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16 - 30 June 2014
www.pattayatoday.net
Tips & Advice QUICK TIP
Prevent foods like pasta, potatoes or oatmeal from boiling over the sides of the pot. Before turning up the heat, rub a stick of margarine around the inside of the pot, greasing the entire perimeter about one 3 cms down from the top. The boiling water will contain itself. (Butter works, too, but it’s more expensive.) Pot Head I’m trying to get my head around what kind of new pots and pans to buy, Andy. I’ve seen some stainless steel ones that are cheap (relatively inexpensive, that is), but I’m not sure cheap is the way to go. Or would you advise going with Teflon pots and pans? Help my head out. Emma Cheap stainless steel pans can heat unevenly if they don’t have the added benefit of a nonstick coating, Emma. So you might want to look for stainless steel cookware with aluminum or copper core sandwiched between two stainless steel layers. Ensure that they are from reputable manufacturers. As to Teflon-coated v/s stainless steel, it depends on your priorities. If convenience is more important, you rarely cook with high heat, and you don’t mind replacing your nonstick cookware every couple of years, you may choose to disregard the health risks and buy a nonstick pan. If, however, your health is a priority, the health risks of using Teflon may persuade you choose stainless steel, which also offers long-term durability and better browning ability. Alternatively, you might consider using stainless steel pots and pans as your primary cookware, while keeping inexpensive nonstick cookware on hand for those sticky or delicate foods, such as eggs or fish. Dye It Right Help! I just made the mistake of dying my hair while wearing a shirt. A nice, light-colored shirt. Now I can’t get the brown dye stains out of the shirt. Is there anything I can do? Dylan
Sorry to say, Dylan, it may be too late. Most stains need to be treated immediately lest they become permanent. That’s particularly true for stains caused by hair dye. But if you really like the shirt, give this a try (if nothing else, it may lighten the unsightly spots): into a liter of warm water add a few drops of dish soap and about a tablespoon of ammonia. Soak the garment in the mixture for about half an hour, then rinse. Now wet the stains with rubbing alcohol and lightly brush upwards, hopefully lifting the spots off the fabric. Dab (or blot) with a towel from time to time, but keep the area moistened with the alcohol. When you’ve achieved success, rinse and launder. Brush-Wood Combo I just painted my kitchen, Andy, following your tips on brushes, type of paint, using a roller, etc. Thanks for that. I even bought several good quality paint brushes. But when I was finished with the project, I needed to clean the brushes, so I soaked them in water overnight. The next day, the bristles were all bent. Is there any way to avoid that in the future? Chuck Yes, Chuck, it’s a common problem that is easily solved. Take a stick of wood that is longer than the brush, and attach the stick to the brush handle using a rubber band or a piece of tape. Make sure the wood strip extends a few centimeters beyond the brush, so that the stick—instead of the brush--touches the bottom of the container. That will keep the bristles from bending. Not Cute Enough We recently adopted a kitten from those wonderful folks at Cats for You
in Pattaya and she is just delightful and so cute, but not cute enough to make up for the urine odor and stains around the house. What do we do about them? Al and Jenny It will be better once she learns to use the litter box. In the meantime, learn how to properly clean up her messes and remove lingering odors. Always work quickly—as soon as you realize a mess exists and before the urine dries. Urine contains chemicals that are difficult to remove; that’s what causes the smell that you already know too well. When the kitten makes a mess, gently remove her droppings; do not smash it down (particularly if it’s on a throw rug, carpet or other fabric—like bedding). Then put down a thick supply of white paper towels to blot (do not rub) and soak up as much of the urine as possible. When dry, spray the area with a cleaning solution that you can make yourself by mixing warm water with white vinegar (50/50 ratio). Then blot dry. This will neutralize the area. Now take that same vinegar solution and mix in a cup of baking soda, then spray the area again. This will help eliminate any stains. Let dry (using a fan if needed), then sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and let sit overnight. Vacuum the next morning. This will remove the odor and discourage the kitten from doing her business in that same area. (The same cleaning and deodorizing methods may be used for those with a puppy not yet housebroken.)
No, Marty, glass cleaner is not a benign product any longer. It was once a great option for getting grease, grime buildup and fingerprints off of virtually all the surfaces. But modern electronics, like laptop monitors and flat screen TVs, are quite different from simple windows and mirrors. Actually, even some glass windows now should not be treated with conventional glass cleaners because the cleaners may contain any number of compounds that can damage delicate electronic equipment, especially screens and other displays. Even some late-model CRT televisions had screens treated with anti-glare film that was prone to yellowing and cracking from repeated exposure to glass cleaner. Laptop and TV monitors may take on those same yellowish tints, they may develop a fogging effect, and they may become brittle and crack. The damage is cumulative, and over multiple applications, anti-glare and anti-static coatings as well as other synthetic surface materials will begin to break down. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended cleaning methods for your laptop; it may say glass cleaner is fine (probably not, though). The best way to clean virtually any electronic device is with a soft, lint-free, cotton cloth slightly dampened with distilled water or a 50 percent solution of water and white vinegar. Never use paper towels or tissues; paper can scratch coated glass and some plastics. It also leaves small particulates behind that can be hard to get off later. If you need something stronger, use a microfiber or optical cloth. In any event, always wipe gently.
Screen Savers I just bought my first laptop, Andy, and I’m wondering if it’s safe to use glass cleaner on the screen. Marty
Signs of Our Times Seen at a repair shop for automobile radiators: Best place in town to take a leak. --Handy Andy