a man demonstrating to nursing students the proper way to make a bed. He credits the U.S. Navy with his training in bed making.
This site has good photos with written instructions to show the process:
http://www.organization-makes-sense.com/how_to_make_a_bed.html
Once the Sheet is on . . . Then What?
This depends upon your resources and your needs. There are two separate categories for this. The first category is for regular household use.
REGULAR HOUSEHOLD USE
What follows is the order that bedding is placed onto the mattress. This list is a loose consensus of several sites.
1. A foundational sheet is placed over a mattress which has already been covered with a mattress protector. This foundation sheet can be fitted or flat.
2. A second sheet is placed over the foundational sheet -- Optional
3. A flat sheet -- the first top sheet
4. A thin blanket. Optional
5. Another flat sheet. Only necessary if you've added the thin blanket
6. A bedspread or comforter
7. Any additional quilts or blankets folded at the foot of the bed. Optional
Numbers 1 through 5 are anchored with hospital corners.
Numbers 1 and 2 are tucked on the sides as well as the ends.
Numbers 3 through 5 are tucked 3 quarters of the way up the sides of the bed and turned down for ease of access.
CHILDREN'S BEDDING -- CARE OF BEDRIDDEN PATIENTS
For this bed, you will need:
1. rubber sheet/pad
2. Bottom Sheet
3. Draw sheet/pad (for bedridden patients)
4. Top sheet
5. Pillow w/ pillow case
6. Blanket (use to cover bedridden patients while changing the linen)
7. Hamper (this is for your convenience when changing soiled linen)
When making a bed for bedridden patients or children that have difficulty with bed wetting, a waterproof mattress protector is a tremendous help. On top of this, you can then place another waterproof pad. Other items can be used in place of waterproof pads such as flattened garbage bags or even disposable plastic or vinyl table covers.
Helpful Hint:
You can save a little time when initially making the bed to make 3 or so layers of alternating plastic and bottom sheets. This way, when you must change the bedding, you can remove the topmost layer from the bed and have the lower layer already in place, ready to go.
Why a draw sheet?
Bedridden patients will require a draw sheet. A bedridden patient will need to be repositioned every few hours to prevent bedsores. A simple tool, draw sheets protect both the caregiver and the patient from injury. A draw sheet enables the caregiver to move the patient either from one side to another in the bed, or to reposition the patient higher or lower in the bed. To make a simple draw sheet, take a top sheet and fold it in half, matching the top and bottom edges. Position this on top of the bottom sheet between the chest level and knee level of the patient. Tuck the overhang underneath the mattress, smoothing out any wrinkles. A draw sheet also helps you turn the patient to one side when making the bed.
Making An Occupied Bed
Pull up the soiled bottom sheet and plastic liner and tuck it next to the patient's back in the center of the bed. Place the clean linen onto the stripped half of the bed and tuck the clean sheets onto that half. Turn the patient over the top of the soiled linen onto the opposite side and onto the newly made side of the bed. Remove the soiled linen and flatten out the clean linen, making the other side of the bed.
Click the video below for an example of how to make an occupied bed.
STARCH'S MANY USES & HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN
Cornstarch can be found in nearly every local grocery store. Powdered starch is a staple in well-stocked pantries. When powdered starch is heated, Dextrin is formed. Dextrin is a starch/sugar gum that when added to water forms a sticky gum used as a food thickener. Per dry measure, powdered starch is a more effective thickener than flour. Besides a thickener for stocks and gravies, powdered starch has many additional uses. Here is a partial list.
KITCHEN USES
Prevent pastry dough from sticking to the cutting board and rolling pin -
Sprinkle the cutting board and rolling pin with tasteless powdered Corn Starch before rolling out the dough.
Thicken gravy -
Corn starch has twice the thickening power of flour. When a gravy, sauce, soup, or stew recipe calls for flour, use half as much corn starch to thicken. One tablespoon of corn starch equals two tablespoons flour.
LAUNDRY(image courtesy of www.retroclipart.com/samples.html)
Make spray starch for clothing -
Mix one tablespoon powdered Corn Starch and three tablespoons cold water. Stir to dissolve the corn starch completely. Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil on the stove. After the water boils, pour the cornstarch mixture into the boiling water and stir for a minute or so. The liquid will be clear or slightly cloudy. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Fill a spray bottle and use as you would any starch. Be sure to shake vigorously before each use. Throw away after 3 to 4 days.
Remove grease or oil stains from smooth fabric -
Apply powdered Corn Starch to the spot, wait twelve hours, brush off, then launder as usual.
Clean stuffed animals -
Rub powdered Corn Starch into the toy, let stand for five minutes, then brush off.
HOUSEHOLD CLEANING
Clean a carpet -
Sprinkle powdered Corn Starch on the carpet, wait thirty minutes, then vacuum clean.
Clean Windows -
Use a handful of cornstarch in a bucket of lukewarm water. Add about 1/4 - 1/2 cup vinegar, depending on the size of the bucket. Mix. Use a wash cloth to wash window; then use a hand towel to dry the window and a final towel to get it all dry.
Clean blood stains -
Immediately cover the spot with a paste of powdered Corn Starch and cold water. Rub gently, place the object in the sun until dry to draw the blood into the corn starch, then brush off. Repeat if necessary.
Prevent or kill mildew in damp books -
Sprinkle powdered Corn Starch throughout the book to absorb the moisture from damp pages, wait several hours, then brush clean. If the pages are mildewed, brush the corn starch off outdoors to keep mildew spores out of the house.
Absorb excess polish from furniture -
After polishing furniture, sprinkle on a little powdered Corn Starch and rub wood with a soft cloth.
Clean silver -
Make a paste with powdered Corn Starch and water. Apply with a damp cloth, let dry, then rub off with cheesecloth.
CRAFTS
Make finger paints -
Mix one-quarter cup powdered Corn Starch with two cups cold water, boil until thick, pour into small containers, and color with natural food coloring.
Make white clown makeup -
Mix two tablespoons powdered Corn Starch with one tablespoon solid shortening. Too add color, add McCormick or Schilling Food Coloring.
a good child safe paste can be mixed in moments by blending together 3 teaspoons of cornstarch with 4 spoons of cold water. If your little one licks their fingers while gluing together their art project there is no case for alarm, its perfectly edible.
PERSONAL CARE
Cure athlete's foot -
Sprinkle powdered Corn Starch on your feet and in your shoes to absorb moisture and reduce friction.
Relieve sunburn pain -
Add enough water to powdered Corn Starch to make a paste, and apply directly to the burn.
Substitute for baby powder and talcum powder -
Apply powdered Corn Starch sparingly when diapering a baby. Corn starch is actually more absorbent than talcum powder, but apply lightly since it does cake more readily.
Help rubber gloves slip on easily -
Sprinkle powdered Corn Starch inside the gloves.
Soothe skin irritations -
Apply a paste made of equal parts powdered Corn Starch, zinc oxide, and castor oil.
Ant-Itch paste -
Mix a paste of cornstarch and water and apply to poison ivy or insect bites to relive itching. Allow to dry on skin and rinse with cool water after itching stops. Re-apply as often as needed.
Dry Shampoo -
Unable to shampoo your hair for any reason? Simply rub dry cornstarch into your hair and scalp let set a few minutes the brush out. The cornstarch will absorb dirt and oils, even that stale cigarette odor if you find yourself surrounded by smokers! (This also makes a great dry shampoo for pets, simply rub into their fur and brush!)
INSECTS
Kill cockroaches -
Mix equal parts powdered Corn Starch and plaster of Paris. Sprinkle the mixture in cracks and crevices. Cockroaches will eat the mixture and "petrify."
AUTO & MISCELLANEOUS
Shine your car -
When buffing your car, sprinkle a tablespoon of powdered Corn Starch on the wipe rag to remove excess polish easily.
Detangle knots -
Sprinkle a stubborn knot with a little powdered Corn Starch.
Clean a deck of cards -
Place the deck of cards into a paper bag, adding four tablespoons powdered Corn Starch, and shake briskly. Remove the cards from the bag and wipe clean.
But what if you don't have access to cornstarch?
If you have access to potatoes, you can make your own starch. First, it is useful to know how to store potatoes to preserve their starch content.
Potato Storage
Freezing potatoes or storing them in the refrigerator will cause some of the potato starch to be converted to sugar and reduce the starch content. If potatoes that were previously frozen are used to make starch, you will find that the high sugar content will likely caramelize when heated. If used in a laundry application on white cloth, you may find that some staining results as the caramelized sugar will stain the garment. You will find that refrigerated potatoes darken when cooked due to the increased sugar content.
www.angelfire.com/mo/creativeclutter/potato.html
One way to determine the starch content of a potato is to rub two cut surfaces of a potato together. If a foam develops, it indicates a high starch content, and usually the two cut surfaces cling together. If the potato has a low starch content, the cut surface will be clean and moist and the two cut surfaces do not bond at all.
HOW TO MAKE POTATO STARCH
You will need:
* 1 washed potato, peeled and diced or grated
* 1 cup water
* blender OR mortar and pestle
* Coffee filter OR clean cloth OR fine sieve
Place water and potato into the blender and turn it on high for 1 to 2 minutes. If using a mortar and pestle, add both water and potato pieces to the mortar and process until well incorporated. Place the resulting mush into the coffee filter (or cheese cloth or clean cotton cloth) and reserve the cloudy liquid. You can filter the water through another clean cloth if you like. Allow this to set for a while. Once some sediment has settled at the bottom, carefully pour the liquid off into a storage container, allowing the sediment to remain in the bottom of the original container. This can be done more than once, if you prefer. The filtered, cloudy water is liquid starch.
Drying the mixture is not completely necessary, but if you plan on storing it for a while, spread it out on wax paper in a sunny area for it to dry. Or you can place it on parchment paper on a tray in a very low heat oven -- in most cases leaving the light on with the door ajar will be adequate -- overnight and until the film has dried to a powder.
UPDATE ON MAKING YOUR OWN PLASTIC:
Whether or not you are willing to tackle the project of making your own bioplastic, some businesses have decided that it is a marketable idea.
MLB gives green light to recycling efforts (3/12/2008)
[Major League Ballpark beverages]may be served in a container with the look and feel of a plastic cup but instead made of biodegradable corn starch.
Using corn starch cups, increasing recycling and installing solar panels and possibly wind turbines at ballparks are among the measures teams will consider as part of a major league-wide effort to reduce baseball's carbon footprint.
The photo to the right appears on the Cleveland Indians web site with the following caption: Compostable corn starch based vended beer and Pepsi cups. (http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/ballpark/green.jsp)
FIND A RETAILER
Amazingly, you can type the words "cornstarch cups" into your internet search engine and find a list of retailers that sell compostable cups, bowls, plates, lids, knives, forks and spoons. Some sites call them 'corn cups.' However, like all mass produced food items, you'll have to watch the ingredient list. Likely there are several chemical additives to ensure uniformity of the product. Shop carefully if you decide to purchase.
FOR MORE READING
Folding Shirts & Socks
Folding l-AWWWW-ndry!
Does it tempt you to sigh?
Putting away the clean laundry may not be a favorite task. This chore can be time consuming, especially in large families. Here are a few tips and tricks that may lighten your load:
- Try not to let things pile up. It's just easier to find 30 minutes in a day to devote to folding and putting away a basket or two of laundry than it is to face a mountain once a week. The dread of tackling it all at once is daunting (and draining).
- Realize that you are saving yourself some time in the long run. Neatly sorted drawers allow you to quickly locate items and do a quick inventory of the clothing needs of your family. Additionally, clothing fits into the drawers more easily and saves you the trouble of having to repair furniture that has been overstuffed with items squashed and crammed into the space. Knowing how to fold and put away items will also save you some time later as these will need little or no ironing.
- Enlist helpers. Small children just LOVE to be given a little basket all their own to 'help' mama. Give your toddlers a five or six small items to 'fold.' I loved watching mine do this when they were younger. They would try to snap the wrinkles from a washrag or dish towel, then squish it into a ball (their version of folding) and toss it back into their little basket. It kept them busy and bought me some uninterrupted time. They were working with mama and that meant the work was important. Sure, I often ended up having to re-wash a few things that got soiled from being rubbed by dirty hands (or on a dirty floor), but the fellowship made it well worth the price. . . And it kept them out of my larger basket. *wink*
- Play fun music or sing your favorite song while folding laundry. Try keeping up with the beat of the songs. This helps things move more quickly.
- Focus on the simple pleasures rather than the drudgery. The smell of clean laundry IS pleasant. Enjoy that scent and think about the loved one that wore the garment. This may be a good time to pray for that person.
- Greet this time as a well-earned break. Honestly, there isn't much brain-work to folding laundry. This is free time with a purpose. Daydream a little. Train your brain to think about the joys in life. Mama's get so little uninterrupted free time. Folding the laundry provides you with a legitimate reason to sit and rest a while. You might begin to dread finishing . . . It could happen. *smile*
The bits of clothing that have been a great challenge to me have been shirts and socks. I saw a video once where the punishment for evildoers was to sort through a bottomless pile of mismatched clean socks! I COMPLETELY understood that reasoning. *snicker*
Believe it or not, there IS a way to fold socks so that they will fit neatly into that tiny sock drawer, AND you shouldn't have to unfold them to see which socks are which. If you've ever had to find a pair of socks at the last minute, you'll really appreciate having them sorted, folded and ready. Here's a video I found about ONE way to fold socks (although it isn't the ONLY way):
Shirts are also a laundry-folding challenge. Whether you are dealing with stretched-out t-shirts or buttoned shirts, folding them without wrinkles can be difficult . . . That is, UNTIL NOW.
I found this video on how to fold shirts in just seconds. You literally pick up the shirt at two points and lay it back down folded. Your kids will think you are magic and want to try it themselves (really, you SHOULD let them *wink*). Sound impossible? Click on the video below to see how it's done:
