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Water Storage Solution for Hurricane Preparedness

July 4, 2012 By 9 Comments

Heather says:

This year, after doing my annual Hurricane Preparedness Reminder, I was contacted by David Dodgen of AquaStorage, creators of the Aquapod Kit. The Aquapod Kit is a  solution to the whole, “But I don’t have enough space to store a two week supply of water for my family of six.” (Quick math will tell you that’s 84 gallons of water)

Water storage has always been one of the more obnoxious pain points of hurricane preparedness in my household. Yes, I do have about 30 gallons of water, but it’s distributed throughout the house in a closet, in the garage, under the stairs. Remembering to rotate the jugs doesn’t always happen. (Oh yeah, we’re back to that whole fallible human thing, aren’t we?)

The Aquapodkit holds up to 65 gallons of potable water and doesn’t take up more than a square foot of storage space until you need it. Brilliant!

The Aquapodkit is an incredibly simple solution to an obnoxious problem. It’s a food grade, hygienic liner for your bathtub that comes with a pump. While the liners are not reusable, you can purchase refills rather than an entirely new kit. Frigging awesome, if you ask me.

Toss the kit into a closet until a hurricane looms and then follow the instructions.

The Aquapodkit now has the Home-Ec101.com Seal of Approval.

However, there are a couple of drawbacks I must mention. The Aquapodkit is only useful for situations in which you have adequate warning. It’s not a great water storage solution for those who deal with emergencies where there may only be a few moments warning or no warning at all. And as I mentioned, the liners themselves are not reusable -the pump is. You should still keep some water on hand for emergencies other than hurricanes.

A few other quick notes about the product from the representative who took the initiative to contact me (Hey, I’m also an entrepreneur, I like people who take appropriate initiative.)

1. Our product is made here in the USA.
2. We support local organizations – our kits are put together at the Austin State School of the Aged and Disabled – we love them and have been working with them for years.
3. We are the only product that offers replacement liners / refills – a great value to the consumer.
4. My parents tested and used the product during Hurricane Katrina.

You can purchase the kits through the website directly or you can purchase the Aquapod Kit from Amazon.

I was sent an Aquapod Kit for review purposes. I opened up the box, took one look at it and said, “Brilliant.” I closed the box and put it with my emergency preparedness supplies. I may be a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one. All opinions are my own, including that one. 

Filed Under: Fix It Tagged With: ,

Home-Ec 101 Reader’s 71 Quick Q-tip Tips

December 8, 2011 By 2 Comments

Heather says:

Last week I posted a quick video suggesting that Q-tips could be used to clean a computer keyboard. I then asked for your Q-tip Tips. I thought it would be fun to share the tips that came from the Home-Ec 101 Audience -(Do you remember when we did this with uses for leftover coffee or used coffee grounds?)

Watch the cute video, check out the tips below, then head over to Facebook and enter the Q-tips Tipathon for a chance to be entered to win a $100 gift card or a grand prize worth $1,000. Who couldn’t use that just in time for Christmas?

Here are Home-Ec 101 Reader suggestions for using Q-tips around the house (some duplicates were omitted):

  1. CouponSnob -I use Q tips to clean the tiny, thin edge on my TV screen!
  2. Laura – Oddly enough, Q-tips are the only thing I have found that gets bread crumbs out of the corner of the toaster oven
  3. Lgunnoe965 - I use Q-tips to spot bleach (pre-washing) white shirts that have appliques or printing and shouldn’t be bleached entirely.
  4. Sweepmom - I like using Q-tips for my son to spread glue around when he is pasting things for school projects.
  5. Debb55106 –  Use them to clean my grooves in my Tupperware covers!
  6. Charlene K - I dip the ends of Q-Tips in olive oil and then run them along sticky zippers. The oil is an excellent lubricant that will make the zippers open and close easier.
  7. MarciaF - I use Q-Tips to clean the crevices of my cook top. It works wonderfully to get out the greasy dirt. I also use Q-Tips for cleaning the window frames of the dirt that accumulates around the handles and locks.
  8. Degood - I use Q-tips to apply lipstick after the tube gets too low to apply normally,
  9. Sweetheart4171 - I use Q-tips to clean those hard to clean corners when cleaning the windows!
  10. Patrice - I use Q-tips to clean the crevices of my hummingbird feeder
  11. Gkaufmanss - I use Q-tips for tons of things, including in crafts to apply glue to small corners or delicate projects, to clean tight spaces like the peephole in our front door or the space between tiles in the kitchen and bathroom, and even as a to-go cologne applier (by spraying one end to take with you in case you need a little more by the end of the work day). Thanks!
  12. Steve Berry - I use Q-tips to clean and remove heatsink compound on computer processors. the heatsink compound can be removed using a soft circular motion while soaked in a chemical that breaks down the thermal paste and heatsink compounds. once the paste turns milky, I simply use more Q-tips to soak up the mess and lightly polish the surface from impurities with rubbing alcohol in an open air enviroment to keep from becoming over fumed. It works like a charm, and if it wasn’t for Q-tips, I would have a lot of messy processors to remove and clean using other methods that simply don’t work as well.
  13. RyanMinton - you can use q tips to clean game cartridges..:)
  14. Sksweeps - I’ve learned that a fairly moist q-tip can be used to get things out of your eye, even when everything else has failed! Be gentle, but it works!
  15. Vmkids3 - I use Q-tips to touch up knicks on walls with paint. Don’t have to dirty a brush that way.
  16. Lisa Garner - I use Q Tips for cleaning up an little paint drips on the base board when painting!
  17. Jalapenomama - I use Q Tips for those hard to get at spots on my coffee basket.
  18. Kathy Eyre - I even use Q-Tips for the dog’s ears!
  19. Ecodannelle -  I use Q-Tips for everything an old toothbrush won’t work on. They work great for cleaning that impossible-to-get-to spot between the edge of a pot or pan and where the handle hooks on.
  20. Elizabeth - I use Q-tips to clean our mini blinds. I use a little pledge and just wipe clean.
  21. Tmoyer6980 - I use them with peroxide to clean kids cuts and scrapes.
  22. McKim - My husband uses them for cleaning his guns and scopes.
  23. Katsrus - I use Q-Tips for cleaning my earrings. With some rubbing alcohol. It helps to get the gunk off and makes them nice and clean beofre you put them in your ears.
  24. FictionOneForty - They are great for dusting my collectibles that have lots of delicate crevices!
  25. Dwndrgn - They are great for cleaning remote controls – all the food and grime that gets all over these! I use rubbing alcohol on the tip to avoid water and it works very nicely.
  26. AngelaCisco - I use q-tips to clean the corners of picture fames. The dust gets caught in the corners.
  27. Yadgirl - I use Q-Tips to clean my printer nozzles
  28. Donutsmamab - I use Q-tips for cleaning the little rim around my glasstop stove. It’s too small to wedge my finger into.
  29. Piscesvirgo -  I  clean the camera lens on my phone with q-tips
  30. KellyDelrossoSaver - I use Q-tips to clean small knick knacks, by first dipping them in warm soapy water.
  31. Zippy573 – We use Q-tips at work to clean out the small vents on the oxygen concentrators. it holds the cleaner and is small enough to get in crevices!
  32. Blake Powers - If you have ornate silver or brass items, a small bit of polish or jeweler’s rouge on the tip of a Q-tip makes a great way to get into those hard-to-reach areas. They can also be used for cleaning inside voids and such in decorative items that would otherwise be impossible to reach. They are very good for cleaning intricate mechanisms or items with very tight tolerances in the same way. Finally, if you need to lubricate mechanical items that have very tight tolerances but must not have any greasy/waxy build-up, a very small amount of Pro-Gold lubricant (or similar) can be applied with one end of the Q-tip, and then use the other to wipe so that only a film remains.
  33. MiscRamblings -  I use it when I paint things on my windows (tempra paint) and I get it on the window pane. Keeps me from trying to do it with a rag and ruining the design.
  34. CoupleDumb - I use q-tips to clean all of our gadgets.
  35. Reneefishman - I use Q-Tips to clean out the dirt that gets into the crevices of my iPhone: the doc connection port, speakers, mics & the volume toggle. Also I clean around the rim of the iPhone with QTips – where the glass meets the antenna band. They are great for other small electronics as well.
  36. Firemom - If you spill something really sticky in a hard to reach place, use some Q-tips and your favorite cleaning agent. I find this especially helpful when I spill drinks in the car. Cleans out the console quite well.
  37. Carye – [. . .]  My favorite though? Bird toys! My parrotlets and Quaker loves them!!! Cheap and safe!
  38. Anna Heath - I use them as a mini paintbrush to get in really small spaces.
  39. Stephanie Templeman – I use Q-tips for all sorts of things. I think my favorite is to use them when I clean the small crevices in my hand carved wood items. They work great with a little Old English or Pledge oil.
  40. Cjrthemamiblog - I use q-tips to clean our wooden rocking chair cus it has hard to reach spots!
  41. Doodle741 - I use them to remove the mascara I accidentally get on my skin … I use them to let the kids paint with (they don’t smoosh like paint brushes) … they are SOOOO easy to use!
  42. Simplystriving – I’ve noticed Q-tips are added to my shopping list more now that I’m a parent. We use them to paint. We use them to apply creams to our toddler. We use them to clean toys.
  43. Lori S – I use them to shapre the white polish while doing french manicures on myself.
  44. Taznjade - I use them to polish silver jewelry boxes that have intricate designs with crevices. Works great!
  45. Sadie - Q tips are great for cleaning up playdoh molds.
  46. Klsiegler - I use them while painting nails so I dont have polish on the edges of my fingers too
  47. MelissaSelznickResnick – I used them to clean my car vent
  48. WarpedWeaving - I use them to clean out my son’s belly button. He is not a fan :) I also use them at work (I’m a special ed teacher) as glue brushes.
  49. Misty - I use them to help remove make up AS WELL as to apply moisturizer around my eyes in a cleaner and more gentle way than my fingers can.
  50. Milehimama - I use q-tips to apply Neosporin, athletes foot cream, or other medical creams. It keeps the tube from getting contaminated.Also, you can make dots with them when dying Easter eggs!
  51. MeganRallNatherson – I use them to apply acne medicine to the inside of my teens ears, as well as taking off toe nail polish.
  52. Caanan.Tully - I use Q-tips to clean bathroom faucets–that spot between the handle and the faucet that you can never get… unless you take the whole knob off, and there’s not always time for that.
  53. Debbi.Chum - I use them to clean the straw part of my son’s thermos and get inside the spout of his sippy cups! Nothing gets into those small spots better.
  54. Zwiker - cat toys!
  55. Janlnye - Vents on the hair dryer. Calamine lotion to bug bites. Neosporin to booboos. Dipped in alcohol to remove price tag sticky goop from glass
  56. Annabanana2800 - I use Q-tips when cleaning out the air vent over the microwave! They work great!
  57. Briannelynn26 -i use them to clean the vents. Like the cold air return, and the fan in the bathrooms.
  58. Mclanek - I use them to clean around the faucet (especially on the hard to reach side close to the wall).
  59. SallyNusbaum - I use them to get the “goo” out of the shower door tracks.
  60. CharlenetheBean - They’re great for cleaning the little places in silver holloware. We have some MARVELOUS and BEAUTIFUL George Jensen bowls – the Q-tips can get into the otherwise-inaccessible places!
  61. Katherine - Use them for cleaning the ridges in the seal on the refrigerator door.
  62. Bobbie Laughman - When my kids were little, I had them use Q-tips as the “paint brushes” with those “Paint With Water” coloring books – do they still make those?
  63. They’re also great as disposable eye shadow brushes.
  64. Sara Beth - I use Q-tips to clean the tracks of our windows.
  65. Angie23 - Sorry, I know this is gross, but I use them to clean around the hinges of the toilet! (We all have toilets, I’m just glad you clean yours)
  66. Nova - I use them to clean the drawer tracks in my fridge.
  67. Amanda M - I used them to get into the crevices of my breast pump! Worked pretty well.
  68. Tami - Dip them in rubbing alcohol and clean the tops of dusty candles.
  69. Deneicer1 - I used them as little scrubby brushes to clean inside the spout of my daughter’s sippy-cups.
  70. Andrea - We use them to apply ointment during diaper changes. No mess – I love it!
  71. Phillip Guyton - I used them as a child with nail polish remover to remove the faces of lego men… does that count? :) (Keep in mind this is the same guy that did the photography for this year’s Countdown to Turkey Day, we’ll cut him some slack)

This is a sponsored post.  Q-tips® product was  provided by Unilever, the makers of Q-tips®; my tips and usage suggestions are my own.

Filed Under: Clean It Tagged With: , ,

What is Modified Food Starch?

May 20, 2011 By 3 Comments

Heather says:

Yesterday on Twitter, during the What is Vegetable Extract kerfuffle, my good friend @notoriouslynice asked:

@HeatherSolos I’d like to know, too, if you find out. Also, what is modified food starch?

First what is starch?

Starch is a  white, odorless complex carbohydrates that serves as primary means of energy storage for plants.

When we talk about starches in reference to food, we usually have a couple of different meanings in mind. Sometimes we say that foods like potatoes are starches. In that case we just mean that the food contains a lot of starch. Other times we refer to products like corn starch. In this latter case, we are more concerned with what the starch does than what it is.

Starches are well known for their thickening properties and are often used to thicken gravies and soups. Corn starch doesn’t work well under certain conditions, if the liquid is too cold it will remain grainy and if the mixture is subjected to heat that is too high, the starch breaks down.

On a nutritional label, modified starches are plant starches whose chemical structures have been changed through physical or chemical changes. Sometimes the starches are treated with acid other times heat or the way in which they are dried achieves the changes necessary to give the desired properties.

Why are the starches modified?

When the structure has been changed it can be used as a thickening agent under many different conditions

The starches have many applications in processed food:

  • thickening agent at low temperatures – instant pudding
  • ability to withstand high temperatures – instant cheese sauce -this is why your powdered mac and cheese sauce won’t “break” and become grainy no matter how badly you abuse it
  • use as a fat substitute
  • anti-caking agent -keeps foods like shredded cheese separate
  • humectant -can keep some foods moist

Like many things found in food, a modified starch isn’t in and of itself a bad thing. However it might be time to take a look at your overall diet if most of your foods contain this ingredient.

Why?

Puddings, canned soups, sauces, and gravies probably shouldn’t be the bulk of your diet.

Those who have celiac disease or are avoiding gluten should avoid any food item with modified food starch on the label, unless the food is specifically labeled gluten free. Without the gluten free label, the modified food starch may contain gluten.

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

Filed Under: All Tagged With: ,

What Causes Black Underarm Stains and How to Prevent Them

May 13, 2011 By 18 Comments
Dear Home Ec 101,
I have black underarm stains on many of my shirts. That’s right – BLACK. It started happening after we moved to the mountains of western NC where we have well water, but it’s only my shirts – not my husband’s. I’ve tried changing deoderant (though I suspect they all have the same active ingredients) with no effect. I’ve tried scrubbing the stains with various stain removers. Nothing. The stains are on the inside of the shirts – but after a while it shows through to the outside of any light-colored shirts. I’ve never seen anything like it before and – to be honest – it makes me feel like kind of a freak. Can you help?
Thanks,
Funky in Franklin

Heather says:

Antiperspirants and deodorants are two distinct products, but in our everyday speech we tend to use the terms interchangeably and I have done so throughout this response as a way to help people using search find what they need.

You were on the right track when you tried switching deodorants. If you take a walk down the antiperspirant / deodorant aisle, you’ll notice quite the selection. Most of the antiperspirants / deodorants you see will all have the same active ingredient(s): aluminium chloride, aluminium chlorohydrate, aluminium-zirconium or a combination of thereof. Did you notice something about those three active ingredients? They all contain aluminum.

For most of us the aluminum in antiperspirants isn’t a big deal, it helps us stop sweating from our underarms for a few hours and we go through the day without offending our neighbors. Neat.

However everyone’s body chemistry is a little different, it’s the food you eat, the water you drink, and your genetics. You know how everyone likes to giggle about what eating asparagus does to urine? Well it doesn’t do that to everyone’s. Some people think cilantro tastes like soap -and I cry a little for all they miss. Your quirk is that something in your sweat, is making that aluminum show up on your shirts, lucky you.

Since we’re all special snowflakes the first tip is specific to people, like you, who have dark stains from their deodorant / antiperspirant.

Avoid the aluminum

Try switching to an aluminum free antiperspirants / deodorants I did a search on Amazon that will show you specific brands and labels to look for the next time you head to the store.

On a side note, some people avoid aluminum because they believe that aluminum is the cause of of Alzeheimer’s. That hasn’t been proven, what they’ve found is that people with Alzheimer’s tend to have more aluminum in their brains, this doesn’t mean that the the aluminum was the cause, it just means that it shows up in people’s brains when they have Alzheimer’s. It could be like the way ketones show up in the urine of diabetics, the insulin is absent so ketones show up where they normally wouldn’t. Just because something is there, doesn’t mean it is the cause. (I haven’t done a lot of research lately, but feel free to link to peer reviewed sources, if you want to discuss this point).

You didn’t mention where you moved from. Why do I ask? Well, if you moved from a cooler climate, there is a chance part of the problem is that you haven’t had to use as much antiperspirant as you do now.

Use less antiperspirant.

Antiperspirant works by blocking your pores -I’m simplifying here- once those pores are blocked an extra coat of the white stuff isn’t going to be helpful, it’s just going to rub off on the inside of your clothing. When your antiperspirant wears off and you begin sweat, you’ll have more aluminum hanging out on your shirt to react with your sweat and create that dark stain.

For those of us that don’t react to aluminum, this means we have to remove deodorant build up from our shirts.  You can try to remove the dark stains with the same tips as in that article, but with the chemical change, it may be permanent.

Additionally, try to let your antiperspirant or deodorant dry completely before putting on your shirt. This will also help reduce the amount absorbed by the fibers of your clothing.

So your homework is to find an aluminum free antiperspirant / deodorant, use less, and try to let it dry before putting on your shirt to prevent future stains.

Got it?

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

Filed Under: Wash It Tagged With: , , ,

Is Rust on the Microwave Door a Safety Issue?

May 12, 2011 By 2 Comments

Dear Home-Ec 101,

There has always been a bit of rust spots along the bottom of the micro door, but just now I noticed it’s suddenly become quite extensive. I wiped it, shut the door & reopened it, and rust dust was spreading around. Barring the question of microwave safety in general, is it still safe to use? I only use it for reheating the occasional steak or cup of coffee, or steaming a package of green beans. Which does, by the way, create a LOT of steam, which may be why it’s gotten so rusty.

Signed,
Rusty Redhead

PS Here’s a picture to illustrate my question.

Heather says:

I’ve written previously about how microwaves work, they act as boxes that keep the microwaves in a confined area. IF the rust were to reach a point where it compromised the integrity of the door, there would a potential for microwaves to escape. Now, don’t freak out, they aren’t going to chase you down the hall, out the door, and down the street, but it is something you don’t necessarily want to expose yourself to.

The Michigan State University Extension says:

If there are signs of rusting inside the oven, have the oven repaired.

Cosmetic surface rust is not a safety issue, but don’t ignore it either.

I did a quick search for appliance parts and it does not seem as though the door is replaceable, however I may be mistaken. I would call your local appliance repair store to be sure.  Since I tend to run on the very conservative side, I would begin looking for a replacement microwave. 

To prevent rust from occurring in your replacement microwave, leave the door ajar after cooking  or cleaning to allow the moisture a chance to escape. Wiping down the door and cavity walls of the unit with a dry towel would also help prevent the problem. But just knowing how hard it is for some people to cover their food while using the microwave, I can see how most would balk at the idea of ANOTHER extra step.

Good luck!

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

Filed Under: Fix It Tagged With: , , ,

Meal Plan Primer: Shopping the Refrigerator

May 9, 2011 By 10 Comments

Heather says:

Last week, my friend Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam wrote about food waste. Her post was a good reminder that we all need to put the brakes on food waste.

Shop the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before creating this week’s meal plan.

For experienced experienced cooks, this process only takes a few minutes, but for those of you who are still finding your kitchen legs, I’ll break down the process a bit further.

Gather your supplies:

  • cleared counter or table space
  • pen and paper
  • sharpie + masking tape
  • garbage receptacle + compost bowl¹
  • dilute white vinegar in a spray bottle
  • soapy water
  • clean rags

Do not just stand there with the fridge hanging open while you do your business.

Open the fridge, empty the top shelf onto your cleared counter space and remove the rack or shelf, too. Spritz the exposed walls of the refrigerator and wipe down with the dilute vinegar. Then CLOSE the door.

Wash the shelf / rack in soapy water, rinse, and allow to dry while doing the next step.

Work quickly and sort the items from the shelf. Accidental science projects go to the trashcan or compost bowl immediately. If something is approaching its use it or lose it time frame, if it’s in a disposable container use your sharpie to write the use by date boldly on the container. If the item is in your good plastic or glassware, use masking tape.

Write down the items and make sure to call attention to those ingredients approaching the end of their lifespan.

Finally return the usable items to their shelf, keeping the need to use items as close to the front as possible. You want these items in your face, a visual reminder each time you open the door.

Continue working your way down the fridge and please don’t forget to wipe out the very bottom of the fridge underneath the drawers. It is disturbing what finds its way into the refrigerator².

Create your menu from the list of items that need to be used immediately.

What can you make from odds and ends that aren’t enough for a recipe of their own? Items like:

  • a few green onions
  • half a bell pepper
  • half a tomato etc?

Have you ever made Mustgo Soup? It’s a great technique for using up the little odds and ends.

Many recipes are great techniques for using up leftover odds and ends.

There are two things to keep in mind. Watch out for freaky flavor combinations – in less PC terms segregate your leftovers by their ethnicity. It sounds harsh, but if you aren’t super familiar with what spice combinations work well together, don’t just throw it in the same dish and hope.

Once you have your menu planned from the items that must be used, create your shopping list to fill in the gaps. Do not buy any extra food this week, unless there’s a great sale on items for your emergency pantry.  Just be sure those items are stored with FiFo in mind – First In, First Out. This helps keeps your food rotated.

Got it? Questions?

How do you put a stop to food waste?

¹We have a passive compost pile, rather than walking out into the backyard every time I have scraps for the pile, I keep a covered bowl in the kitchen for all the vegetable waste and egg shells.
²One would think our basset hound pulls out the drawers and takes a nap in there.

Filed Under: All Tagged With: ,

How to Choose Absorbent Towels

April 26, 2011 By 21 Comments

Dear Home-Ec 101,

I have a question about towels. Is there any way to tell when you buy a bath towel (or any towel for that matter) if it will be absorbent? I’ve purchased many 100% cotton towels over the years. Some are absorbent others and others repel water as badly as those hideous 100% polyester napkins you get at certain restaurants. The worst bath towels I ever bought were two 100% cotton, organic, unbleached towels I purchased from an expensive well-known “natural” products website. Would love to know if there’s any special trick to always finding the perfect towel.

Signed,

Damp on the Danford

Heather says:

You were totally on the right track choosing unbleached towels. I thought it was an old wives tale that white towels are more absorbent than colored, but there seems to be truth to that, at least according to The International Society Of Hospitality Purchasers (ISHP). When you think about it, those guys are going to be serious about the quality of their bath linens.

Check out this video; it is an excellent aid to visualizing the construction of a towel.

There are two main parts to your towel, the base weave and the pile.  The pile refers to the loops of the towel. The label on some towels may refer to 100% cotton pile or loops, if this is indicated, assume that the base weave contains polyester. In the video above loops are only created on one side of the fabric, in a towel the loops are on both sides.

The number of loops, the length of the loops, the thickness or coarseness of the yarn used,  and how tightly the loops are packed together all affect the absorbency of your towels. In the video, you’ll notice that not every pass through the warp yarns is turned into loops, in towels this gives the loops a bit of room to expand, but this is only helpful to a point.  The length of the individual loops increases the surface area of your towel, more surface area equals more absorbency. Another variable is the thickness of the yarn, thicker yarn means fewer loops per square inch and consequently less surface area for water absorption; many thin loops can out absorb fewer thick loops in the same square of fabric.

So when choosing a towel you want to look for a nice deep pile created with thin yarns. Make sense?

How do you know if your towel has a deep pile and thin yarn?

There is a standard of measurement for fabric called GSM or grams per square meter. The higher the number, the more material has gone into each square of fabric. Typically a GSM over 500 is a good indication of a quality towel.

Keep in mind that the heavier and more absorbent your towels are the more energy or time it’s going to take to dry when laundering.

What’s in a name?

Egyptian, Pima, Combed or Carded, what does it matter?

Egyptian cotton is grown -wait for it- in Egypt. Pima cotton is grown in the southern United States. Both strains of cotton are prized for their longer fibers.  The long thin fibers of Egyptian, Pima, and Turkish cottons can be made into thinner yarns than other types of cotton. Be aware that in the US labeling laws only require that 10% of the cotton be Egyptian to be labelled Egyptian Cotton. If you want to be sure you’re getting 100% Egyptian cotton, the label must say 100% Egyptian Cotton.

Combed cotton is more expensive, but has fewer short fibers than carded cotton, this has more of an effect on the durability and propensity for pilling than on the absorbency of your towels.

I’ve been told that towels made from Egyptian or Pima cotton tend to take longer to break in before they perform as desired, but I have no personal experience to evaluate that statement.

What about velour towels?

Velour towels are manufactured almost exactly like terry cloth towels, only they are sheared on one side. Velour is extremely soft, but it is significantly less absorbent than its terry cloth counterpart.

On a final note, never use fabric softener with your towels. The residue that gives the fabric a nice feel will also make your towels less absorbent.

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

 

Filed Under: All, Wash It Tagged With: ,

How to Use Rubbing Alcohol Safely

April 13, 2011 By 5 Comments

Heather says:

This is another post in the series on household chemicals. Rubbing alcohol is frequently recommended by frugal and green bloggers for use as household cleaner.

Rubbing alcohol a general term that most often refers to isopropanol, but can also refer to ethanol. It is very important to understand that there is a difference between ethanol and isoproponal. Ethanol is the same type of alcohol you’ll find in your liquor cabinet while isopropanol is the alcohol we’re familiar with in medical applications – the pads used to wipe your skin before receiving a shot as an example. Both can be used as a topical disinfectant -think back to all the movies where nothing but a bottle of liquor was available- and this is how the term came about (the topical application, not the movie scenes).

To keep things simple, from this point forward the rubbing alcohol referenced is the white bottle of 60% – 90% isopropanol most of us are familiar with from the pharmacy department.

Rubbing alcohol should always be used in a well ventilated area.

Isopropanol is volatile which means that it evaporates quickly, creating flammable fumes. Never use rubbing alcohol near open flames or while smoking.

Ispropanol is converted to acetone in the human body. Do not drink it, do not use in an unventilated area, do not use over large areas of skin.

To understand why rubbing alcohol is so often recommended as a household cleaning solvent, let’s dive back into high school chemistry for a moment.

There is an adage like dissolves like, this refers to two types of compounds polar and non-polar. Water is a polar compound, each V shaped H20 molecule has an area with a slightly positive charge and an area with a slightly negative charge. Compounds such as fats are non-polar and do not have these charged areas. In most cases, at least without playing chemist, you won’t get a non-polar solution to mix with a polar solution. If you want to visualize this, head into the kitchen put some water a jar and add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Close the lid and shake the heck out of it. You’ll see tiny droplets of oil suspended in the water (until they eventually float to the top) but these droplets are not part of the solution.

Alcohols, like rubbing alcohol are also polar molecules, but they are organic compounds, this means they have at least one carbon atom, the longer the carbon chain, the less likely the molecules are soluble in water.  The carbon chain helps the compound bring non-polar compounds into solution. So alcohols like isopropanol (which pretty much makes up rubbing alcohol) can act as a solvent for non-polar compounds like dyes and fats.

This is why you see both rubbing alcohol and hairspray recommended to remove ink from fabric. The alcohol brings the ink into solution where it can be wicked away with a paper towel or cloth.

Rubbing alcohol, can strip the fats and oils that protect your skin.

If this is allowed to happen for a long time, this can lead to cracking which can set you up for dermatitis and other even less fun infections.  Use gloves or limit the contact with your skin.

When used properly rubbing alcohol is a fairly safe cleaning agent. The main problem is its effectiveness as a solvent, sometimes it will destroy the item you’re trying to clean. You must use care and understand that alcohols are not always a safe choice for some surfaces and finishes.

Keep rubbing alcohol away from many painted surfaces, shellac, lacquer, and some man-made fabrics.

In some cases denatured alcohol -ethanol alcohol with bittering agents to make it unpalatable- may be a better choice. Don’t worry, I’ll get to denatured alcohol in a future article.

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

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Rising Fuel Prices, Are You Adjusting Your Budget?

April 12, 2011 By 10 Comments

Heather says:

Instability in the Middle East, oil futures speculation, fears of peak oil whatever the actual cause, once again it’s getting a little more costly each time we have to put fuel in the car. Some of the pain associated with rising fuel prices is immediately felt, right there at the pump. Ouch. Other effects are not quite as immediate, but all consumers should be aware of the following trends:

Food prices will rise

It takes fuel to plant, care for, and transport food. Sure all consumer goods have a fuel cost associated with them, but due to the relatively high turnover rate, food -specifically perishable food- is where people will next feel the impact of rising fuel prices.

In the past, it seems I notice the cost of milk and other dairy rising first

Individuals who work for tips will likely see their income fall.

As budgets get tightened to deal with the increase in food and fuel prices, the amount of money left over for eating out and other discretionary spending will fall. Some people continue to go out and just reduce the tip, which they view as non-essential. Is it right that consumers make this choice? Of course not, but it happens. I spent ten years in food and bev, it’s just a part of the business.

Those who deliver pizza will likely be hit on two fronts.

Households who live on lower incomes will disproportionately feel the impact of rising fuel costs.

Why?

Think of everyone’s income as a pie. Regardless of how big that income is, there is a minimum that must be spent on necessities. With a lower income, that minimum is a larger piece of the pie.

So, what can you do?

The answer is not running out and buying a brand new, fuel efficient car.

Think a little more long term. The additional 15 or 20k that would be spent on that new car can buy a lot of gas. If you have any extra discretionary income -money that could be spent on treats or non-essentials- it is time to make sure you stop the outflow. Pay off any small debts, store credit card for example. Sure it’s only $20 or $30 a month, but that may be what keeps your budget in balance with the increase in fuel costs. Get rid of it, yesterday. Go all Dave Ramsey debt snowball if you can.

Check your budget for any forgotten recurring fees. Do you have membership to something you’re not using. The gym perhaps? -raises a guilty hand-

Stopping the bleeding while it’s an annoyance can save a lot of stress.

Use all of the fuel saving tips we learned the last time around.

  • Walk or bike when possible
  • Use mass transit when possible
  • Cut all extraneous car trips -don’t make that mid-week run to the grocery store
  • Plan your route – this is especially helpful if you’re going somewhere new
  • Pool errands with neighbors -offer to return their library books or dry cleaning if you are going to be in that area. Chances are, they will return the favor. -This tip mostly applies to those of us who live outside of city limits.
  • Before the prices trickle down, stock up on non-perishable foods -only the kind you actually eat and not outside your food budget. Get rid of one treat and buy something on sale that will last instead. Please don’t act like I’m saying run out and prepare for the zombie apocalypse. This isn’t that. This is going to be another summer with high fuel costs.  If the budget to get to work has to come from the food budget, wouldn’t it be better to be ready?

Lastly please keep in mind that sometimes the lowest immediate cost has the highest price of all.

This summer look for chances to spend some money on local food producers. Maybe joining a CSA is an option you haven’t considered before. Sure you will end up with some vegetables you may not have seen before, but consider that you could be one of the individuals or families that helps prevent one more farm from going to the auction block.

Are you thinking about the cost of fuel or is it something you’ve managed to avoid?

For more posts on this topic, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on any of the titles under Start Saving.

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Share Your Emergency Budget Ideas

April 8, 2011 By 17 Comments

Heather says:

I talked about this yesterday on the Facebook Fanpage, but I thought it would be a good idea to continue the discussion over here.

Home-Ec101.com is an apolitical site; this means that neither party will get an endorsement, political bashing is not allowed, and for the most part I really hope that political discussion will happen somewhere else -anywhere else- on the internet. Sometimes specific laws, events, and policies are important to discuss. The comment policy, look in the navigation bar, remains in effect at all times.

Right now I am furious, but it’s an empty, helpless rage.

I don’t think the people in DC live in the same world as everyone else. If at one point in their lives they lived paycheck to paycheck, they have forgotten what that means. I don’t think these people have any concept of what delaying a week’s pay can do to people on the brink of poverty. They do not realize that the only people who win will be the payday lenders. Payday lending operations are predatory, they take advantage of people who feel they are in a desperate situation. For the record, I do not mean the clerks, some of them haven’t been able to find another job and are just working to put food on their tables. I’m only talking about the lenders themselves.

Right now, my heart hurts most for young military families. Young men and women signed up, willing to put their lives on the line, for guaranteed pay. Many of them have kids and it’s hard enough to be separated from your family without having to worry about your next paycheck, too.

Home Eccers, many of  us have been in desperate situations where the only concerns are about your next meal, keeping the lights on, or not losing your house. Please share your knowledge in the comments.

Help those that may be facing difficult choices know which bills can slide for a month with the least damage.

Share your best emergency menu plans.

But most of all be respectful, civil, and do not judge. Many of the people who will hurt the most, if this shut down happens are young. Please remember your late teens and early twenties when it was hard to look past the next week.

*UPDATE* The Happy Housewife has an excellent post with advice specifically for military families who may only receive half a paycheck.

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