Remove Stain with Cornstarch

Cornstarch

Back to the Pantry for another ingredient that can be used to clean up and remove a spot from paper or fabric.

Cornstarch is not always used as an ingredient in everyday cooking, but used as a special ingredient in certain dishes.  However, it should be a mainstay in the pantry so when needed it is there.  This ingredient will soak up moisture or oil from a stain.  

Sprinkle it on the stain.  Let it sit for a few minutes, I usually allow at least fifteen minutes for it to absorb the stain.

Sometimes, it’s a good idea to place a piece of paper or a paper towel on the other side of the item from which you are trying to remove the stain.  In this way the moisture or the oil will pass through and rest on the paper towel as you start cleaning the surface.

After a short time the cornstarch should have absorbed the moisture or oil.

Now you are ready to take a brush with medium bristles and brush the cornstarch away.  The mixture should be absorbed into the cornstarch and as it is brushed away, the stain should be gone.  

I have had great success with this method.  In fact, I tried this on a slightly dirty dry spot on fabric.  It worked very well.  In that case, instead of using a brush right away, I simply rubbed the fabric against itself with the cornstarch, and then brushed the cornstarch away.

Oil is sometimes hard to remove, so try again if it does not work the first time.

Pantry items have various uses other than cooking. This is a great revelation because they are natural ingredients that will not cause harm.  They can be used and mixed with other ingredients safely.  

In cooking, cornstarch adds texture, and can be used as a thickener in soups, stews, and chowders.  There are also other uses.

Hope this was useful,

goodtips

How to Clean a Book

https://www.zazzle.com/say_it_with_a_sticker_literacy_is_for_everyone-217072038266626297

Book Sense

Literacy is for everyone, and books should be taken care of, very carefully.

Books are by-products of trees.  They are composed of different kinds of paper, depending on the book and its subject.  If  it is important to you to take care of your books, then you want to keep them clean and dust free as much as possible.  Dust can deteriorate and destroy paper. 

Dust them often or better still keep them in a cabinet or provide a dust cover for each volume.   A glass front  book case is ideal for keeping dust and bookworms out of your books.   

To remove accumulated dust from old volumes begin by using a small brush to remove dust from the inside spine.  Brush away from the binding toward the edge of the page. 

Pages in older books are fragile, so be careful not to damage brittle pages.

If your books have a heavy layer of dust on them, you can use a vacuum cleaner that has a HePA filter.  Use the soft brush that comes with the vacuum cleaner and reduce the suction.

Clean the outside edges first.  A soft cloth can be used if there is light to medium dust on the books.  Use a magnetic cloth.  They do not contain chemicals that can be left  behind that cause damage.  

A magnetic cloth cannot be used on untrimmed pages or deckled pages. They may rub dirt into the edges of the pages.

Clean the top of the book first, then the spine.  You don’t want to damage the end cap. 

Clean your books on a regular basis to avoid dust, insect infestation, mold and acid build up from the paper.

Libraries and institutions that have a large collection of books use two person teams to keep books in good condition.  The books are taken off the shelves, from top to bottom, placed on a book cart.  The shelves are then cleaned while the books are vacuumed.  They are then put back on the shelves in the order in which they were removed.

Book shelves should not be cleaned with a feather duster, they redistribute dust.  Magnetic cloths can be used to clean metal shelves.  Wooden or metal shelves can be cleaned by washing with a mild detergent.  They must be allowed to dry completely to avoid the growth of mold.

Taking care of your books can extend the life of your favorite volumes.  Although they may not be a part of a special collection, they are your books and they may mean a great deal to you.  A tip for helping you take care of them.

Happy Reading, 

 goodtips