FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF NOV. 29, 1999:
After putting together a costume, it’s time to restore the knit pants to wearable condition. How can I remove the adhesive residue that came from the duct tape?
That depends on whether the pants are washable or dry clean only. If they’re dry clean only, University of Idaho extension educator Bev Healy recommends applying a dry cleaning or spotting fluid.
If they’re washable, first rub the gummy area with ice and scrape it with the side of a dull knife. Then, saturate it with pretreatment laundry stain remover and wait one minute for the product to penetrate the stain. If the residue is particularly stubborn, rub it with heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder immediately.
For more information on removing stains from washable fabrics, order the 16-page "Stain Removal Guide for Washable Fabrics," Pacific Northwest Extension Publication 440, from Ag Publications at telephone (208) 885-7982, fax (208) 885-4648, e-mail cking@uidaho.edu, web site http://info.ag.uidaho.edu, or U.S. mail at Ag Publications Building, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2240. Cost to Idaho residents is $1.50 plus 85 cents for tax and shipping.
Because the town we live in is centrally located, my large extended family will once again camp at our house for the holidays. We’re always glad to see them, but it seems like all we do is cook and clean up after everybody. Any suggestions?
Before your visitors arrive, let them know nicely but firmly that "we welcome everyone here, but we really do need your help," says Harriet Shaklee, University of Idaho extension family development specialist.
Shaklee recommends making a list of meals and asking families to sign up as units for preparation or cleanup. "Maybe breakfast can be one family’s job and lunch another family’s job." Families or single people who would rather not cook might buy pizza or Chinese take-out.
"Ask everyone to pitch in," Shaklee says. "You don’t want to spend weeks recovering from the company whose arrival you looked forward to so much."
Can I keep my compost pile "working" through the winter or should I give up on it until spring?
Don’t give up composting during the winter, says JoAnn Robbins, University of Idaho extension educator. "If your compost pile doesn’t freeze, it’s still actively decomposing and producing its own heat," she says.
To minimize the risk of freezing, site your compost pile in a sunny spot, insulate it with hay or straw bales, and cover it with clear plastic. Since the outer layers may be too cold for efficient breakdown during the winter, dig your additions into the pile.
Even if your pile freezes, you can continue to set new materials on top, Robbins says. Kitchen waste will be very "green" and full of nitrogen; layer it in with some brown materials – sawdust, shredded newspapers or bagged leaves – that you have stockpiled. Because their cells will already have broken during freezing, these added materials will decompose rapidly with the spring thaw.