Heather Solos's Blog, page 63

How to Wash Comforters

Dear Home-Ec 101,

I don’t know if you have any advice that you can give me for this, but I went to go wash my daughters comforter and the washing instructions start out with “Front Load Washer only” – I’ve never seen this before, and I only have a top load washer. I don’t want to ruin the comforter, but I really need to wash it…do you (or any of your followers perhaps) have any advice? Can I wash it in my top load washer without ruining it? Thank you SO much!

Signed,
In Need of CLEAN Comfort

Heather says:

The warning to wash in a front load washer is more about protecting your machine than actually protecting the comforter. A comforter can hold a LOT of water which can cause excess strain on the motor and either shorten or end the life span of your top-loading washer. Naturally this won’t be true for all top loading washers, it’s going to be based on the capacity and the strength of the motor. However a washing machine is a significant investment and I’m not about to tell you to load test your appliance to save 5 or 6 dollars.

Your best bet is to head to the laundromat and wash your comforter -according to the manufacturer’s directions, naturally- in a large-capacity front loading washing machine. Yes, it will take you a little bit of time and cost you a few bucks, but it’s still significantly cheaper than a washing machine repair bill.

As a bonus many laundromats have water extractors. You can toss your comforter in there where it will be spun at a higher rpm than even the front loading washer, removing a significant amount of water and reducing the amount of time needed in the dryer (dryers are typically the appliance that cause the most damage to fabric).

Don’t forget to check the drum of the dryer before drying your daughter’s clean comforter. It would really stink to end up with lipstick or chapstick stains all over your clean blanket.

Best of luck!

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

Click here to leave a comment on How to Wash Comforters . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Ground Turkey and Meat / Food Safety

Dear Home Ec 101,

We want to start using ground turkey instead of ground beef. There is a fantastic sale on Jennie-O ground turkey, but I know they had a recall last year due to salmonella poisoning. If we cook the meat to the right temperature, and wash our hands well after handling the raw meat, should we be safe eating it?

I also noticed that the recall was announced in June 2011, but the meat it applied to had a sell by date of December 2011. I had no idea meat was sitting around for that long. I’m just curious if they freeze it or if it can really be safe for that long? I’ve never purchased meat that had a sell by date 6 months out.

Signed,
I was the turkey all along!*

Heather says:

Washing your hands and cooking ground turkey to 165°F is exactly the right procedure to prevent food poisoning.

Don’t forget to thoroughly clean any surfaces which come into contact with raw meat products. Just don’t forget that sanitizing is a two step process.

I spent some time researching the Jennie-O Ground Turkey recall and the recall applied to frozen ground turkey patties. The reason the ground turkey had such a long sell-by time was the product was frozen, not fresh.

Freezing food does not necessarily kill bacteria.  Typically freezing a food just keeps the bacteria from multiplying, while refrigerating simply slows the bacterial growth rate.

Here are some previous Home Ec 101 posts on Freezer Safety:

How to Freeze Food (part 1)

How to Freeze Food (part 2)

How to Cook Homemade Frozen Foods

Food Safety and the Deep Freeze

Can you put hot food into the refrigerator?

I hope these articles help you feel confident in avoiding food poisoning in your home kitchen.

*You win one Internetz if you can tell me where I got this quote?

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

Click here to leave a comment on Ground Turkey and Meat / Food Safety . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Looking for Lunch Time Ideas

Dear Home-Ec 101,
I have been trying to figure out how to be more creative and cook from scratch since I know processed or over-processed foods can't be good for us. My kids started eating school lunches again and as I watch them put on more weight, I am realizing I need a creative, fun way to offer them a healthier take from home school lunch some how…. any suggestions?
Signed,

Flummoxed by Lunch

Heather says:

This is the type of question I like to open up to the greater Home Ec 101 community.

Jenn Fowler (happy birthday, my friend) often does a lunchbox report on her site FrugalUpstate. Maybe she'll share a link to that series in the comments below.

Bento Boxes (if you have serious time on your hands)

Salads

Soup

Hummus

Yogurt & Fruit

Just be aware sometimes schools pay attention to what you pack and have different ideas of what constitutes healthy and balance. It's just a good idea to remember this, after all, they count a packet of ketchup as a serving of vegetables. (Let that sink in)

If you are a blogger and share what you pack for your kids, feel free to link to yourself in the comments below.

Otherwise, chime in with your suggestions for healthy lunch box ideas.

Click here to leave a comment on Looking for Lunch Time Ideas . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Food for Thought

Heather says:

It's been a long time since I have brought up my thoughts on why I believe cooking "from scratch" is a vital life skill. Notice I didn't say important, I said vital.

Over the weekend I had to spend some time in the car, so I loaded up a couple of podcasts, as I tend to do. The first one is only tangentially related to today's discussion, but it's fascinating, nonetheless.

The podcast is "Stuff to Blow your Mind" and the show is titled "Cat Parasites Conquer the World." Right about now you're probably wondering, "What on earth do parasites have to do with Heather going off on a rant about food?" Just bear with me for a few moments. There have been some interesting studies lately on how parasites can affect behavior. It has fairly recently been discovered that rats infected with Toxoplasma gondii are influenced by the parasite in ways that make them more likely to become prey for cats. The organism seems to make rats slower, clumsier, and even specifically attracted to the scent of cat urine. This attraction helps ensure that rats end up in the belly of the host necessary to complete the parasitic life cycle.

First of all, it's insanely creepy to learn that a parasite may be able to not only influence the behavior of rats, but humans, as well. There have been some studies showing that 30 – 60% of the human population may have Toxoplasma gondii,  and a few studies suggest that those with the parasite exhibit behavioral changes, much like rats, not necessarily a specific attraction to cat urine, but a loss of fear that results in taking unnecessary risks. Crazy stuff, right?

I found the topic fascinating (and have been ruminating on it for the last few days). When that podcast ended the next one in my queue was WNYC's Radiolab Show "Guts." Which wasn't about parasites, but rather how the bacteria we carry within our digestive track (about 3 lbs worth) may affect our mental health. See, I told you there was a segue!

Much of the show focused on a study of mice given lactobacillus, the bacteria that gives us all kinds of delicious foods including yogurt. Some mice were given foods fortified with lactobacillus and two other groups of mice were given a control food and sterile food. The mice were then dropped into containers of water and observed. In general mice paddle around freaking out for 4 minutes before giving up in despair and just floating. This happened with the two control groups, the mice acted as expected and their stress hormone (cortisol) levels did what your would do if you were dropped in a container of water and believed you were going to die (they went through the roof). The mice on the lactobacillus diet continued to paddle around until the 6 minute mark when they were removed from the water (dead mice wouldn't do much good for the study) and it was found that their stress hormone levels were significantly lower than those in the control groups.

Now how does a bacteria in your gut influence what's going on in your brain?

There is a very large nerve that runs between your digestive track and your brain it's known as the vagus nerve. The study with the mice was repeated, but this time the vagus nerve was severed in some of the mice. The gut was no longer communicating with the brain. Guess what? The mice with the severed nerve responded just like the control group mice in the first study, freaking out for four minutes and then giving in to despair.

There are now studies happening that are investigating the possibility of using lactobacillus as a means to treat some mental disorders including anxiety and depression. As a person who sometimes struggles with anxiety, I find this incredibly fascinating.

So what does this have to do with processed food? The more we refine and process our food, the further we take it from the state from which we, and the bacteria we host, evolved to digest it.

We are learning that we have more of a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria within our bodies than we ever thought. (Does anyone else remember the book by Madeline L'Engle A Wind in the Door? No, I don't believe our mitochondria are sentient, I'm just musing on the broader concept)

The next time you're in the grocery store choosing between a food that has been designed to survive a nuclear holocaust and a food that is highly perishable, but as close to fresh as possible. . . you may be doing your body more good than we know.

If nothing else, eat a little more yogurt, it just might make you feel better.

Click here to leave a comment on Food for Thought . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Method: Clean Like a Mother #CleanHappy

Heather says:

Last month I told you about my trip to the Method Headquarters in San Francisco, CA. You remember that, right?

 

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How could you forget?

Below is the first video starring Noah (the guy on the right), who is amazingly awesome and a fun guy to be around. I personally hope he becomes more widely recognized than the FreeCreditReports.com guy who didn't even write his songs. (It'd warm my heart of you'd pass the video along)

Remember how I mentioned Katie, the mom whose kids are the same distance apart* as my own? When will I stop asking rhetorical questions? Not today.

Check her out in the new Method Clean Happy Campaign: Cleans Like a Mother.

So here, watch the second installment of the Method Clean Happy Digital Campaign:

Now tell all your friends.

Personally, I've made the switch (from vinegar and water) to the all purpose cleaner? You ask why? Well it cleans more effectively -vinegar and water works, but often needs a bit of elbow-grease to get the job done. Sometimes I don't want to make the extra effort.

[image error]And it smells nicer. . truly it never really bothered me that the house smelled like vinegar for a little while, I don't find that to be a big deal. However, I know it bothers some of you. In fact, I'd much rather smell vinegar than a variety of other perfumed cleaners as many give me a headache, because I'm a special snowflake and weird like that.

While talking to the green chemists at the Method headquarters, I made that comment in passing. They noted that it was quite possibly not the perfumes themselves but rather what the perfumes covered up that triggered the headaches and sneezing -looking at you in particular, extremely popular fabric refreshing spray.

My favorite is pink grapefruit, but I have some of the limited edition lime and sea salt that is ah-mazing. What is it with me and citrus? I don't know, it's like me and questions today.

So here's what it boils down to:

You know that I'm working with Method. However, you also know that the Method company completely bowled me over with their story, their mission, and their people. Maybe I drank the kool-aid, but you know, I'll happily go back for seconds.

And as a bonus, for reading this far, you can get a dollar off Method products from their Facebook Fan Page under the "Perks" tab. (Look under the big photo, slightly to the right).  Those of you in Canada, instead of printing the physical coupon, you will be able to get $1 off any Method products available at http://well.ca using the discount code "CLEANME"/

This post is sponsored, but all opinions are my own, especially the one below.

*A note to all of you who like to say "It just gets worse," I completely disagree. Parenting has gotten significantly easier since the youngest was potty trained and can wash her own hands. I'm sure there will be emotional turbulence down the road, but telling a mother of 3 very young children that it will only get harder is soul crushing and mean.

Click here to leave a comment on Method: Clean Like a Mother #CleanHappy . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Lipstick in the Laundry

Heather says:

Sometimes the questions come in via Twitter. Today's query:

@TheMorrisBunch: help!! I took clothes out of the wash and found red lipstick in the dryer and all over my clothes.

First of all, yuck. I don't envy your situation in the least, finding lipstick stains in the laundry is a great big hassle.

To get the lipstick out of the dryer you'll want to use a solvent like WD-40 or GooGone to clean out the drum of the dryer. If you have a gas dryer, it's very important to apply the solvent to a rag rather than spraying a potentially flammable substance into your dryer. We try to use common sense here at Home-Ec 101. We don't always manage it, but we do try.

Use a flashlight and be careful to make sure you get every bit of lipstick out of the dryer or your next steps could be undone by your laundry's next trip through the dryer.

Lipstick stains are often difficult to remove because they are essentially a stain we purposely apply to our lips, so I'm sure you understand that a product designed to stain is going to be difficult to remove. Not every stain is removable.

To remove lipstick from clothing, you want to treat the stain as both a dye stain and a grease stain. These directions are for washable fabrics, since the disaster happened in the dryer, I'm assuming all of the fabrics in question are washable. (CRAZY, I know)

First treat the dye stain with either a laundry pre-treatment spray or a dry cleaning spotter (like you find in the home dry cleaning kits). If you use laundry pre-treatment, rinse with cool water and ensure no dye remains. If you use the dry cleaning spotter blot and allow to fully evaporate.

If dye still remains it may be time to step up to the big guns and try paint thinner. Only apply it directly to the stain and test for colorfastness first -If the clothing is a lost cause, how much does this really matter?

Only when all of the dye is gone do you get to move on to the next step.

Now treat the grease stain by rubbing detergent directly onto the fabric from the reverse side of the stain. Give the detergent time to work (half hour at least, unless it contains bleach) and then launder in the hottest water tolerated by the fabric.

I don't envy the tediousness of treating an entire load of laundry. If it wasn't your lipstick, I highly suggest getting the offender in on the chore.

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

Click here to leave a comment on Lipstick in the Laundry . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Why Should I Run the Hot Water Before Starting the Dishwasher

Dear Home Ec 101,

I have always followed my Mom's advice about running hot water in the kitchen sink before (and while) turning my dishwasher on. She also says that if you run the cold water at any point while your dishwasher is running, the water in your dishwasher will be cold. My husband recently replaced our sink and garbage disposal and noticed that our dishwasher is only hooked up to hot water.

So, do I really need to abide by my Mom's rules?

Wondering About Water Temps

Heather says

Your mom is partially right. Running the hot water before starting the dishwasher ensures the water that fills the machine is hot instead of lukewarm. You don't jump in the shower the second you turn on the hot tap, right? It takes a moment for the water that has been cooling in the hot water pipe from the water heater to the tap to be flushed out. Typically your dishwasher is hooked into the hot water line

Remember cleaning is accomplished through several forms of energy:

Thermal – the higher the temperature, the more dirt can go into solution

Physical – in your dishwasher this is the accomplished with spray

Chemical – this would be your detergent (Oh and as an unasked for aside and plug, I've been trying out the Smarty Dish by Method, which was phosphate free before there was the voluntary ban on phosphates and it's friggin' awesome. I bought it myself, Method didn't supply it).

Running the cold water while the machine is running shouldn't be an issue, but running the hot water before the basin of the dishwasher fills ensures your dishwasher starts with every advantage. Having to rewash dishes is far less efficient than running the hot water before starting your machine. You can always catch the water in a bucket and use it (when cool, naturally) for other tasks like plant watering, if water conservation is a big concern.

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

 

Click here to leave a comment on Why Should I Run the Hot Water Before Starting the Dishwasher . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Flat Top Stoves and Melted Plastic

Dear Home Ec 101,

I was making grilled cheese sandwiches. I lifted the skillet to slide a sandwich onto the plate, and it got too close to the bread. And to the bread's plastic bag. Of course I didn't notice that until I tried to lift the skillet again and found that it was a little resistant to be removed. The skillet isn't stuck to my flat-top stove, but a nice smattering of melted plastic is stuck to my smooth top range. Is there any way to remove it without a legion of harsh chemicals?

My stove and I look forward to your solution!

Signed,

Melted in Melbourne

Heather says:

Have you ever noticed how there sometimes seems to be a trend in topics on Home Ec 101? I don't plan these things, this is just how the reader questions arrive, apparently we're in the middle of clean or fix my flat top stove season.

Melted plastic on a smooth top range is a pretty common problem and has a very easy solution.

You just need to let your stove cool completely, grab an ice cube, and a scraper. Today you have your choice of using a nylon scraper (like you get to clean stoneware from THAT company) or even a credit card. If you have a razor scraper handy, that is extremely useful for these situations.

Just place the ice cube on the melted plastic and then scrape, thankfully this is an easy fix.

The next time you turn your stove on, be sure to run the exhaust fan or have the window open, just in case there is any leftover residue (there shouldn't be, but it never hurts to be a little cautious).

Related Posts:

Tackling Difficult Stains on a Smooth Top StoveSpots on a Smooth Top Range

Good luck!

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

Click here to leave a comment on Flat Top Stoves and Melted Plastic . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

Spring Cleaning Challenge: The Why

Heather says:

Happy first day of spring!

Last week I mentioned that we here at Home Ec 101 would be participating in a Spring Cleaning Challenge with IDreamofClean and others and today is the kick off to the Spring Cleaning Challenge which will end April 5 at 11:59EST. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to link up your Spring Cleaning accomplishments and enter to win one of the 2 Washer/Dryer sets, Closet Organization System and Steam Mop!

Why did Spring Cleaning become a tradition?

In the past many homes were heated with wood fire or coal stoves, both of which produce soot that gets deposited on walls, windows, and flooring. Over the winter this soot and the mud and filth tracked in would build up. Spring cleaning meant opening the windows wide, washing the walls, welcoming in the fresh air and cleaning out the dust, soot, and mud from the winter.

While many newer homes have forced air or other means of heating, it's still nice to open the windows in the spring and welcome in the new season. Improved heating methods also have done nothing to stop the tracked in mess of mud and salt.

Finally spring cleaning serves as a convenient time to perform annual and semi-annual chores both inside and outside of the home.

Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.Check your fire extinguisher(s).Wash your windows.Rotate mattresses.Inspect the roof and gutters (April showers and all)Clean curtains, drapery, and carpetingClean down comforters (perhaps it's time to prep it for storage)

Today at iDreamofClean the focus is on deep cleaning the bathroom.

Here are the other participating hostesses:

Spring Clean: Bathrooms :: i Dream of Clean
Spring Clean: Floors and Windows :: Amy's Finer Things
Spring Clean: The Kitchen :: Tidy Mom
Spring Clean: Home Office :: Untrained Housewife
Spring Clean: Declutter Around the House :: Live Renewed
Spring Clean : Main Living Area :: Biblical Homemaking
Spring Clean: Conquering the Kids' Room :: Living Well Spending Less
Spring Clean: Outdoor Living Spaces :: The Greenbacks Gal
Spring Clean: Garage and Cars :: Organize365

Now it's your turn to share your Spring Cleaning accomplishments. If you are posting a link from your blog, please make sure to link to your Spring Cleaning post, not your homepage. Also, to spread the word about the Spring Cleaning Challenge to your readers, please make sure to include a link back to one of the hostesses! If you don't have a blog, you can link to an online photo album. 

Q-Tips for Touch Up Painting

Heather says:

As many of you know I've been working with Q-Tips for the past few months to remind readers that Q-Tips are good for ever so much more than just your health and beauty needs. (For what it's worth, I've found they are great for when my daughter destroys the tube of topcoat to the lipstain I like, which she does for every stinking tube, but that's a grumble for another day).

Today's quick Q-Tip tip is Q-Tips make great, disposable "brushes" for touching up paint in small areas. What kind of small areas? Well, very small, let's say you decided to move a picture and just need to touch up the old nail hole, this would a great time to break out a Q-Tip for touch ups, rather than repainting the section of wall.

Touch ups work best on flat paint and are most noticeable on glossy finishes. If your walls have eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, 0r glossy finishes, it is best to touch up your paint by repainting the entire section of the wall so the difference in shade is less noticeable.

With this in mind, it would not be worth using a Q-Tip to repaint a gouge or to touch up where your kid put his head through the drywall*.

When touching up paint it's very important to use a light hand and blend so the touched up area doesn't stand out. It's also important to remember that paint color gradually changes over time and paint that has been in storage may not always perfectly match the current color of your wall, even though it is the exact same paint.

Q-Tips has a facebook fan page where fans share their favorite uses.

Oh and for those of you who took the time to read this post, here's a link to a $1 off coupon for Q-Tips brand cotton swabs.

*Note* If your child does put his head through your drywall, please seek proper medical care before worrying about touching up your paint.

This post was sponsored by Q-Tips brand cotton swabs and all opinions are my own.

Click here to leave a comment on Q-Tips for Touch Up Painting . We'd love to hear your say.This is a post from: Home-Ec101 ©Home-Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011