TSTNZ's House & Garden Section

 

Annie’s Stain Removal Corner

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Rust stains on cotton lace or cotton cloth and clothing

Hi Annie

Can you tell me how to remove rust stains from a lace and cotton christening gown. The stains are well set as the gown had fallen down behind a hot water cupboard and been there for years.
I would appreciate any advice you could give.

Thanks

Kiri Storer
Glen Taylor School
172 West Tamaki Rd
Glendowie

Hi Kiri

I am assuming that the gown is cotton lace, that is, the entire garment is made from cotton.

You will need

  • A packet of plain salt (not-iodised).
  • 1 lemon (or maybe two or three depending on the number of rust-stained areas and how dark in colour they are).

Method

  1. Find a sunny spot and spread the area of garment to be treated on a clean plastic cutting board or other such surface that the colour or surface will not be damaged by the salt or lemon.
  2. Pour a little mountain of salt over each rust spot and squeeze just enough lemon juice over each mountain peak so that the salt is moistened but the little mountain does not collapse.
  3. Leave to dry for an hour making sure the sun is always directly shining on the piles of salt. The sunlight, lemon and salt all react together to dissolve the rust and it is absorbed by the salt.
  4. Once dry brush the salt away and the stain will have either disappeared or faded. As there are a number of stains on your christening gown plus they are quite old and set, you will most likely need to repeat the process a couple of times until all the stains have faded away completely.

Annie

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Seasonal shoe and foot odour remedies

Hi Annie

It's summertime and I have become a fitness walking fanatic but how do you stop sports shoes becoming smelly. I also have two boys and a husband who all have the same problem.

Susan
Primary Teacher
Taranaki.


Hi Susan

Let's make some natural shoe and foot deodorant which will not only rid you of that all pervading smell on your porch or when anyone takes their shoes off in the house but also help to prevent fungal infections of the foot.

This recipe will make enough for one person, so Susan as there are four people in your family in need of this remedy you may need to quadruple the ingredients below, so each person has their own bag of sweet smellies, which they can use on any number of their own shoes.

You will need:

  • 2 drops of Tea tree oil (Kills tinea)
  • 2 drops of oil of cloves (Kills mould spore so it doesn't form really good in damp conditions)
  • 2 drops of lavender oil (Anti-bacterial, deters insect from crawling into your empty shoes and gives off an attractive clean fragrance).
  • 2 Tablespoons of Bicarbonate of Soda (Really good for absorbing sweat).
  • 2 Tablespoons of Talcum Powder (For a nice cool silky feel + also absorbs moisture)
  • A standard cleaning cloth size piece of Muslin cloth (30cm x 30cm) or an old but clean pair of pantyhose.

Method:

  1. Mix all the ingredients together and place into the middle of the muslin cloth and tie all the corners together or alternatively put into the closed toe end of the pantyhose.
  2. Tie the ends together of the muslin or tie off the pantyhose where suitable with a piece of string or ribbon so you can undo easily for washing and refills.
  3. Now simply pat the inside of the shoes and wipe your feet with this bag before and after wearing your shoes.
  4. Re-use until the sweet smell of the bag disappears then empty, wash, dry and make a refill.
     

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The essential in-expensive stain solvent to store in your cleaning kit

How do you get rid of old tea stains on carpet?

Cheers

Evelyn Straka
Executive Officer
Wainui School

Hi Evelyn

Simply spray lightly with undiluted white vinegar, wait 1 to 2 minutes and then rub with an old pantyhose. Repeat until the stain has completely gone.
Annie

Versatile White Vinegar: The essential ingredient of any stain removal kit.

Vinegar means sour wine and this liquid is produced from oxidation by acetic acid bacteria in wine, cider, beer, fermented fruit juice or nearly any other liquid containing alcohol. You can use any of these liquids but white vinegar leaves no residue or colour and doesn't even need to be rinsed off as it evaporates completely after a day or so of treating the stain.

Uses: Note to effectively remove stains from any of the following you may need to use white vinegar in conjunction with other ingredients such as bicarbonate of soda.

  1. All lime based stains such as chalk and concrete marks, electric jug and plumbing pipes scaling.
  2. Absorbs nasty smells in enclosed areas such as freezers, cars, bags, microwaves
  3. Boiled dry saucepans
  4. Urine stains and odours
  5. Cigarette stains on walls and ceilings
  6. Red wine stains on just about anything
  7. Food stains
  8. Permanent press in the wrong place and iron marks.
  9. Non-chemical surface cleaner for kitchen tables and benches
  10. Glass and windscreens
  11. Barbecues
  12. Zippers and fabric fasteners that have gone green
  13. To expand and bring to life shrunken silk garments
  14. Keeping the head on the beer in your glass
  15. New towels and fabric that never dries fully.
  16. White marks that won't wash off black fabrics and clothing.

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Suicidal Insects on your windscreen can be a road hazard.

Dead insects and insect excrement on windscreens and house windows is very annoying. In the case of your windscreen, it also poses a health and safety risk. Therefore before you decorate the house for Christmas or set off into our beautiful countryside make up this spray and keep it handy, as it will make it really easy to for you to clean your spattered windscreen at the end of each day.


Using this spray will help prevent the incidence of a gluey mess that you can't see through whenever you need to switch on the windscreen wipers.

Spray ingredients:
1 teaspoon T-tree oil
1 teaspoon glycerine
1 litre coldwater

Using a clean spray bottle combine ingredients and shake well.
Spray glass and wipe away with an old pantyhose or paper towel.

Preventing fogged up car windows
At this time of year your car is more likely to be full of people and to stop your windscreen from fogging up on a humid, rainy day pour a teaspoon of sweet almond oil onto a soft cloth and polish the inside and outside of the windscreen with it. Repeat this polishing technique on all the inside windows especially the rear and front seat side windows. Smells good too!

Using this spray on other surfaces
You can also use this spray on all washable surfaces but take it easy how much you spray on carpets or upholstery. Rather than directly spraying onto soft surfaces, I first spray onto pantyhose then rub the stain with it, wiping away the residue with a clean cloth.

Bird droppings
Please note there is a whole section on bird droppings, as which type of spray to use depends on the bird's diet so we'll tackle that in next week's column.

Happy Holiday preparations

Annie

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An inexpensive Christmas Present

Hi Everyone

Today I am answering a Universal Question - What to give to someone at Christmas that doesn't cost the earth, is different, really useful, personalised and made with love out of recycled materials:

Attention Textile & Home Economics Teachers - A Useful Christmas Present for your students to make out of Recycled Materials:

The Easy to Hang Rag/ Sock/ Knicker Bag.

As it is the season of gift making here's a cheap and simple to make but useful Gift for you and your students to make. It is the Rag Bag or Sock/ Stocking/ Knicker Storage Bag. It hangs in any cupboard or wardrobe

You will need

  • An old shirt with buttons preferably short-sleeved but it doesn't matter.
  • Scissors
  • Needle and thread
  • Artist Marker Pens or Fabric Paint and Brush.
    Visit www.zigzag.co.nz to purchase these online.
  • STENCIL LETTERS of the Alphabet that spell RAGBAG or a person's name plus any other STENCILS such as daisies, butterflies, etcetera.
  • Optional fancy buttons plus any other washable decorations
  • Coat Hanger

Method

  1. If short-sleeved sew up the armholes. If long-sleeved cut off the arms completely or trim to until short-sleeved and sew up the arm-holes
  2. Sew together the bottom ends of the shirt so a bag is formed once the shirt-buttons are done up.
  3. If you want to decorate by exchanging the original buttons for something fancier sew them on now.
  4. Stencil paint on the words RAG BAG or JANE'S KNICKERS or JOHN's SOCKS or whatever seems most useful or generic such as just SOCKS.
  5. Add any other decorations or paint on a sock or aerosol can or pair of knickers to depict the bag's usage.
  6. Put the finished shirt onto a clothes hanger and do up the buttons

Now you have a storage bag that can be hung up in the wardrobe, on the back of any door or on a hook in the cleaning cupboard. For ease of installing you may wish to add an instant stick on hook to the final gift parcel.

This is really useful gift for people who live in a small flat or have very little storage space. Could even be an alternative to LOCKERS and may rid of the mess in the CLASS CLOAKROOM.

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Removing mould stains from curtains

Hi Annie,

Do you know how to get mould stains out of curtains? They have a thermal backing but with a cotton overhanging piece.

Thanks,
Fran
F. Powell
Bream Bay College

Hi Fran

The different materials are not a problem because you can use the same natural oil of cloves spray remedy (see recipe below) for all of the following:

  • Books and walls behind bookshelves
  • Cushions, Upholstery, Curtains, Blinds and Carpets
  • Upholstery in Cars and Car-boots
  • Inside Bathroom Showers

Mould cannot grow in dry well ventilated sunny areas. Unfortunately during winter months this environment simply does not exist in and around many NZ homes and school-buildings.
All moulds spread by spores and preventing re-growth is as important as its removal but luckily both can be done at the same time for every kind of mould.

Recipe:
Ingredient to buy and prepare:
Oil of cloves and dissolve a 1/4 teaspoon of this powerful oil into at least 1 litre of water in a spray bottle.

Spray all of the above and leave to dry for 24 hours by which time the mould should have dropped off and disappeared but if not spray a little more of the clove water onto an old pair of pantyhose and wipe onto the area. In all cases do not wipe off the spray because once dry the cloves will keep damp away for 1 to 3 months at which point you will need to spray again.

Special Note: For upholstery in cars and anything that is movable like shoes or cushions spray and leave in a sunny spot.

Annie

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Removing pet vomit stains

Hi Annie,

Unfortunately my dog has recently been ill.
He was unable to get out of the back door quickly enough and some vomit ended up on the beige carpet. I think it's a nylon and wool mix.
There is a yellowy brown stain left on the carpet. Can you suggest how this can be removed?

Thanks

Liz Rainbow
Taupo-nui-a-Tia College
Spa Road
Taupo

Hi Liz

Hopefully this is just a temporary problem caused by the youth or old age of your pet.

Most pets eat commercial dry or tinned foods and the stains from this can be treated as follows: First treat with cold water and bath soap and if after doing this there is still a pinkish stain, then brush two to three drops of glycerine only for every 30 cm of stain over carpet, vinyl or timber floors.

Leave for 20 minutes then repeat the cold water and bath soap treatment using an old rolled up pantyhose to erase the stain.

Annie

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Removing blood stains from furniture

Hi Annie,

I'm wondering what is the best way to get a bloodstain out of a couch?

Thanks

Tina
Willowbank School 56S Middlefield Drive
Howick South, Manukau,


Hi Tina

1) Using a fresh bar of white bath soap dip it into a small bowl of cold water and as though you are using a crayon scribble it onto the stain.

2) Select an old but clean toothbrush and scrub the soap covered stain with it. Avoid adding any extra water to the toothbrush, as you do not want to soak the couch.

3) Sponge off the soap with a well wrung out cloth that has been dipped in another bowl of cold water.

4) If you scribbled over the stain completely in step one, the bloodstain should have disappeared but if necessary repeat all of the steps above and do not allow anyone to sit on the couch until it is completely dry.

N.B. Do not soak the couch thinking this will help the stain to come out.

Annie

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Removing oil pastels stains from clothes

Hi Annie
How do we get stains from oil pastels out of our clothes?

Thanks

Sacha Fawbert
Maungaraki School
Lower Hutt 5010

Pour two drops of T-tree oil into the centre of a slice of bread, pull the four corners of the bread together and rub the centre of the bread on the clothing. If you have a sea sponge or other soft sponge handy, use this instead of the bread.

Wipe off the excess T-tree oil with a damp cloth and by this time the coloured mark should have completely gone.

In order to remove any oil residue wash clothing as you would normally do.
 
Annie

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Removing chewing gum from carpet

Hello Annie

Chewing gum stains in the carpet in the classroom! - How do we get rid of it?

Donna Mason
Sunset Primary School


Removing chewing and bubble gum from concrete, school-desks, clothing and carpets

Fill a number of small plastic bags with ice and place one bag on each lump of chewing gum. Once the gum has been chilled enough to have gone rock hard use an ice-lolly stick or a blunt knife and carefully lift the lump. The gum should come off cleanly but if there are persistent bits left behind rub with an old pantyhose that has a good dose of Tea Tree Oil on it. Once the area is clear of gum rub the area with a damp cloth that has been dipped in 50/50 water and liquid woolwash to remove the Tea-tree oil residue. Used in this way any brand of woolwash is also a handy and economical carpet spot cleaner.

You can also use this method for soft surfaces such as vinyl, leather and clothing.

Gummed hair is often the cause of classroom trauma so you can dispel the panic and aggravation by using this same method to remove any sort of gum out of a student's hair; however instead of woolwash tell the student to wash their hair with their family shampoo as soon as they get home.
 

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Removing acrylic paint from clothing

Hi Annie,

We have terrible trouble with dried paint on our school sweatshirts & polos - we would love to be able to advise parents how to remove this - any ideas? We typically use school acrylic paint and our hoodies & Polo shirts are a turquoise colour, made from polyester cotton mix. Thanks for your help.

Louise McGrath
Office Manager
Hurupaki School
Kamo
Whangarei


Hi Louise

Acrylic Paint can be a real problem as on contact it begins to bond quite quickly with nylon/ polyester fibres such as fleecy hoodies and polo shirts. Methylated spirits will break down these bonds and separate the paint from the fibres however this does take time. The best way to deal with each area or paint spots is to employ the tie-dye method of soaking but instead of dye you use cold methylated spirits in a wide mouthed container that you can cover.

This means that you fasten the paint spotted section of the garment with an elastic band and then soak the finger shaped piece of clothing in the methylated spirits for 20 minutes, covering the container to stop the meths from evaporating. Then remove and rub the garment with your fingers to help release the paint from the fibres. If it doesn't work fasten it up with the elastic band again and repeat the soaking for another 20 minutes and if necessary repeat the process for as long as it takes to release the paint.

If you use a glass container you will see that quite suddenly the fibres will release the paint, making methylated spirits, paint coloured and that is the time to remove and start rubbing the cloth again. Depending on the paint quality and how much is on the garment it can take quite some time to remove it all but with patience it does work.

Once the paint is gone, immediately rinse out the methylated spirits and wash as normal to make sure all the paint residue has been removed.

Even though it is now cloudy, it will never bond with paint so the methylated spirits can be re-used for other garments so there is no need to throw it away. Just make sure it is kept in a sealed jar in a dark cool place.

Annie

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How to remove sweat stains from clothing

Hi Annie,

What is the best way to remove sweat stains on light coloured clothing?

Susanne
Te Kauwhata College
Waikato


Hi Susanne

I am presuming that the problem is with nylon or polyester clothing as natural fibres such as cotton open up when water and detergent is applied during the washing process, unfortunately synthetic fibres don't do this so the unpleasant stale body odour and yellow-brown stain remain locked in.

The answer is simple: pre-stain treat with Methylated Spirits!

A good trick is to keep a covered, wide mouthed container of methylated spirits in the laundry room. Dip the stained area into the container and to save on the meths, wring out the excess back into the container before throwing into the washing machine. This will open up the fibres allowing the washing detergent and cycle to do its job. The advantage of the dipping container is that you don't waste methylated spirits. Instead of dipping you can also wipe the methylated spirits onto the garment.

You can also use this method on darker clothing where no matter how often you wash the garment, the under arm odour after an hour's wear tells you that this piece of clothing has a similar problem.

Annie

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Removing highlighter or marker pen stains

Hi Annie, can you please tell me if you have ever successfully removed highlighter pen ink from carpet. It is a bright orange colour, which I understand is one of the hardest colours to remove.

Thanks
Sue

Sue McLeish
Principal's Nominee
Northern Health School
C/- Whitiora School
Hamilton


Hi Sue
Yes can be tricky but certainly will come off if you find the correct solvent for the stain, which is what the following set of instructions will do. It could also be a good science experiment as not all highlighter and marker pens are created equal and therefore might require some experimentation. The benefit of this particular project is that it will also remove a pesky stain.


Here is what you or the science class would need to do:

First note that each different type of marker pen's errant marks may need treating differently.

As most marker pens contain their own solvent you will need the original pen or the same brand and type of pen that caused the marks. Make sure you have all materials below including the rotten milk solids (instructions on how to make this are also below) before you start on your experiment


Items to have at the ready:
1) The original or same brand and type of marker pen that made the original stain
2) Cotton buds
3) White vinegar
4) Clean white dry cloths.

Plus

The stain solvents to test with:
5) Methylated Spirits
6) White Spirits
7) Rotten Milk solids - see how to make and use just below.
8) Common Soap and Water
9) Acetone

Have your remedies lined up and test them in the order they are listed above using cotton buds dipped well in each solution and spun onto a small part of the stain until you find the one that starts to effectively dissolve the stain.

Once you have found the right solvent from the list do the following and work fast:

In one stroke draw the original pen back over the mark, which will start to dissolve the stain.

Next immediately start stroking the cotton bud repeatedly dipped in the correct solvent until you have removed the entire colour.

To neutralise the mark rinse with water or white vinegar. White vinegar is usually the better of the two to use but for some surfaces such as marble tops it is safer to use water.

Remove any residue of water or vinegar with a dry cloth and don't let anyone walk on the area until completely dry.

Creating your rotten milk solid solution.
You can create rotten milk solids the good old-fashioned way by leaving out in the sun in a wide mouthed container. Make sure you leave the container of milk solids alone until it is lumpy and smells like off milk. Do not use vinegar or lemon juice to sour the milk.

Stain removal using the rotten milk solid solution

1) When ready to use strain the mixture through your fingers catching the lumps and then rub the lumps over the stain(s)
2) Now leave until the ink starts to bleed then grab or shake the lumps off the carpet or rug.
3) Next dip a bar of common bathroom soap in cold water and rub the stain until it disappears.
4) Rub the soap residue away with a cloth rung out in cold water.

If the ink mark remains it means that you did not leave the rotten milk solids on long enough so repeat the whole process. This method can also be used on curtains, all furnishing fabrics and clothing.

Could be a good science experiment for one of your classes. Happy solvent experiments

Annie

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Using Springtime Sunshine as a Stain Remover

Dear Annie,

Our school has black and white school sports shirts made of Polyester. They are often returned with grass stains - what advice should we give to parents on getting them out?

Regards,

Helen Kinsey-Wightman
Principal
Rangiwahia School


Good Day Helen

Type the below treatment this into your next school newsletter with the heading 'Treating Sports Shirts for Grass Stains'.

Now spring has arrived all you need to make our School Sports Uniforms look smart and sharp again is a sunny day, white vinegar and your usual washing powder.

Treat the stains with dabs of white vinegar before and after washing normally. Make sure you hang the affected clothes out on the line in the sunniest spot.

Annie

Good morning Annie,

Could you please tell how to remove mildew (black) stains from curtains?

Thank you

Kathryn Hooper
Highlands Intermediate School
New Plymouth

Hi Kathryn

The good thing about springtime sunshine is that we can use it to address all those depressing mould and mildew problems that have arisen over winter. It is best to treat now as mould loves warmth even more than damp and will get worse as the weather warms up, especially if we have a wet spring, so use those sunny days.

Removing the damp smell and mould stains from:
* Books and walls behind bookshelves
* Cushions, Upholstery, Curtains, Blinds and Carpets
* Upholstery in Cars and Car-boots
* Inside Bathroom Showers

Mould cannot grow in dry well ventilated sunny areas. Unfortunately during winter months this environment simply does not exist in and around many NZ homes and school-buildings.
All moulds spread by spores and preventing re-growth is as important as its removal but luckily both can be done at the same time for every kind of mould.

Ingredient to buy and prepare:
Oil of cloves and dissolve a 1/4 teaspoon of this powerful oil into at least 1 litre of water in a spray bottle.

Method:
Spray all of the above and leave to dry for 24 hours by which time the mould should have dropped off and disappeared but if not spray a little more of the clove water onto an old pair of pantyhose and wipe onto the area. In all cases do not wipe off the spray because once dry the cloves will keep damp away for 1 to 3 months at which point you will need to spray again.

Special Note: For upholstery in cars and anything that is movable like shoes or cushions spray and leave in a sunny spot.

Yay for Sunny Days!

Annie

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Removing coffee stains from carpet

How do you get a coffee stain out of an acrylic carpet?

From Rachel Carson
Pirongia School

Hi Rachel,

Coffee stains on carpets respond to any of the following for the following reasons:

Vinegar means sour wine and this liquid is produced from oxidation by acetic acid bacteria in vinegar, wine, cider, beer, fermented fruit juice or nearly any other liquid containing alcohol. You can use any of these liquids apart from red wine, but white vinegar is very economical, does not affect the carpet colour, leaves no residue or colour itself and the smell dissipates within minutes. White vinegar doesn't even need to be rinsed off as it evaporates completely after a day or so of treating the stain.

Therefore just wipe the stain with a cloth soaked in white vinegar, repeat after a few minutes or until stain has all come off onto the cloth and leave to dry with perhaps a piece of string or long piece of material draped around the cleaned area of carpet to discourage people from walking over that spot until it is completely dry.

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Food colouring, vegetable and fruit stains on clothing, fabrics, carpets and vinyl

Hi Annie,
I have a tomato stain on a green carpet that seems to get redder every time I try to remove it. Have you any suggestions, as I am afraid to try anything else, as it seems to make it redder.
Cheers
Julie Scelly
Te kauwhata College

Dear Annie,
I spattered rhubarb juice onto a white cotton t-shirt, tried to rinse it in cold water then applied hand soap. The splashes have turned blue (good pH indicator I'm thinking!) and I'm not sure of the next step to try.
Advice would be appreciated!
Cheers
Claudine

The following method removes all berries, beetroot, tomato sauce, fizzy and still drink colouring stains from clothing, fabrics, carpets and vinyl. It is also great for Playdough marks.

For these types of stains you just need white vinegar and the sun's rays.

1) Wipe the stained area with white vinegar and then leave out in the sun until dry.
2) Wash and dry as normal.

This remedy clears berry, beetroot, coloured fizzy and still drink stains.

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Grass stains on uniforms and chewing gum stains on carpet

Removing grass stains off school sports shirts.

Dear Annie,

Our school has black and white school sports shirts made of Polyester. They are often returned with grass stains - what advice should we give to parents on getting them out?

Regards,

Helen Kinsey-Wightman
Principal
Rangiwahia School

Dear Helen

All you need to do is wait for a sunny day; then treat the stains with dabs of white vinegar before and after washing normally. Make sure you hang the affected clothes out on the line in the sunniest spot.

Annie


Removing chewing gum stains from classroom carpet

Hello Annie
Our question: Chewing gum stain in the carpet in the classroom! - How do we get rid of it!

Donna Mason
Sunset Primary School
Rotorua

Hello Donna

Fill the same number of plastic bags with ice as there are gum stains or gum and place one bag on each lump of chewing gum. Once the gum has been chilled enough to become rock hard, use an iceblock stick or a blunt knife and scrape close to the surface to lift the lump. The gum should come off cleanly but if there are persistent bits left behind rub with an old pantyhose that has a good dose of Tea Tree Oil on it. This will also remove the gum stain. Once the area is clear of gum rub with a damp cloth to remove any oil residue and allow drying before walking on that area again.

Annie

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How to remove cat and dog excrement, urine and vomit

Could you please tell me the best way to deal with stains from our new puppy? Unfortunately there have been a few wee accidents on the carpet.

Cheers
Kay Smythe

 Animal poo or vomit
Hopefully this is just a temporary problem caused by the youth or old age of your pet.

Most pets eat commercial dry or tinned foods and the stains from this can be treated as follows:
First treat with cold water and bath soap.

If after doing this there is still a pinkish stain you will need to brush two to three drops of glycerine for every 30 cm of stain over carpet, vinyl or timber floors. Leave for 20 minutes then repeat the cold water and bath soap treatment using an old rolled up pantyhose to erase the stain.

Urine:
It is hard to spot how far urine is spread, so invest in a ultra-violet light. These are not expensive and can be purchased from most lighting shops or large hardware stores. On a dark night shine the light around the smelly area and using a piece of chalk mark the area before switching off the light. Clean area with white vinegar and the smell will disappear.

The light is also useful in that by locating every spot of urine and removing it your pet is less likely to return to that area, identify it as a previous toilet spot and repeat the performance.


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Removing mould stains from curtains

Hi Annie,

My question is " Do you know how to get mould stains out of curtains? They have a thermal backing but there is a cotton overhanging piece.

Thanks,
Fran
Breambay College

Hi Fran

As mould spreads by spores in damp air, this means that if you have mould on the curtains there will be mould in other parts of the room such as on
* Books and walls behind bookshelves
* Cushions, Upholstery, Blinds and Carpets

Mould cannot grow in dry well ventilated sunny areas but during winter months this environment simply does not exist in and around many NZ homes and school-buildings. Preventing re-growth caused by the spread of the mould spores is as important as its removal but luckily both can be done at the same time for every kind of mould.

Ingredient to buy and prepare:
Oil of cloves: Dissolve a 1/4 teaspoon of this powerful oil into at least 1 litre of water in a spray bottle.

Method:
Spray all areas showing mould and any you suspect may be starting to grow mould then leave to dry for 24 hours by which time the mould should have dropped off and disappeared but if not spray a little more of the clove water onto an old pair of pantyhose and wipe onto the area. In all cases do not wipe off the spray because once dry the non-toxic cloves will keep damp away for 1 to 3 months at which point you will need to spray again.

Oil of cloves is generally available a supermarket health and beauty section and is generally always available at any pharmacy.


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Natural or synthetic surfaces

Hi Annie

I want you settle a staffroom argument, when choosing surfaces for a renovation or new house, which is best natural or synthetic?

Liz
Hamilton

Stain prevention on surfaces is something everyone should consider when renovating or building a new home. Natural surfaces stain more easily than plastics and synthetic fibres but then it is generally easier to remove a stain or mark from a natural surface.

As there are so many different types of surfaces on the market, I couldn't accurately give you the answer you require so to settle the argument I suggest that you obtain samples of the surfaces under discussion and spill everything you can on them from beetroot juice to coffee and see which is the easiest to clean. Could be a good science, home economics or hard technology lesson plan.

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Age spot stain removal from woollen clothing

Hi Annie
I have a woollen baby shawl creamy/ white that has been stored in a pillowcase in a camphor box for a few years. The spots that have developed are a yellowy colour and quite small. I have not attempted to wash it in a wool wash.

Thanks

Margaret
Mairehau High School
Christchurch


Hi Margaret,

Finally I found the email I was writing to you at 1.51pm on the 22nd February 2011 and we all know what happened next. I was on the 7th floor of an office block in Hereford Street, Christchurch CBD where were you?

Your question had caused me to have to do some research as I had not encountered this problem before and so I was hoping to find the answer a lot sooner than this, that I had written so carefully on the day and moment the world changed for all of us who live and work in Christchurch.

At some point in its life it is most likely that this shawl (maybe you lent it to someone) was washed in normal washing detergent and/ or too hot a water temperature and/ or dried in strong sunlight.

A common mistake is to wash woollens in a liquid clothes washing detergent rather than a wool wash thinking that because it is liquid it should be ok; However the bleaches and chemicals in normal washing detergents whether liquid or powder burns wool as does hot water and bright sunlight. As with skin the burn marks or dots then develop over time even if the garment has been carefully stored.

The best way to remove these burns is to first try washing the shawl in a reputable wool wash product or even better make your own.

My wool and delicates wash recipe is as follows

You will need:
1/4 cup of the cheapest normal hair shampoo - It's not about the price but cheap shampoo does not contain any natural oils so cleans the wool fibres more effectively.
1/2 cup of pure soap - Grate up a bar of plain soap.
2 teaspoons of Bicarbonate of Soda
2 teaspoons of Vinegar
Optional - 4 to 6 drops of lavender oil (Softens the wool and kills germs plus adds a lovely calming fragrance)

Method:
1. Put all the ingredients into a two-litre container and shake well then almost fill with water and shake well once more.
2. Shake well again just before you use it. (Costs less than a dollar to make a two-litre bottle).
3. Hand-wash the garment in the wool wash, as you would normally do in luke-warm water. Dry flat away from sunlight.
4. If once it is dry, the marks have faded but not completely gone then gently wash and dry again.

If nothing happens then try the following:

Soak the shawl in 1 part white vinegar to 20 parts luke- warm water i.e. 100ml to 2 litres of warm water. Leave for 15 minutes then again wash in the wool-wash mix and dry in shade.

This is a safe treatment and hopefully it works so do let me know Margaret as I did have to research this one.

P.S. I will be visiting Mairehau High next week with a parcel from Edmonds and some books for your school library.


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Using a C.S.I. trick to stop your pets peeing on the carpet.

Hi Annie,

I have yellow dog urine stains on our light grey carpet, I have tried carpet shampoos, baking soda, and even peroxide. Have you any other suggestions that I could try please.

Thanks, Sharyn

Hi Sharyn

On a bright sunny day try sponging with a cloth wrung out in white vinegar then spray the room with lavender mist to discourage the dog or cat from urinating in this room and to dispel the odours. To make the lavender mist fill a litre spray bottle with water and add one teaspoon of lavender oil.

If your puppy or cat is constantly returning to the same spot you need to identify all the stain spots so you can treat the entire affected area which will discourage the pet from repeating this annoying performance and make it easier to train them to use a litter box or go outside. To do this you need to invest in an ultra violet pen-light available from most electronic or lighting stores. These are not expensive and like the CSI programmes on TV you simply switch it on in a dark room and use chalk to draw around any spots the pet has urinated on so you can treat all these spots at once which will prevent the pet from remembering that this was once a it's favourite toilet area.

Extra Tip: You may think it is a good idea but do not spray litter boxes with lavender as the pet will not like the smell and stop using it.

 

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Removing grass stains from clothing

Hi Annie,

The problem of grass stains on kid's clothes, particularly my daughter's soccer uniform, is a weekly occurrence. I don't have great success with any of the readily available products, purchased at the supermarket. Do you have an elegant solution using basic household products?

Thanks
David
Whangaparaoa College


Hi David

All you need to do is wait for a sunny day; then treat the stains with dabs of white vinegar before and after washing normally. Make sure you hang the affected clothes out on the line in the sunniest spot.

Annie

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How to remove cordial from carpet

Hi Annie

I have heard that it is impossible to get out a stain of red fizzy or cordial out of carpet. Is this true or is there something that will take it out if not found straight away?

Thanks

Tracey Foden
Broadlands School

Hi Tracey

Thanks for your question. Of course you can remove cordial!

Hire a steam-cleaning machine from the supermarket. Use half the recommended detergent for the area you intend to clean then add to this
1/2 cup of bicarbonate of soda
1/2 a cup white vinegar
1/2 a cup of methylated spirits
2 teaspoons of eucalyptus oil (available from most supermarkets in the cosmetic or health section).

Now use the machine with this combination of ingredients in exactly the same way as you would normally steam clean a carpet.
 

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How to remove the smell of spilt milk

Hi Annie,
A couple of days ago a container of milk from the shopping was split and ran into the boot of the car. I managed to soak up the milk and have since used dishwashing liquid and water to try and rid the boot of the rest. Unfortunately there is an off milk smell in the car, it is usually parked in an area which gets the sun too. What do you suggest that I do now?
Liz

Hi Liz

You may not be able to see it but the stain has spread and is still there. Inexpensive ultra-violet penlights are available from hardware and electronic stores at around $20. Milk is similar to blood so this little CSI tool will show up the full extent of old milk stains. However if you do not want to go to this expense and you think you know how far the milk could have spread you can start by going straight for the remedy.

You will need:
A cake of very hard, plain bathroom soap.
A bowl of very cold water - For best results use refrigerated water.
Two clean cloths.

Method
Dip a corner of the bar of soap in the cold water, shake off the excess water and scribble the soap like a crayon over a section of the stained area before working the soap into the area with a cloth wrung out in cold water. Using another cloth dipped in cold water and wrung out well clean off the soap then blot dry with clean paper towels.

Repeat over the rest of the stained area.

If this doesn't remove the smell, I do suggest the ultra-violet penlight to track down the full extent of the stain. You will find that it is a worthwhile investment for this and future spills around the house and car.

If the milk has seeped into areas you cannot reach and the smell won't go I suggest hanging a piece of barbecue charcoal in a muslin cloth in the car. The charcoal will to some extent absorb the odour from the remaining stain. Wash the bag and replace with a fresh piece after one week.

Regards
Annie

Thank you for sending in your question Liz, you are now in the draw for 'Annies Stains First Aid Kit'.

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.Agony Aunt Annie's Answers to your cleaning questions

Hi Annie,
Can you please tell me a good way to clean my oven with a natural based cleaner? I hate the store bought ones full of chemicals and the awful smell that lingers after cleaning.

Thanks and kind regards
Kerri
Patumahoe School

Hi Kerri

Using my favourite cleaning combination, liberally sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda onto one side of the oven and spray liberally with white vinegar. Whilst the mixture on the oven wall is still fizzing, scrub with a stiff brush. Repeat on each wall and tray of the oven for a natural toxic-free clean.

As the oven should be switched off while you are cleaning it, plug in a desk lamp and shine it into the oven; then to further improve visibility place a mirror on the floor of the oven so you can see the interior roof:

White vinegar does not have a strong smell so this should not be a problem, but to improve the general aroma of your kitchen and to discourage flies fill a one litre spray bottle with water and add either 1 teaspoon of pure lavender or lemon oil, shake well then spray your kitchen and any other room in need of a freshen up.

OR

Simply use an oil burner or light lavender incense stick which can be bought for as little as 99c per pack of 20 sticks.

Happy toxic-free cleaning. You are now in the draw for the First Aid of Cleaning Kit.

Annie


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Annie answers two questions sent in by readers.

Hi Annie

What is a good natural product or mix to keep stainless steel pots and sinks looking good?
Margaret
Patumahoe School

Hi Margaret
Once a week sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda and spray with white vinegar and whilst fizzing rub with a bunched up pantyhose or netting material with a similar gentle abrasive feel. Rinse off and rub dry with a dry pair of panty hose.

You are now in the draw for the First Aid of Cleaning Kit

Happy Polishing
Annie

Hi Annie

Have you put out a pamphlet or book using home products for stain removal and cleaning?
Regards
Dulcie
Blaketown School

Hi Dulcie
Not as yet but here is a live link to all my previous articles and answers on TSTNZ: www.tstnz.com/house_garden.html

Initially I focused on stains that are occupational hazards for teachers so not all my solutions are completely natural however you will find them in the average cleaning or DIY cupboard in a home.

Dulcie if the answer for your specific problem is not there please send me an email

Annie

Write to ann@tstnz.com 

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Q & A's on using the contents of your Fruit Bowl as natural cleaners.

Suzie asks:
Whenever I cook cauliflower which we all love it smells out the whole house! What can I do to stop this?

Annie answers:
Count the number of cauliflower flowerets you are about to cook and pop the same number of small pieces of apple peel into the cooking pot. You can also remove the smell from surfaces and from the kitchen by boiling just the apple peel in water which will help clear the air and then use the liquid as a spray and wipe.

Jan wants to know what is the best natural product with which to polish cane furniture?

Rub with banana skins as this will give a beautiful bluish brown sheen however do wipe clean with a clean dry cloth to avoid attracting insects.
Caution, never leave banana skin lying on any surface as it will leave some rather horrible stains especially in the bottom of students' bags.
 

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Quake proofing the little things

Speaking from the experience of living in Christchurch here are some great protective tips for your. T.V., kitchen and house ornaments.

1) When storing items in your kitchen cupboards place the packets and un-breakables on the higher shelves, moving the glass jars and other breakables to the lower shelves.

2) An easy way to keep kitchen cupboard doors closed is to pop a wooden spoon through looped door handles of kitchen cupboards or use an elastic band on button-catch cupboards. If leaving the house for a while wedge a small wad of paper in each cupboard or drawer door as you close it.

3) For ornaments there is GOOD NEWS if you live in an earthquake prone area because there is a new product available in hardware stores called seismic wax which is rather like wall-tac on steroids. This means you can anchor and enjoy your ornaments once more; however do make sure they are on a stable surface as it is not going to be much use if the cupboard or table falls over.

4) The TV. An easy economical way to secure your flat screen TV is to purchase a luggage strap. Using the hole provided in the back of the stand as a guide mark a drill spot in the surface of the table or shelf it sits on. Next drill the hole, then make a corresponding hole in the strap in two places that line up when you put a large headed screw and washer through the top of the TV , strap, table, and finally through the strap under the table. To secure use a screw washer underneath the table and tighten firmly. 

Please note nothing is fool-proof as we never know where a quake will come from or as 22nd February showed that irrespective of it's magnitude what damage any single earthquake can cause. 
 

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Postquake update to Annie's War on Stains 

To all of you waiting on answers from me, my apologies, especially to the lady looking for answers on a white woollen baby's christening robe or shawl, the solutions to which I had researched and had almost finished typing up for you at 9 minutes to 1pm on February 22nd2011.

As you may already know our office is in the central CBD of Christchurch this means that I am now limited to a laptop at home that has none of my previous records or emails on it so if you would like to help me out by resending your questions to my new email address enquiries@tstnz.com I will be able to finish answering them. This includes the lady who asked me about the baby shawl as I cannot remember your name or email address.

Competition: This means that if you resend your questions and any new ones you will all be assured of being included in the Draw for Annie's Stains and Cleaning First Aid Kit. 

Hope it never happens but here are some tips for when there is no power or water and chaos greets you at the door:

Bearing in mind that there will probably be no power or water immediately after a traumatic event such as an earthquake here is a list of the most basic items you will need before you can start to clear up the chaos in your most important room, the kitchen. 

  1. Dry rags and old towels that you may never want to use again.
  2. Large stiff broom to sweep a space
  3. For every helper a strong pair of protective gloves that broken glass can't penetrate easily and make sure that they have decent footwear.
  4. Plastic gloves for dealing with icky stuff later on.
  5. Hand sanitizer
  6. Brush and large shovel plus small brush and shovel.
  7. Scrubbing brush.
  8. Paper towels. 
  9. Receptacles to ditch the rubbish into.
  10. Boxes so you can throw in and sort later what may be still usable as this enables you to clear the broken stuff completely out of your cupboards.
  11. If it rains or you are near a river collect some water add some bleach and cleaner so you can scrub and you will need to scrub as the floor will have all manner of stuff stuck to it. 
  12. Finally spray the floor with water with a few drops of lavender oil in it and using the rags and towels finish drying the floor off so you won't need rinsing water.

Hopefully you will never have to use the above tips but just in case store everything in one spot right now! 

Remember take care of each other before you take care of things. 

Annie.

Any questions should be headed Attention Annie and emailed to enquiries@tstnz.com  

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Dear Annie,
I spattered rhubarb juice onto a white cotton t-shirt, tried to rinse it in cold water then applied handsoap. The splashes have turned blue (good pH indicator I'm thinking!) and I'm not sure of next step to try. Advice would be appreciated!
Cheers
Claudine

Hi Claudine

Most plant stains will fade when exposed to UV light so the best next step is to rub the stain with white vinegar then lay or hang out in a very sunny spot until dry (The vinegar aids the effects of UV light) and then wash as normal.
If this does not work then apply glycerine with your fingers (generally available chemists or from the bath or baking section of the supermarket) and leave for 20 minutes, then remove residue with a white cloth dipped in white vinegar and again hang out in a sunny spot until dry (The vinegar aids the effects of UV light) then wash as normal.
Let me know what works best for you.
Annie


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Basic household equipment to store with your “First Aid on Stains Kit"
  1. A rag bag filled with clean rags, minus any scratch making zips or buttons plus a separate bags of clean, old panty-hose, socks and pillow cases.
  2. Always in your bowl of fruit an apple, lemon and banana.
  3. Plain black T-bags.
  4. Plain wholemeal bread.
  5. Decent inside and outside brush, dishpan and brush, plus a scrubbing brush with a decent handle on it, old toothbrushes, nylon stiff bristled dish washing brush with a scraper edge and a good long handled bottle brush.
  6. 3 different sized buckets with thick handles that don't dig into your hands when the bucket is full.
  7. A roll of plain white paper towels - patterns can transfer more colour to the stain you are trying to remove.
  8. Glass or china, not metal or plastic, mixing bowl.
  9. Wooden spoon dedicated to solely mixing up your cleaning formulas.
  10. 3 or 4 spray bottles with preferably both a spray and shot facility. Remove the original labels and re-label when you fill with new formulas.
  11. Dedicated funnel that fits into all your spray bottles.
  12. Dedicated heat proof, microwaveable jug in case you need to heat or melt cleaning formula ingredients.
  13. Cake of bathroom soap plus dish washing detergent and any sort of talcum powder.

Happy Cleaning Cupboard organising.

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Shopping list for a First Aid on Stains Kit

Advantages of a “First Aid on Stains Kit”

  1. You can diagnose and treat the stain right away with the correct product.
  2. Using the incorrect sort of stain remover can be ineffective and often makes matters worse.
  3. Using your own cleaning recipes works out a good deal more economical than purchasing diluted sprays.
  4. 90% of the ingredients on this shopping are absolutely natural. Therefore if you do have allergies to cleaning products and you make your own, you will know exactly which substance is causing the reaction. It’s often hard to tell what’s causing the problem with commercially produced (often overseas) cleaning products.
  5. You can avoid petroleum based products and be environmentally friendly.

Each week during 2011 I’ll be showing you recipes on how and when to use each of the following ingredients so the first task is to go shopping for them.

To help you budget for this I’ll start with recipes and stain solutions using the cheapest and most likely ingredients you will need that you are more than likely to have already stored in your cupboard. This means you will be able to shop for a couple of the other ingredients on the list each week over the next month or so.


Numbers 1 and 2 stain removing products

  • White Vinegar
  • Baking Soda
  • Buy the larger packs or even in bulk as you will use these two ingredients together again and again.

Purchase the following from your local hardware warehouse.

  • CLR
  • Methylated Spirits
  • White Spirit

For the following try your local supermarket first in the pharmaceutical aisle then go to your chemist for just about all of the following if they haven’t got it they can order it for you.

  • Talcum Powder
  • Tea Tree Oil or Rosemary Oil
  • Natural Beeswax
  • Eucalyptus Oil
  • Peroxide
  • Ultra Violet Light pen torch.
  • Glycerine
  • Lavender Oil
  • Lemon Oil
  • Oil of Cloves
  • Sweet Almond Oil
  • Cinnamon Oil

Purchase from a health store:

  • Unprocessed Wheat Bran

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De-liming the Jug

Remove the hardwater/limestone scale deposits from the insides and element of the electric jug by using the following ingredients:

  • 2 heaped tablesps (or 4 level ones) of Bicarbonate Soda (Baking Soda)
  • 4 tablesps white vinegar or lemon juice (note: other vinegars will do but may flavour the next few boils)
  • A handful of any type of uncooked rice

Method:
Sprinkle the Bicarbonate of Soda all around the inside of the jug. Add the vinegar or lemon juice and the rice. The mixture will start fizzing immediately so put the lid on and shake the jug to further loosen the scale deposits by the abrasive action of the rice. Rinse out well with water and if necessary repeat whole procedure again.

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The Magic Combination of Bicarb of Soda and White Vinegar

Spring clean your pots, pans and tableware naturally
Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda) is used to neutralise acids so when used with white vinegar it makes a great grease and grime dissolver.

All you do is sprinkle on the Bicarb of Soda and spray on the white vinegar then as it activates and fizzes wipe or use a pot scrub on any of the following:
Oven to table dishes that need a spruce up for Christmas
Inside and underside of pans that are black and greasy. Cleaning the underside saves marking the inside of your cupboards and you can clean them with this mix too!
Glass in firebox doors.
Hardened grease or even concrete spatter on windows and painted kitchen cupboards but be gentle with the rub off so you don't scratch the window or cupboard paint-job.


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An essential and cheap multi-purpose cleaning ingredient you will most likely have in your kitchen.

White Vinegar

Vinegar means sour wine and this liquid is produced from oxidation by acetic acid bacteria in wine, cider, beer, fermented fruit juice or nearly any other liquid containing alcohol. You can use any of these liquids but white vinegar leaves no residue or colour and doesn't even need to be rinsed off as it evaporates completely after a day or so of treating the stain.

Uses: Note to effectively remove stains from any of the following you may need to use white vinegar in conjunction with other ingredients such as bicarbonate of soda.

1) All lime based stains such as chalk and concrete marks, electric jug and plumbing pipes scaling.
2) Absorbs nasty smells in enclosed areas such as freezers, cars, bags, microwaves
3) Boiled dry saucepans
4) Urine stains and odours
5) Cigarette stains on walls and ceilings
6) Red wine stains on just about anything
7) Food stains
8) Permanent press in the wrong place and iron marks.
9) Non-chemical surface cleaner for kitchen tables and benches
10) Glass and windscreens
11) Barbecues
12) Zippers and fabric fasteners that have gone green
13) To expand and bring to life shrunken silk garments
14) Keeping the head on the beer in your glass
15) New towels and fabric that never dries fully.
16) White marks that won't wash off black fabrics and clothing


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The Easy to Hang Rag/Sock/Knicker Bag as a Chrissy Present

Over the next few weeks I am going to write up a recipe of essential equipment and simple solutions so you can build a comprehensive DIY stain removal and cleaning kit but as it is the season of gift making here's a cheap and simple to make but OH! so useful Gift for you and your students to make
The Rag Bag or Sock/Stocking/Knicker Storage Bag
Hangs in any cupboard or wardrobe
You will need

  1. An old shirt with buttons preferably short-sleeved but it doesn't matter.
  2. Scissors
  3. Needle and thread
  4. Artist Marker Pens or Fabric Paint and Brush.
    Visit www.zigzag.co.nz to purchase these online.
  5. STENCIL LETTERS of the Alphabet that spell RAG-BAG or a person's name plus any other STENCILS such as daisies, butterflies, etcetera.
  6. Optional fancy buttons plus any other washable decorations
  7. Coat Hanger
     
  8. If short-sleeved sew up the arm-holes. If long-sleeved cut off the arms completely or trim to until short-sleeved and sew up the arm-holes
  9. Sew together the bottom ends of the shirt so a bag is formed once the shirt-buttons are done up.
  10. If you want to decorate by exchanging the original buttons for something fancier sew them on now.
  11. Stencil paint on the words RAG BAG or JANE'S KNICKERS or JOHN's SOCKS or whatever seems most useful or generic such as just SOCKS.
  12. Add any other decorations or paint on a sock or aerosol can or pair of knickers to depict the bag's usage.
  13. Put the finished shirt onto a clothes hanger and do up the buttons

Now you have a storage bag that can be hung up in the wardrobe, on the back of any door or on a hook in the cleaning cupboard. For ease of installing you may wish to add an instant stick on hook to the final gift parcel.

This is really useful gift for those in small flats or have very little storage space. Could even be an alternative to LOCKERS and may rid of the mess in the CLASS CLOAKROOM.

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Getting the Barbie Ready for Summer Dining

How to Keep your Barbie Clean and Safe to Eat from:

The following cleaning recipe will make your barbie really clean, season it, make it non-stick and a much more rust resistant.

You will need

  • White sugar
  • White vinegar
  • Vegetable oil of your choice
  • Barbecue scraper
  • A large handful of paper towels.
  • A pair of oven mitts
  1. In order to keep your hands safe it's best to wear the oven mitts throughout the procedure
  2. Get the barbie really hot before sprinkling it with liberally with the sugar and cook it til the sugar turns black.
  3. Spray white vinegar all over the barbie top then use the scraper to lift of the charred sugar which will also lift food particles from past barbecued meals.
  4. Dribble the vege oil so it just covers the barbecue top completely then heat the barbecue right up until there is a blue fume coming off it from the oil.
  5. Turn off the barbie and definitely put the oven mitts on if you haven't already done so. Whilst the barbie is still hot rub with a handful of paper towels

Now your barbie is really safe to put you food directly on to with no need for extra layers of barbecue foil or aluminium foil.

It is always best to do this before and after a large family meal or party otherwise repeat after every third or fourth meal.

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 Laundry Day Tips

Lint Free Washing
To keep lint from spreading throughout your washing throw into the wash two old pairs of pantyhose. Any lint bits will be first attracted the the panty hose leaving the rest of your washing lint free.
You can do the same with the dryer but you should still separate towels and tea-towels from the rest of the wash to be dried.
Note it is safer to use natural or light tan pantyhose than darker colours unless all your washing is dark coloured.

Bird Poo on the washing on the line
You will need 40 to 60 old CDs or DVDs plus fishing line or strong thread

Using the fishing line or strong thread, tie it to the centre of your rotary washing line.
Next thread on at least 8 old CDs or DVDs then tie to the extreme end of an arm of the washing line.
Repeat for each arm.
The glittering in the sun of the CDs/DVDs will scare off the birds leaving your washing bird-poo free all summer.
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 Iron burn Marks and permanent hem creases

This method is for iron burn marks on synthetic clothing as long as the burn has not actually burn a hole or removed any of the fabric itself, identifiable by the material being stuck to the iron in which case patch it or throw the garment out.

When the burn has just left an unsightly mark wring a cloth out in white vinegar, place over the mark and iron with a warm iron and the mark should disappear. If the mark doesn't go then use a solution of 3 per cent peroxide in water and repeat wrung out cloth exercise. Finish by wiping the area with a cloth wrung out with methylated spirits.

To remove the creases from permanent hems use the white vinegar method moving the warm iron firmly over each section of the hem and the crease disappear.
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Removing nail polish from carpet and leather furniture

For Carpet
  1. Wrap a tissue around a metal fine-toothed comb, lice-combs are perfect for this task, so that the teeth of the comb protrude.
     
  2. Push to teeth end of the comb under the stain so that the tissue is forced into the base of the stain.
     
  3. Soak a cotton ball in acetone and stroke up the carpet sticking through the teeth and front of the comb.

Note: Using the comb and tissue in this way avoids the acetone melting the carpet glue so you don't end up with a hole in the carpet.


For Leather you will need all your cleaning materials at the ready!

  • acetone ( Not nail polish remover)
  • white spirits
  • leather conditioner
  • talcum powder
  • cotton balls

Shaking out the talcum make a ring around the nail polish stain.
Put a little acetone on a cotton ball and wipe over the nail polish gently
Wipe dry with another cotton ball.
Repeat this action until all the stain has gone.
With a soft cloth or another cotton ball with white spirits neutralise the acetone by wiping the entire area.
When the talcum powder looks fluffy and dry again vacuum it off.
Finish by rubbing in leather conditioner

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Carpet Stains from Wine and Beeswax to Blusher

  1. To remove beeswax polish or hair gel from nylon carpet gently rub, sparingly with tea tree oil which will dissolve the polish or the hair gel then sponge the stain and the oil off with a cold damp cloth that has been well wrung out.
     

  2. For any type of carpet red wine is best immediately removed with any white wine you have handy. Sprinkle sparingly over the red stain and blot off the diluted stain with a paper towel. Finish by rubbing gently with a well wrung out cold damp cloth and again blot dry with a paper towel. If you have guests at the time throw a clean white tea towel over the area so they don’t tread in dirt from their shoes.
     

  3. For any type of carpet powder make-up, eye-shadow and blusher or even natural terracotta stains from pots cut a cake of bath soap into 4 long pieces and finish this simple carving up job by rounding out the ends of each of the 4 pieces. Rub the stain with a piece of the soap to pick up the powder. Replace with a fresh piece of soap once the first piece is covered in powder stain and continue until all the powder has disappeared. Finish by rubbing gently with a well wrung out cold damp cloth and blot dry with a paper towel.
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 Scale on the inside of an electric jug

Pour equal parts of bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar into the jug so that it fills up about a third of the vessel then add half to two thirds of a cup of uncooked white rice.

Put the lid on and shake the jug up and down.

The rice acts as a natural scrubbing agent whilst the other two ingredients react together creating a fizzing solution that dissolves the scale.

Wash out well a couple of times then fill up again, bring the jug to the boil and throw away this lot of water before using as normal again.

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Breast milk stains

A reader recently wrote in and asked me about this annoying problem which can completely run every perfectly good cardy you own and quite a few of your baby’s garments.

  1. If fading is not a problem wash the piece of clothing and dry in the sun. Sunlight often is all it takes to fade breast milk stains but if this doesn’t work try the following:

  2. Mix together a tablespoon of baking soda and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice is best but you can use concentrate. Generously spread the mixture over the stained area.

  3. Lay the garment in direct sunlight and leave for a few hours until the mixture dries.
     

  4. Wash your garment with warm water and again dry in direct sunlight. If ingrained the stain may have not completely disappeared so repeat the whole process once or twice more which should do the trick.

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Removing Biro or Artist’s Ink from inside your utility handbag and/or briefcase every teacher’s occupational stain hazard.

Also on request from an Early Learning Teacher

How to remove food colouring, vegetable and fruit stains on clothing, fabrics and vinyl

As a teacher you suffer more than most from these particular types of marks that quite often will appear mysteriously on the inside of your favourite utility handbag or briefcase.  Warning the following solution is not good for leather or vinyl interiors of bags or briefcases.

Lay piece of newspaper down on a table or workbench.

Turn your bag inside out if you can so the material is hanging outside the bag if possible. If the line is sewn in just turn the whole bag inside out so the material is now on the outside.

Give the material area a stiff brushing to loosen off dust and grime that has sunk into the sewn in corners. Shake bag or briefcase upside down and brush again so as much debris as possible shakes loose onto the newspaper.

For Biro and Artist’s ink try rubbing the inside of your bag with white or methylated spirits. If this doesn’t work it might be worth spending a bit of time creating a small container of rotten milk solids to remove biro and ink from the fabric.

Creating your rotten solution.

1) Create rotten milk solids the good old fashioned way by leaving out in the sun in a wide mouthed container. If you have the idea of souring milk with vinegar or lemon juice don’t bother, as it is much less effective.

Make sure you leave the container of milk solids alone until it is lumpy and smells really off!  

Stain removal

1) When ready to use strain the mixture through your fingers catching the lumps and then rub the lumps over the stain(s)2) Now leave until the ink starts to bleed then shake the lumps off the fabric 
3) Next dip a bar of common bathroom soap in cold water and rub the stain until it disappears.
4) Rub the soap residue away with a cloth rung out in cold water.

If the ink mark remains it means that you did not leave the rotten milk solids on long enough so repeat the whole process. This method can also be used on carpets and curtains. 

How to remove, food colouring, vegetable and fruit stains from clothing, fabrics and vinyl.

The following method removes all berries, beetroot, tomato sauce, fizzy and still drink colouring stains;

And is great for Playdoh marks which is the bane of early-learning teachers who are always getting little creative gifts popped into their bags from their adoring students.

For these types of stains you just need white vinegar and the sun’s rays.

1) Wipe the stained area with white vinegar and then leave out in the sun until dry but do cover the outside of your bag with a towel or cloth to keep the vinyl or leather from drying out and cracking.

2) Wash and dry as normal.

Clears berry, beetroot, coloured fizzy and still drink stains. 

Warning
This solution is not good for polished wood or water sensitive surfaces. 

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Safely cleaning your bug-ridden handbag or manbag.

  1. First and foremost especially for the ladies hang your bag up in any toilet you visit and for everyone the advice is find a clean cupboard, drawer or hanging spot to put your bag when you arrive in your classroom or office.

  2. Once a week clean the outside of your vinyl bag with soap and water paying special attention to the bottom of the bag and the especially the handles.

  3. For leather bags once a month wipe on white spirits with a paper towel and then sprinkle with talcum powder and leave until COMPLETELY DRY. This is important otherwise the powder will get into the cracks in the leather and leave a white film.

  4. Once dry use a soft clean shoe brush and brush off the talcum. If you have never cleaned your leather handbag like this before you may have to repeat this process until all the marks have disappeared.

  5. Once the bag is free of talcum use your favourite neutral crème leather polish sparingly making sure that you polish away all traces of the crème before using your bag again.

 
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Removing engine oil from concrete floors, paths, driveways, terracotta tiles and normal bricks.

For very recent oil stains scrub immediately with a normal solution of a good quality washing up liquid (not natural organic versions) and warm water.
For the more likely soaked in stain you will need to purchase a bag of plaster of Paris powder so that you can use a mixture of this and dish-wash liquid to lift and absorb the stain(s).

  1. For outside areas make sure you pick a dry day and perform the following during the warmest part of the day.

  2. With an old table knife mix up a stiff mixture of plaster of Paris so that the knife stands up in it and to each cupful of this add a teaspoon of good dishwashing liquid.

  3. Spread this paste 1cm thick over the stain(s) and leave to dry.

  4. To test for dryness tap the plaster with the brush head that you are going to brush it all away with and if it won’t crack or start to brush away easily leave to dry for a longer time.
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Removing chewing and bubble gum from concrete, school-desks, clothing and carpets

Getting Chewing Gum off Hard Surfaces

Fill a number of small plastic bags with ice and place one bag on each lump of chewing gum. Once the gum has been chilled enough to have gone rock hard use an ice lolly stick or a blunt knife and scrape close to the surface to lift the lump. The gum should come off cleanly but if there are persistent bits left behind rub with an old pantyhose that has a good dose of Tea Tree Oil on it. Once the area is clear of gum rub with a dry paper towel to remove any oil residue. If the gum is stuck to school desks be careful when scraping so you do not damage the desk surface.

You can also use this method for soft surfaces such as vinyl, leather and clothing but to remove any Tea Tree oil residue use a damp cloth.

Gummed hair is often the cause of classroom trauma so you can dispel the panic and aggravation by using this method to remove any sort of gum out of a student’s hair.
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Mould Stains removal and prevention - Part 1

Removing the damp smell and mould stains from

  • Books and walls behind bookshelves

  • Cushions, Upholstery, Curtains, Blinds and Carpets

  • Upholstery in Cars and Car-boots

  • Inside Bathroom Showers

Mould cannot grow in dry well ventilated sunny areas. Unfortunately during winter months this environment simply does not exist in and around many NZ homes and school-buildings.
All moulds spread by spores and preventing re-growth is as important as its removal but luckily both can be done at the same time for every kind of mould.

Ingredient to buy and prepare:
Oil of cloves and dissolve a ¼ teaspoon of this powerful oil into at least 1 litre of water in a spray bottle.

Spray all of the above and leave to dry for 24 hours by which time the mould should have dropped off and disappeared but if not spray a little more of the clove water onto an old pair of pantyhose and wipe onto the area. In all cases do not wipe off the spray because once dry the cloves will keep damp away for 1 to 3 months at which point you will need to spray again.
Special Note: For upholstery in cars and anything that is movable like shoes or cushions spray and leave in a sunny spot.

Mould Stains removal and prevention - Part 2

Remedy to prevent Mouldy Shoes, Smelly Feet and Tinea.

The following Shoe Frou recipe will fix both foot odour, old shoe smell and the formation of moulds.

In a small bowl combine:

  • 2 tablespoons Bicarbonate of Soda

  • 2 Tablespoons of Talcum Powder any fragrance will do.

  • 2 drops of oil of cloves

  • 2 drops of tea tree oil

  • 2 drops of lavender oil

Put mixture into the centre of two small pieces of muslin cloth and bringing the four corners of each of the pieces of muslin together, tie them with string to form 2 small bags.

Each time you take your shoes off put a bag into each shoe.

The talcum and bicarbonate of soda will absorb the sweat, the tea tree oil will kill the tinea, the lavender kills any bugs in the shoes and the oil of cloves stops the mould and mildew forming. It will also kill the current mould so when you wipe your shoes and shake them upside down the dried out dead mould will fall out.

Removing mould on bathroom grouting:
Sprinkle the area with bicarbonate of soda then spray with white vinegar. This will create a fizzing solution that when scrubbed with an old toothbrush will remove the mould.

Complete the procedure by spraying the entire area with a mixture of ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves to 1 litre of water. Leave to dry do not wipe off.

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 Cat, Rat, Dog and little tyke’s Poos and Wees

Winter brings in the cat and the rats so if you have problems with them using your house as a toilet here are some solutions:

Cat & Dog Poo or Vomit
Hopefully this is just a temporary problem caused by the youth or old age of your pet.

Most pets eat commercial dry or tinned foods and the stains from this can be treated as follows:
First treat with cold water and bath soap and if after doing this there is still a pinkish stain,
Then brush 2 to 3 drops of glycerine only for every 30 cm of stain over carpet, vinyl or timber floors,
Leave for 20 minutes then repeat the cold water and bath soap treatment using an old rolled up pantyhose to erase the stain.

Urine:
Hard to spot how far it’s spread so invest in a ultra-violet light which are not expensive and can be purchased from most lighting shops or large hardware stores.

On a dark night shine the light around the smelly area and using a piece of chalk mark the area before switching off the light. Clean area with white vinegar and the smell will disappear.

Treat stains from human baby urine the same way.

Mouse and Rat Poo
Usually easy to clean up as consists mainly of pellets just clean area afterwards with bath soap and water. Treat urine as for cats and dogs

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 Food Colouring, Vegetable and Fruit Stains on Clothing, Fabrics, Carpets and Vinyl

The following method removes all berries, beetroot, tomato sauce, fizzy and still drink colouring, stains
And is great for Playdoh marks.

For these types of stains you just need white vinegar and the sun’s rays.

1) Wipe the stained area with white vinegar and then leave out in the sun until dry.

2) Wash and dry as normal.

Clears berry, beetroot, coloured fizzy and still drink stains.

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 Not all marker pen marks are created equal.

Each different type of marker pen's errant marks may need treating differently.

As most makrer pens contain their own solvent you will need the original pen or the same brand and type of pen. You may also need to use the same remedy as for biro and artist's ink which is rotten milk solids that you will need to make before proceeding but do not apply until you have read the method of removal just below. For easiest way to create rotten milk solids click here Ute link to last week's remedy
NOTE: Read the following and have everything ready first before starting.

Marker pen removal method:

Ingredients to have at the ready:
The original or same brand and type of marker pen that made the original stain
Rotten Milk solids click here to see how to make.
Methylated Spirits
White Spirits
Common Soap and Water
Acetone

Test out your at the ready remedies in the order they are listed above using cotton buds dipped well in each solution and spun onto a small part of the stain until you find the one that starts to effectively dissolve the stain.

Once you have found the right solvent from the list do the following and work fast:

In one stroke draw the original pen back over the mark which will start to dissolve the stain.
Next immediately start stroking the cotton bud repeatedly dipped in the correct solvent until you have removed all the colour.
To neutralise the mark rinse with water or white vinegar. White vinegar is usually the best of the two to use but for some surfaces such as marble tops it is safer to use water.
Remove any residue of water or vinegar with a dry cloth and if you have just removed the mark from an item of clothing hang to dry.

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 Removing Wax Crayon

Clothing or fabrics

This is a waxed based stain so a few drops of Tea Tree Oil rubbed on the stain will safely remove it.

Hard surfaces

If it’s on a wall or hard surface use slices of not stale plain brown bread (not multi-grain or wholegrain as too likely to damage the wall) Pull the 4 corners of the bread together like a handle and add a few drops of tea-tree oil per stain to to the centre point of the bread. Rub the stain off the wall then turn the bread over and use to wipeaway any excess oil.
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Organic Gardening
- What You Should Know

Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This can make certain aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds. Organic gardening also requires more attention to the soil and the many needs of plants.

Organic gardening starts with the soil. Gardeners must add organic matter to the soil regularly in order to keep the soil productive. In fact, compost is essential to the healthiness and well being of plants grown organically. Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings, manure, and many other things. The ideal soil has a dark color, sweet smell, and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives than regular compost can give, such as bonemeal, rock phosphates, or greensand. A simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you will need to use.

One thing that makes even gardeners that are very serious about organic gardening reach for pesticides is insects on their plants. The best way to defend plants against insects is to take preventative measures. One thing that can be done is to make sure plants are healthy and not too wet or dry because insects usually attack unhealthy plants and if healthy, they can often outgrow minor insect damage. A variety of plant types is a good idea to keep pests of a particular plant type from taking out the entire garden.

Perhaps the best way to defend against insects is to make your garden enticing to insect predators, such as ladybugs, birds, frogs, and lizards. You can do this by keeping a water source nearby or by growing plants that attract insects who feed on nectar. Other ideas are sticky traps, barriers, and plant collars. There are some household items that prevent against insects too, like insecticidal soaps, garlic, and hot pepper.

To avoid plant disease in organic gardening, choose disease resistant plants and plant them in their prime conditions. Many diseases will spread because of constant moisture and bad air circulation, so the site of your garden and the way it is watered can help ensure against diseases.

Weeds can be an annoying and frustrating part of organic gardening. Organic mulch can act as a weed barrier, but for even better protection put a layer of newspaper, construction paper, or cardboard under the mulch. Corn meal gluten will slow the growth of weeds if spread early in the season before planting, as does solarization. There's also the old-fashioned art of hoeing and hand pulling that always works. Your best bet in weed prevention is persistence. Mulch well and pull and hoe what you can; after a few seasons you can beat the weeds for good.

Organic gardening is an excellent way to assure that your plants will be free and clear of all pesticides and, if taken care of properly, will be as healthy as possible. Organic gardening may take a little more time and care than regular gardening, but after gardeners get the hang of it and figure out all the quirks of their garden, it is definitely worth the extra time.

Article Directory: http://www.gardenepic.com/

Want a PROVEN method to build an amazing organic garden? Click Here to find out more!
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How To Maintain A Compost Heap

Many people who maintain gardens have a large amount of organic waste, from grass clippings to leaves and dead plants. Unfortunately, many waste money and time having these wastes transported to a landfill. It isn't just a waste of good compost; its a waste of everything that goes into the process of transporting it (the garbage mans time, the money you pay for the removal, etc). It is truly a travesty.

All this garbage that people are trying to get rid of can be a better supplement for your garden than any fertilizer or chemical. If you properly facilitate the decomposition of all of the garbage, it will alter chemically until it is in such a state that it can be nothing but beneficial nutrition for other plants. Therefore you can turn all the stuff you would have thrown away into top grade fertilizer for your garden.

Usually compost is maintained in a pile somewhere in your backyard. Usually the thought of a compost heap brings disturbing images to ones mind; heaps of rotten garbage emitting a horrid odor. However, if you maintain it correctly you'll be able to produce great compost without producing an offensive odor.

When I first began my compost pile in an effort to improve environmental health, I made several major errors. These included preventing the pile from the oxygen it truly needed, and keeping it to dry. It ended up decomposing in a very non-beneficial way, and producing an odor so foul that I had government agents knocking at my door.

When you are choosing your spot where you will be putting all of these materials, you should aim for a higher square footage. Having a really deep pile of compost is not a good idea, because generally the deeper sections won't be exposed to anything that is required for the process to work. It is better to spread it all out over a large area. If you have a shed or a tool shack of some sort, it is a possibility to spread it over the roof (with boards to keep it from falling off, of course). I have seen this done several times, and it helps keep the pile out of the way while still maintaining a large square footage.

A compost heap can consist of any organic garbage from your yard, garden or kitchen. This includes leaves, grass, any leftover food that won't be eaten, or newspaper (no more than a fifth of your pile should consist of newspaper, due to it having a harder time composting with the rest of the materials). Usually if you have a barrel devoted to storing all of these things, it will fill up within several weeks. It is quite easy to obtain compost, but the hard part truly comes in getting it to compost.

After you have begun to get a large assortment of materials in your compost heap, you should moisten the whole pile. This encourages the process of composting. Also chop every element of the pile into the smallest pieces possible. As the materials start to compress and meld together as they decompose, frequently head outside and aerate the pile. You can use a shovel to mix it all up, or an aeration tool to poke dozens of tiny holes into it. Doing this will increase the oxygen flow to each part of the pile, and oxygen is required for any decomposition to take place.

If maintaining a compost pile sounds like something that would interest you, start considering the different placement options. The hardest part about maintaining a pile is choosing a spot that provides enough square footage without intruding on the rest of your yard or garden. While usually you can prevent the horrible odors that most people associate with compost heaps, its still not a pleasant thing to have to look at whenever you go for a walk in your garden.

Article Directory: http://www.gardenepic.com/

Want a PROVEN method to build an amazing organic garden? Click Here to find out more!
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Looking for a Unique Gift Idea? Consider Decorating a Room
By: Casey Markee

Are you looking for a unique way to give to a close friend or family member? Consider decorating a room for them. Over the course of a few gift giving occasions, you can give them enough decor items to tie a room together. Each time they go into the room, they'll be reminded of your special relationship and appreciative of the time you took to buy each gift.

In order to decorate a room with gifts, you need to have a plan in mind. How long to you intend to give gifts for that particular room? That will help you figure out what pieces you need to focus on. Also, you need to consider your budget and the needs of the recipient. You don't want to give them things that they already have.

If you're giving for Christmas, the person's birthday and their wedding anniversary, you need to choose three gifts that come from the same design family that will help tie a room together. For example, a wall clock, a hanging memo pad and a recipe file are three terrific gifts for a kitchen. A wall clock, bookends and a wall hanging are a great triad of gifts for the living room. A set of cloth napkins, a table centerpiece and a wall clock can tie together a dining room.

You'll notice that a wall clock is an appropriate gift for all room types. Wall clocks are a great idea because they are decorative, but they don't require that you know a whole lot about the recipient's taste in art. As long as you keep in mind the basic design elements that a person has in their home, you can choose a wall clock that they will like. Make sure that you choose a clock from a quality manufacturer. Seth Thomas wall clocks are a great example.

For the other pieces in your themed gifts, choose things that make sense with the room in question. The next time you visit, pay close attention to the type of items that the recipient already has in their home. If they have shelves cluttered with knickknacks, consider getting them a curio case to display their collection. Or if you decide to focus your attention on the guest bathroom, choose some countertop pieces like a soap dispenser or tissue box.

The great thing about giving gifts this way is that your gift recipient will start to look forward to the gifts that are completing their room. They'll anticipate the gifts on each gift giving occasion and proudly display them in their home.

When you plan on giving this way, you might want to buy the presents in advance and save them. This way you can get all of the presents at the same time, from the same store and not have to worry about finding something that will match at a later date. You can save time and money this way.

Giving someone a series of gifts to decorate a specific room in their home is a terrific way to show that you care. No matter how many gifts you give over the year, or across several years, your recipient will be sure to appreciate them all.

Article Directory: http://www.gardenepic.com/

Looking for a great gift idea this holiday season, consider a Seth Thomas wall clock from Elite Clocks. Or browse their selection of world famous Howard Miller grandfather clock offerings. All clocks are backed up by the best warranty in the industry. Buy a Howard Miller clock gift online today!
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House Carbon Calculator launched

 A careful choice of materials when building a house can make the difference of nearly 50 tonnes in CO2 emissions, according to a new carbon calculator for houses. Fifty tonnes of CO2 is almost the same as that emitted by an average car over its entire lifetime. It’s the same as the CO2 emitted from flying nearly half a million miles – that’s around the world 12 times.

The NZ Wood website has just launched its carbon calculator for working out the CO2 emissions or savings that can be attributed to the building materials used for a new home. Programme manager for NZ Wood, Geoff Henley, says the calculator is a simple but dramatic demonstration of the amount of difference construction materials can make to the environment.

“The calculator shows that an average house can make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 simply on the basis of the materials it’s built from alone. At one end of the spectrum, you can actually be removing CO2 from the atmosphere and locking it up for hundreds of years, if not permanently. At the other, your choice of materials could have pumped out tens of tonnes of new CO2 in their manufacture,” Geoff Henley says.

The calculations are based on what is known as ‘embodied CO2’. This represents the amount of CO2 either emitted or absorbed by the building materials in their production.

In the case of wood, for example, Pinus radiata has absorbed a net 1.7 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of wood used in the house. That’s over and above all the energy used (and subsequent CO2 released) in its growing, harvesting and processing – right up until it leaves the sawmill door.

This compares with a material such as aluminium, which has released over nine tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere for every tonne of final product. Steel releases 1.2 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of final product. Concrete releases around 160 kilos of CO2 per tonne of final product.

Geoff Henley says the calculator was modelled on a standard, single-storey house design.

“While the number of design options are fairly limited, it still serves as an approximation for the contribution of CO2 the construction materials make to the environment, whether it be a small sleep-out built in the back yard or a 40-room mansion,” he says.

In terms of building materials alone, the choices go way beyond carbon-neutrality, he says.

“If you simply use a wooden frame and a wooden floor, you’re already well on the side of the angels. If you choose a weatherboard cladding, over say a brick cladding, and then use wooden window frames instead of aluminium, you’re making a huge difference, and end up with a carbon footprint of minus 20-25 tonnes. That’s 20-25 tonnes of CO2 removed from the atmosphere. Of all the construction materials, wood is the only one that removes CO2 from the air rather than adds to it,” Geoff says.

All New Zealand-grown wood is grown sustainably – usually from a forest plantation. This means new trees will be grown to replace those harvested - removing still further CO2 while the original timber is providing generations of inhabitants with a warm and natural home environment.

The carbon calculator on the NZ Wood site (www.nzwood.co.nz) complements one developed for non-residential buildings – including multi-storey buildings that can be built using wood instead of the traditional concrete and steel. The calculator was developed with the help of researchers and engineers at Victoria and Canterbury universities and quantity surveyors Davis Langdon.

It will be joined soon by a more complex carbon calculator designed as a sophisticated tool for building industry professionals such as architects and specifiers, Geoff Henley says.
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Teachers’ resources for curriculum, EOTC and school equipment suppliers plus weekly news in education and magazine for NZ Teachers, Principals, School Managers, BOTs, PTAs and School Fundraising Committees. TSTNZ website and e-letter for principals and teachers is a main resource for news in education with information on teaching tools and curriculum resources for all primary, intermediate and high schools including NCEA subjects which are also found in the A - Z of teaching resources and virtual school. The A - Z directory of suppliers and services for school buildings, grounds and equipment is for School Principals and Managers. TSTNZ features LEOTC, EOTC, school camps, daytrips and group booking discounts. Competitions are popular with all our readers as are our children’s book reviews with librarians. Teacher discount and discounts for schools are displayed on the Hot Deals section. School committees source TSTNZ’s fundraising ideas. Off season and year round discounted prices and discounted for holiday accommodation are in teachers' getaways plus other lifestyle information for teachers is on www.tstnz.com
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