Home Management Tips

Tips for Around the Home

When milk approaches its stamped expiration date.

Kathryn Boor is a professor of food science at Cornell who specializes in dairy microbiology. Boor explained that it is bacterial growth that causes milk to "go bad." As the bacteria eat fats and proteins contained in the milk, the milk's composition changes, resulting in off flavors.

Cooking, however, "stops bacterial growth in its tracks." Boor said that "you're not going to get rid of any off flavors that are already there," but you will restart the bacterial clock from the time you cook the milk.

In fact, you can restart that clock without bothering to make the pudding by simply bringing milk to a boil and then storing it in a clean container, i.e., not back in the original carton.

Boor said that milk's fat content has no effect on how quickly it goes bad.

Boor was asked about milk that was past its sell-by date but still smelled fine. "The beauty of the current U.S. dairy system," she said, "is that it is very, very safe." She said that the sell-by date was principally of benefit to milk retailers: They can't open up every carton they stock; the sell-by date assures them that their customers aren't buying milk on its way to spoiling.

When I asked her if it was safe to drink milk that was beyond its sell-by date but still smelled fine, she said "no one can say for sure, but you probably can."  

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Coffee Stains Removal

Coffee stains can be removed from fabric or a rug, try one of these remedies.  

Dip a white cloth into a beaten egg yolk and rub the yolk into the stain.  Then rinse with clear water.

Work denatured alcohol into the stain, then rinse with water.

Apply a solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild detergent in a pint of water; blot with a white towel.  If stain remains, apply a 50 - 50 solution of water and white vinegar and blot.

Draw Strings Repairs

Draw strings frequently disappear into the casing so to prevent this double knot the tips.  Or harden the tips with household cement for easier retrieval.

When laundering garments with draw strings, be safe and tie the drawstrings together first.

If you lose a drawstring substitute a shoe lace, ribbon or fabric tubing; attach a safety pin on one end to help feed the replacement through the casing.

Grease Spots Removals

When in a hurry to remove a grease stain apply shampoo then rinse and blow dry.

Absorb the grease from a rough-textured fabric with cornmeal; for a smooth fabric use cornstarch.  Leave on the spot for at least 12 hours, brush off then wash the fabric.

Use club soda to remove grease stains from double knit fabrics.  Talcum powder works on polyester; rub into the spot with your fingers let stand for 24 hours, then brush off.  Repeat if necessary.

Remove grease stains on white shoes using nail polish remover (be careful not to remove the shoes finish).  For other colored shoes rub on cleaning fluid with a soft cloth.

To remove greasy heel marks from vinyl and linoleum floors, try silver polish or white appliance wax.

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Grass Stains Removal

Rub the stain with liquid detergent, naphtha soap, or a pad soaked in denatured alcohol; rinse thoroughly.  If the stain persists try a little vinegar on it, a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide, or if safe for the fabric a little bleach.

If your in a hurry, dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in water and a little bleach.  Be patient as it may take a little time for the stain to fade.

Cover a permanent stain with an applique or patch.

Ironing Tips

When ironing different types of fabrics, start with the iron at its lowest setting and work your way up to the highest.  Always go with the weave of the cloth so that you don't stretch your fabric.  To prevent a shine iron dark fabrics, rayons and acetates on the wrong side.  

Place a piece of aluminum foil shiny side up between your ironing board and the cover pad: it will reflect heat for a faster job.

Lipstick Stains Removal

Try one of these pretreatments before washing your garment with detergent.

Rub some cold cream or shortening, then rinse the stained area with club soda.

Use rubbing alcohol or salad oil.

Rub the stain with a generous amount of petroleum jelly.

Wipe with a slice of white bread, then brush the crumbs away.

If the garment is white then soak it in lemon juice; if the fabric is colored then mix the solution 50 -50 with water.

Place the stained area over a white towel and sponge on a mixture of powdered soap and water.

Paint Stains Removal

Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your hands and face before painting to make clean-up easier.

To remove dried latex paint from clothing, soak the garment in warm water and detergent for at least 2 hours.  Then brush gently with a toothbrush.  Repeat if necessary.  

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Pleats and Creases

Before washing pleated clothes, turn them inside out; remove them from the washer before the final spin.

Rust Stains Removal

Rub a paste of salt and vinegar into the rust stain and let it sit for 30 minutes, then launder as usual.

Soak the rust stain in lemon juice, then dry in the sun to bleach out; rinse thoroughly.  

Work a paste of cream of tartar and warm water into the stain, let set then launder as usual.

Umbrella Fabric Repairs

Has the fabric come loose from the tip of a rib?  You can fix it in an emergency by inserting a paper clip or safety pin through the fabric and then through the hole at the tip.  When you get home stitch the cloth to the tip.

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