Heather Solos's Blog, page 17

Stocking the Emergency Pantry

This post was written in July of 2010. Ten years have passed and it’s more relevant than ever. I want to emphasize that I am not saying hoard all of the toilet paper. As you make your trips to the grocery store just set a little aside each time. If this gets worse, you will be glad you did.

I hope you are well.

I hope you are staying home as much as possible. We will get through this.

If you have questions, please send them to helpme@home-ec101.com.

-Heather

Dear Home Ec 101,

I’m a big proponent of buying local, is there a way to do this and still create a pantry?

Signed,

Sunny Days, Sweeping the Clouds Away

Heather says:

Let’s look at it this way. Prioritize food in this manner, according to budget and time. Fresh and local is optimal1, organic, frozen, processed, and finally any food is better than no food. Building a pantry with local ingredients would be quite time consuming.

Why Should You Build a Food Supply?

If I had all the time in the world, a budget that suited my whims, and the assurance that nothing bad would ever happen to my family, then yes, we would eat fresh and local every day. This is not my reality and with very few exceptions, I don’t believe it to be yours, either. I don’t care what the talking heads say, disasters – whether on a personal or larger scale – don’t play politics. Hurricanes, tornadoes, disease, zombie apocalypse, and unemployment happen. Ok, maybe not the zombie apocalypse, but having a pantry with a bare minimum of two weeks food supply can significantly reduce the impact of these events. Even the zombies should eventually starve.

Even those of you with a healthy emergency fund should have a decent emergency food pantry. Why join the hordes of people running out for supplies just before a snowstorm or hurricane hits if you don’t have to? If there is an outbreak of influenza or civil unrest, sometimes it’s just better to stay home. If people are using winning a sports event to riot and cause mayhem, it’s an indication that tension may be running pretty high. I’m not trying to be a fear monger. A lot of people are stressed out, especially young people who are having a hard time finding jobs. The jobs that normally keep teens and young adults out of trouble? They are being taken by people who must feed their families.

Most of us have it relatively easy, if we’re sitting at computer and discussing how to build a pantry, there’s a fair chance we’re the lucky ones. Yes, even those of us worried about the mortgage and utility bills.

Remember this when saying the economy is great just by looking at the number of people on Twitter talking about iPhones and iPads, it’s not a true representation of everyone, it only represents those who have easy access to technology. We can become pretty insulated if we don’t pull back and look at the broader picture.  A lot of people are tired of acting poor and are starting to rebel against the frugal mindset and go back to a lifestyle of debt.

If you don’t have ready cash, don’t freak out. A pantry can be built slowly over time, it doesn’t have to be done in one giant run to Sam’s or Costco. Set aside a portion of each week’s food budget to purchase shelf stable foods. When planning the purchases make sure the foods are ones that will be eaten and have a decent nutritional punch. In a serious emergency it’s better to have plenty of peanut butter, beans,  or tuna than a case of ramen noodles.  Why? Empty calories cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, which leave most people cranky, headachy2, and lethargic.

How to rotate your emergency food.

After a minimum supply has been built up, it’s time to start rotating the food into your normal diet just often enough to prevent food from expiring. This doesn’t mean waiting until every tuna can is about to expire and having tuna noodle casserole, stuffed tuna tomatoes, and tuna surprise every night for a week. This just means every couple of months having a tuna dish and replacing what is eaten.

Creative Food Storage Solutions

If you don’t have a lot of pantry or kitchen storage, you may need to get creative. Linen closets make great storage for canned and boxed food, consider adding shelves to a coat closet, or putting beds on risers and storing the food in drawers or boxes. If you have to get creative with your emergency pantry storage, it’s best to keep an inventory of everything, this way food doesn’t accidentally expire. Just remember to keep flour and grains in appropriate air tight containers to prevent inviting moochers (mice, bugs etc). For grains like rice and oats, I like to use 5 gallon frosting buckets from the bakery at the grocery store. Usually they are happy to get rid of them and all it takes is asking nicely and washing them out when I get home.

Lastly, don’t forget to keep your prescriptions as part of your emergency pantry. Ask your doctor and insurance company – if you have one – about the best way to ensure that if there is an emergency, you won’t have to do without.

Stocking an emergency pantry isn’t about living your life in fear; it’s an edible insurance plan, without all the red tape.

Do you keep an emergency pantry?

1Local produce keeps money in the local economy. Just because a food isn’t certified organic doesn’t mean it’s not grown in congruence with organic standards. The organic certification process is difficult for small farmers to achieve regardless of their actual farming practices.


2Remember 28 days later?

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Menu Monday Post Hurricane Dorian

It has been a very long week at our house. Hurricane Dorian and a newborn* worked together to ensure we are all very short on sleep and patience. While I’m glad that our state government orders evacuations in plenty of time, the wait can get very stressful. There’s only so many times you can refresh the NHC’s page for updates and when you’re already up every two hours feeding a newborn it’s impossible, in my case anyhow, to not visit the page and wait for the latest news.

So, we’re a little on edge around here. I’m ready for the big kids to go back to school (today, thank goodness) and for our toddler to settle back into her routine. (Big shout out to Busy Toddler for the ideas that are keeping me sane).

Part of our normal is having a meal plan. If you are new to this site, I try to publish a weekly menu of what we’re having and I have a menu planning printable so you can easily work on your own. If you don’t know how to meal plan, here’s our how-to.

I’m not quite back up to speed yet and we’re just getting into the hectic part of football season, so for now, we’re sticking to simpler meal ideas. If they don’t look simple, you can bet I’m pulling it out of the freezer.

Monday – Chicken bog, cornbread, okraTuesday – Sandwiches and fresh fruit / veg -between scouts and football, we’re running in different directionsWednesday – Philly Skillet, Green BeansThursday – Chili Friday – Instant Pot Lentil Curry, RiceSaturday – Nachos made with the leftover chili, plus lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, cheese etcSunday – Tuna Cakes, Cheese Grits, Sauteed Kale

*Isabel (Izzy) Margaret arrived on August 16 at 6:07 pm. She created a tie between the boys and girls in our household that will not be broken. We’re happy with our Brady bunch.

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CommentsThank you. We're thrilled, when we're not exhausted

What Causes Spots on Clothing?

Dear Home-Ec 101,


I saw your email reply to someone who was asking about why they were getting grease like stains on their clothing after washing them.  Your reply said it was from liquid fabric softener.  The problem is I don’t use fabric softener and I get these grease like spots on my clothing quite regularly.  I cannot tell you how many shirts have been ruined from these spots.  I try to get them out by putting stain removers on them and nothing helps so once again I end up tossing out another shirt.  It’s very frustrating.  Is there any suggestions you have for me?  I do use liquid laundry detergent could this be the problem?  If so then how do I prevent it from happening?  Should I all together quit using liquid detergent?  I appreciate your help!


Signed,


Spotted in Spokane

Heather says:

Let me set a scene for you. I’m at a social event -rare enough occurrence for me, but that’s another story- and naturally the topic of “What do you do?” comes up.

I explain that I run a website called Home Ec 101 which teaches life skills to adults. Typically there’s a slight head tilt and a quizzical look. I generally elaborate that it’s sort of an advice column that focuses on food and household problems.

“Like Dear Abby for domestic stuff”


“Exactly that”

At this point people almost always decide that it’s time to play grill Heather on bizarre stain situations. Actual example, “Three months ago my kid ate hot dogs and red Kool Aid, and then threw up on my rug. I can’t get the stain out, what do I do?” I stood there, drink in hand and blinked slowly, complete with the slight head tilt and quizzical look. Was I really being asked about kid vomit at a party? I decided it’s a hazard of the job (I have a friend who is a comedian and people ask him to “be funny” at social events, so I guess I get it).

Possible answers for that one include: Try an enzyme cleaner, rearrange the furniture, replace the carpeting. (Kool-Aid is notoriously evil at staining and stomach acid can bleach some carpeting, so the stain may very well be permanent.)

Solving stain issues is a little like playing detective. In today’s reader question, the reader had done some research, trying to figure out why clear stains were showing up on her clothing. She had found my post on how sometimes fabric softener can leave spots on clothing, but she didn’t use fabric softener.

In medicine there is a phrase “Don’t look for zebras when you hear hoof beats” it implies that the most common reason is probably the cause of a symptom.

While fabric softener can cause clear stains on clothing, clear stains on clothing are generally caused by oil or grease.

How do you determine what caused the stain?

Just like in real estate it’s all: Location, Location, Location!

Spotted and I exchanged several emails and I finally concluded that the stains were isolated to the front of shirts and the lap area of pants.

Unless zebras are loose in the washing machine, these stains are occurring from grease drips and splatters through normal life. A drip here, a spatter there, grease stains occur over time and because they are clear, it’s really hard to notice them until after they are set.

So how do you deal with grease stains?

Pre-treating is the best way to handle grease and oil stains.

Before loading the washer inspect each item of clothing, look for grease spots and if you find them rub a small amount of liquid detergent directly into the spot and allow it soak in for a little while. Spray stain treatments like Shout Advanced and Charlie’s Soap Laundry Pre-Spray both are great for this. Some of you may prefer the gel you rub in. The whole point is to just make sure some detergent is applied directly to the stain.

You may also find it useful to keep something like Shout Wipes or a Tide Stain Pen in your purse or car to treat food stains as they occur.

Wash the garment in the hottest water approved by the manufacturer. (The heat helps make the oil and detergent more water soluble, which helps it wick out of the fabric and into the wash water where it can be rinsed away)

Do not dry the garment until you are sure the grease stain has been completely removed.

If you have an old grease stain, acetone may be used provided it’s safe for the material.

Click the picture for more tips!

Bobbie sent me a quick note to let me know her mother always used Lestoil and that it also works well for old grease stains, too. (Be sure to test the fabric for colorfastness, first, but you knew that, right?)

So the takeaway?

There are two.


Put a napkin in your lap while eating (there’s a reason this is considered normal etiquette) and use an apron or grease splatter screen while cooking.


The best way to prevent stains on your clothing from becoming difficult to remove is to treat them as soon as possible.

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.



The post What Causes Spots on Clothing? appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
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Pillowcases and Oily Skin

Dear Home-Ec 101,

We’ve been married for nearly 25 years and for about 7 or 8 years now his pillowcase and [upper] part of the sheet reeks! I DON’T SEE how he can stand it. I’m not sure if its oil or sweat; he does have very oily skin. I read your advice to someone who was having a sweaty man problem. I suppose this could be part of it. But even if I did, his side would get gunked up before long!


What can I do about his gunky pillowcase and sheets?

Thanks,

Oilslick in Olympia

I have a few ideas, but ultimately the decision is up to you and your situation. The options below can be tried individually or a couple at a time.

Option 1: Change the Person, Kinda

Ask your husband to try different methods of personal hygiene until the situation improves. At the very least showering just before bed instead of in the morning.

Maybe a visit to a dermatologist would help. I know some people are resistant to visiting a doctor, but any skincare advice might be received better if it came from an expert in person and not just some rando on the internet. If a doctor isn’t possible, talk to one of the skincare ladies at a department store. Take the advice on specific products with a grain of salt, you don’t necessarily need that expensive version to see an improvement. Do try to make at least one purchase to compensate for the advice and time.

Option 2: Change the Sheets More Frequently/Wash More Thoroughly

Maybe the sheets just aren’t getting clean. This article on dealing with sour smelling towels talks about detergent build-up, which could be an issue with your sheets, too. Try this technique to make sure the sheets themselves aren’t the problem. We’ve also talked about sweaty sheets, this article may be helpful

If you don’t have a good mattress pad between your sheets and the mattress, the sheets could be absorbing the oil, the oil could then make its way to the mattress where the sheets pick it back up again in an unpleasant cycle. Mattress pads don’t need to be washed every week, but they will need to be washed regularly.

Option 3: Extra Pillowcases

We use this option with one of our teenagers. We purchased a few extra pillowcases. They aren’t high end because he doesn’t care. Each week, we put all of the pillowcases on his favorite pillow. Each morning one of the cases is stripped off and put in the laundry bin. I like this technique because it doesn’t cause an issue with the laundry rotation. If we miss a day, it’s fine, it’ll go in the next cycle, no big deal. His skin is much clearer than it was and not wallowing in his own oil seems to have helped. 

Option 4: Hide it

In order to not be gross, this tactic assumes the sheets are cleaned regularly, just stained. Make the bed and put decorative pillowcases with a sham on top of the stained pillow. Out of sight, out of mind. 

Each option has its own drawbacks, maybe you don’t want to buy additional pillowcases or sheets, maybe you don’t want to do more laundry, maybe your husband doesn’t want to change his habits. You’ll need to figure out which makes the most sense for your situation.

In any case, I guess it’s a good thing that even if you can’t change a person, you can change their sheets.

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

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Overwhelmed by Mess

2019 Update: I’m in the process of digging through the months of insanity that is an inbox with a published email address. For every legitimate email, there are 500 fake, but not quite spam pitches. While I work finding the actual questions, I’m going to update a few Home-Ec 101 classics. This one was originally published in 2010.

If you’re overwhelmed by the process of cleaning your home, quit worrying about finding the best option.

Stop trying to learn everything and start doing something.

We all know that in a perfect world we’d make our own ecologically sound cleaners -not all homemade cleaners are, you know-, always reach for a rag to clean, and never use gas or electric powered items when a manual would do.

Get over it.

If you came here searching for how to get started, how to clean a house, or overwhelmed by a messy home (I get a lot of those) the best advice I have for you is to quit worrying about finding the exact right way to do things.

Pick a room.

This is your starting point, you are not allowed to start any projects in any other space. Use baskets, boxes, or trash bags if you’re the distracted type and a lot of items need to be placed in a new home. Just don’t mix up a trash bag full of items with actual garbage. Have a plan with a specified area for trash and another for sorting.

Top to bottom.

Pretty-self explanatory, clear shelves before floors, wipe counters before sweeping, dust fans before vacuuming.

Left to right.

This trick just keeps you moving. Start in one corner and work toward another, when you hit a wall, turn and start again.

Dry to wet.

Dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping should all be done before washing windows, polishing, or mopping to prevent dirt smears or damage caused by scratching.

Click the picture for more cleaning help!

 

Take frequent breaks.

Unless grandma (or the landlord is on her way, there is no prize for getting it done in record time. You’ll get there, don’t kill yourself in the process.

Turn on some music, an audiobook, or your podcast and get moving.

If you have questions, send them to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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How to Menu Plan When You’ve Done It a Long Time and You’re Tired of Making All of the Decisions

Personal update at the end, skip to it if you prefer.

Home Ec 101 has been around a long time, almost 12 years.  I have shared many weekly meal plans, but the ones on the site are by no means the only ones I’ve made. When you’re feeding more than a trio, not having a plan can become expensive or a rut quickly. With now seven members in our household, most of whom are adult-sized, firmer plans are needed as we also enjoy luxuries like clothing and utilities, go figure.

So what to do when you have had an on-going case of I-don’t-want-to-think-about-food-anymore or I’m-tired-of-making-decisions-for-people-who-don’t-seem-to-care?

The Problem: Unspoken Expectations

Each week, when I sat down to meal plan, I would ask, “What would you like for dinner this week?” The responses, to me, felt ludicrous. But really were they? What do teenagers and a non-cook know about time, effort, and budget, if they don’t have the experience to draw from? How do they know that feeding bottom-less pits, teenagers means not choosing shrimp or steak as main courses? When they sit down to a finished product, do they know that a meal had many steps and took a lot of effort? Not unless they were actively involved, and even then kids aren’t always known for their effective time-management skills.

As much as we would like them to be able to, no one can access the information in our heads. No one wants to volunteer ideas when they are likely to get rejected. And it’s far too easy for resentment to build when needs aren’t met. It’s really easy to interpret the lack of suggestions as “They don’t want to help” or the rejection of an idea as, “Mom doesn’t like anything I say.” Who wants that interaction on a weekly basis?

Solution: Make it easier to be helpful

For us, the solution was to get the information out of my head and into a format that made sense for those whose help I want. I mentioned it on Instagram if you want a peek.

I decided to keep the project fairly simple, as I’m just not a craft-oriented person and never will be. I went to Walmart and bought: a single hole punch, a couple packs of multi-colored index cards, and a book ring. I can usually find my favorite pens by raiding my daughter’s room. She has her own but seems to prefer mine. 

Each color got its own guideline/section:

Weeknight – less than an hour of active work, using a slow cooker is fine


Weekend – more time consuming is fine


Company/Complicated/Expensive


Vegetarian just to make sure those stand out, Lent is coming

I made everyone go away for a while, sat down at the table and began to brainstorm as many meals as I could think of. Since it was December, the results were most of which are suitable for winter planning (not a salad in sight), but a more than respectable 45 – 50 meal ideas. 

On the back of each card, I began to put the ingredients we were most likely to need in a weekly shopping trip and side dishes that go well. After cooking for a family for more than 13 years (my oldest is 15), I’ve got stocking our pantry and spice rack down. Those of you still in the building phase may want to include a link to the recipe or write the full list of ingredients. I wouldn’t do this all at once, it’s far too much busy-work.

There’s room on the cards for us to add more notes, things like dollar signs to indicate its general cost or maybe a star rating system so we know what the big hits (and misses) are.  

Now, when I sit down to plan for the week and make the grocery list, when I get stuck or am not in the mood, I can grab a passer-by and say something like,  “I need a meal for Saturday, please pick from the weekday or weekend section,” or “You’re helping with dinner on Thursday, please pick something from the weekday section that you would like to cook.”

The beauty of this system is that it’s not fixed. If we have something too often, I can pull it from the rotation for a while and it’s unlikely anyone else will notice. If I find a recipe to add, that’s as simple as filling out a new card and adding to the appropriate section. 

I plan on keeping a separate ring for side items, but I haven’t quite figured out the parameters yet. Will they be by time, season, carbs? I’ll get there and I will share when I do.

Personal aside:

I will likely be deleting this in a few weeks as it doesn’t add to the above topic of menu planning and won’t matter to many.

The last few years have been seasons of change, divorce, death, grief, recovery, love, marriage, a new baby and all of that on top of the usual tumult of children growing up. I am not the same person I was when I started this site. Then again, I hope none of us are after twelve years. I was in my twenties and pretty sheltered when I wrote some of those opinionated early posts. I knew about being broke, from my early adulthood. I also knew that I had learned a lot through trial and error and I wanted to share. 

I think a lot of the advice on this site is accurate and I think a lot of it can be helpful.

That said, there have been a lot of times over the past five years where I’ve looked at it and thought about deleting it all saying it doesn’t matter. I’ve made quite a few attempts at starting over and each time when that stalled out, I again thought about just deleting. 

I’m glad I didn’t.

A few months ago I had an offer to buy the website. After some thought, I turned it down and I’ve been ruminating on whether or not that was the right choice when I have these thoughts and feelings and when financially it would have been a smart move. I’m glad I waited, partly because the baby’s reflux is finally under better control and I’m getting more sleep and able to make more rational. less negative decisions and partly because I needed to come to terms with these feelings. 

I don’t know that I’ll be able to get into a routine of updating the site quite as regularly as I once did. I don’t want to set that expectation. My day job takes a lot from me and since that feeds the family, it will come first. I do think that I am finding, after so long, the perspective of how to begin again.

Thank you for reading. I wish you and yours all the best in 2019.

The post How to Menu Plan When You’ve Done It a Long Time and You’re Tired of Making All of the Decisions appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
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Menu Monday Week 44 – Another Week In the Books

I hope you guys are all doing well. So, my boss repeats an old saying about no plan survives first contact with the enemy. (A quick Google shows that this is from a Prussian military leader, Helmuth van Moltke). This pretty much sums up last week. 

The sausage skillet was fine, the tuna cakes never happened (this is why it’s always good to have at least one meal of things that won’t go bad, you can shuffle around and not waste food). The rest of the meals sort of survived a shuffle. The one clear winner of the week was the pork stew. I forgot to buy chiles de arbol, but I always have chipotle peppers on hand to make chipotle mayo or sour cream for taco night. I swapped in a couple of those (adding with the rest of the wet ingredients instead of with the cornmeal). The toppings and sides deviated from the original plan, but that was based on how it smelled and what I think the kids would dig.  I served it over rice with black beans and tomatoes (I use a rice cooker and will just add a can of each). The kids topped it with guacamole, sour cream, cotija cheese, and crumbled tortilla chips. This meal is definitely going in the rotation despite the lengthy process. It’s worth it and I think I could safely double and freeze this one.  It would also be good for a casual company dinner. 

So the tentative plans for this week:

Monday – we’re having dinner with the children’s grandparents at a local Thai place. I’m truly looking forward to this

Tuesday – loaded baked potatoes (The potato hater has scouts and can make himself a sandwich) – we’ll top ours with chili and cheese and have broccoli on the side or maybe just go with broccoli and cheese

Wednesday – We’ll give those tuna cakes another go

Thursday – Sandwiches. Football may be over, but the school has a meeting, because who wouldn’t want to actually be home for dinner?

Friday – Lasagna (cheating, it’s frozen this week), salad

Saturday –Fake ‘n Bake pork chops, green beans, rice, and brown gravy

Sunday – Albondigas – doubling the batch to ensure there are leftovers during the week. 

I hope all of you have a safe, healthy week. Drop a line in the comments to let us know what you’re having for dinner. It’s nice to get some new ideas.

Thanks!

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Menu Monday Week 43 – Starting Again

I hope you are all doing well or as well as you can. Last week was one of those eye-opening reminders of how I should stop, take a breath and focus on the basics before trying to do everything (that will never happen, but to be honest, I don’t learn).

Routines make a busy household run a lot smoother. With 5 kids, feeding them is an important routine or it gets very expensive, very quickly. So here we are, starting the 43rd week of the year with a brand new Menu Monday.

This week, the kids assisted with the meal ideas this week as I, frankly have had too much on my plate to handle that kind of cognitive load. (Oooh big words, check out The Power of Habit if you want to learn how routines can help make decision making easier). I had to remind them that a meal is more than shouting out a main dish idea and walking away. I made them balance out the meals (mostly) with a side dish and vegetable and figure out what likely needed to be added to the shopping list. (Here’s a printable menu plan/shopping list for you). If you don’t have kids or they aren’t old enough to help, keeping a list of 10 – 20 main dish ideas to pick from will help for those weeks you just can’t even. 

Monday – Sausage, Peppers, and Onions – this week I’ll be layering this in the slow cooker adding mushrooms and topping it with cabbage. Just before dinner time, I’ll cook some egg noodles for the younger set and microwave a bag of cauliflower rice for those watching their carb counts.

Tuesday – Tuna cakes, grits, green beans – I’ll make the cakes on my lunch break. If I had a commute, I’d make them the night before or early in the morning to put in the oven when it’s time to make dinner. The carb counters can fix a salad.

Wednesday – Hot dogs or brats and broccoli — A super quick meal for the day everyone gets home late

Thursday – CORN – clean out the refrigerator night or make yourself a sandwich. We’ve got a football game to hurry to for the oldest.

Friday – Tacos, black beans, Spanish rice Friday afternoons are my only afternoon I don’t spend running kids after work.

Saturday – Grilled chicken served over salads with beets and goat cheese (the kids will likely skip the beets and opt for carrots or whatever else we have in the fridge that it salad friendly)

Sunday – “Silky Pork and Cumin Stew” avocados, (if I can find ripe ones), red cabbage, sliced radishes, corn tortillas. Sunday is also our day to plan and shop, so I found a dish that is mostly made the day before and finished the day of. There’ll be room in the fridge for the stew to sit overnight. 

I hope you have a great week. Let us know what you’re planning in the comments. 

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Why Does Light Fabric Turn Yellow and What Can I Do About It?

Hello,

I have a set of embroidered, cream-colored Christmas towels that are only used for decoration.  They have never been washed and reside in my linen closet. I recently took them out of the closet, and they have yellowed in certain places. I am extremely upset as these towels are my favorite and were pretty expensive.

What causes this yellowing and is there a solution to getting the stains out without damaging the embroidered design on the towels?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!


Yellow in Yellowstone

Why do light fabrics turn yellow?

Many fabrics will turn yellow with age; it’s just much more noticeable on lighter colors. Fabric yellowing is frustrating and is exacerbated by a few factors. In your case, I wouldn’t blame the most common culprit, too much bleach, but it’s good to know it can cause the problem. 

Some fibers turn yellow as they age and sometimes blends of different fibers will yellow faster than those made of only one type.

Materials fabric comes in contact with can cause yellowing through chemical transfer. Think plastics, papers, wood shelving, cardboard, etc

When fabrics are made, they are often treated with chemicals before being sent to warehouses or stores. This process is called finishing. These chemicals can break down over time creating the yellow you have observed. This breakdown can be exacerbated by heat. 

When someone hangs towels for decoration, the hope is that no one uses them. The reality is that people may touch those towels and soap or lotion residue can be transferred. Since the effect isn’t immediately obvious, most people are unaware that there’s any harm.

In the case described above, I would suspect some combination of the latter two causes. 

How to fix yellowed fabric

Keep in mind that sometimes the yellowing is irreversible or only fixable if a method strong enough to damage the embroidery is used. 

I would suggest soaking the towels in an oxygen bleach solution; it’s the safest bet for removing the yellow without damaging the embroidery. While your towels aren’t silk or wool, it should be said that oxygen bleach is not safe for either of these fabrics. Follow the package directions as concentrations vary by brand and try an overnight soak. 

In other cases where there isn’t the concern of damaging other colors you have more options available:

Washing with chlorine bleach (diluted for laundry use)
Dry in direct sunlight
Use commercial color remover

How to reduce the chance of fabric yellowing

Launder fabrics without the use of fabric softener (or dryer sheets) before storage. The fabric should be fully dry, and your hands should be impeccably clean (with no lotion) before handling. Fold the fabric and wrap it in acid and lignin free tissue paper to prevent contact with materials that can cause yellowing through chemical transfer. The fabric should then be stored in a cool, dry place. If your linen closet is in a bathroom, it is unlikely to be dry. If you want to store the fabric in plastic, be sure that it is polypropylene. 

As far as soap and lotion transfer, good luck. Explain to family members why wiping their clean hands on the towels can cause harm. Just saying don’t do it wouldn’t have been enough for me as a kid if I understood why it may have helped. (I say may because I was, ok am, rather mule-headed.) You can reduce the chance of a guest inadvertently using your towels by making sure there is a hand towel for use in a very conspicuous place. 

People are imperfect, and while it’s frustrating to feel like you just can’t have nice things, it’s the people you’re decorating for.

Best of luck!

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

The post Why Does Light Fabric Turn Yellow and What Can I Do About It? appeared first on Home Ec 101.

                

How To Remove Dried Dog Poop (Feces) From Fake Wood Flooring

Dear Home-Ec 101,

My dog had a runny tummy and couldn’t make it outside during the night. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice the accident until it had hardened. How can I clean it up without damaging the floor (it’s a rental place, the floor looks like wood but isn’t – I don’t think its linoleum).

Thank you,


Desiccated in Decatur 
 
Dear Desiccated,
 
You know, I wish dogs made the same noise before having an accident in the house that they do before yakking. I don’t think there is any noise on this planet that can wake me up faster than that tell-tale hork.
 
It sounds like you have that peel and stick vinyl “wood” flooring. This type of flooring is typically low cost and looks fine in the beginning, but using harsher than necessary cleaning techniques can cause damage.
 
Do not use hot water. Do not scrub harshly. Do not use strong chemicals.
 
As far as the dried on factor, don’t worry, all isn’t lost, it’s just a little more of a pain to get taken care of than if you’d managed to tackle the mess while it was fresh. Assuming the dog’s diarrhea is hours dry and not weeks, it’s most likely the, forgive me for the visual, only the outer layer that’s dried and not all the way through. If this is the case, grab some gloves and a plastic scraper of some sort (a plastic putty knife is great). Gently scrape up the fecal matter and dispose of it. Wipe up what you can with paper towels, being careful not to push it down into any crevices. Then move on to the next step. If the fecal matter was fully dry, start at the second step, replace your wash water and rinse out your scrub brush frequently
 
Get a bucket of warm water mixed with a little bit of dish detergent that does not contain bleach, a scrub brush, and old rags or more paper towels. Your cleaning solution should not be overly sudsy; you only need a little bit of soap to help bring the matter into the water and off the floor and your scrub brush. Gently scrub the affected area, wiping with rags or paper towels frequently to prevent the water from soaking through any crevices and into your subflooring. Rinse your brush frequently. Repeat until no more fecal matter remains.
 
 
Rinse the area by using a mop dampened with only water (damp is not the same as soaked) or rags wet with clean water and wrung out. 
 
You can disinfect by mopping with a damp (there’s that word again) not soaking mop, using a solution made up of 3/4 cup bleach to one gallon of plain water. Wait 5 minutes and rinse as described above. Please note that the bleach is dilute rather than full-strength, the flooring is not soaked, and the disinfecting solution is removed promptly, as directed. The proper disinfecting technique is not the same as regularly cleaning the flooring with bleach which will damage the vinyl. 

 
Remember: 
 
Do not use hot water as this can loosen the glue.
Do not scrub aggressively as this can damage the finish.
Do not resort to strong chemicals as this can damage the vinyl.

 
Best of luck!
Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

The post How To Remove Dried Dog Poop (Feces) From Fake Wood Flooring appeared first on Home Ec 101.