Soya Supreme Home Making Tips

Expert Tips for wonderful homes

Be an expert in making your home look beautiful, elegant and nice. With tips that are used since generations, we believe you will be loving these

TACKLING STAINS

TREAT STAINS AT ONCE, but test the method on a hidden part of the item first. To avoid spreading a stain, dab at it instead of rubbing it, and always work from the outside to the center. Never use hot water, which will set stains

Types of Stain

Stains can be divided into two main types: built-up stains and absorbed stains. Some substances, such as blood and egg, produce a stain that is a combination of the two. Always treat these “combination stains” as built-up stain first and then treat them for absorption.

Built- Up Stains

Remove Deposits – Built-up stain are made by thick substances that need to be scraped off before treatment. Scoop them up quickly so that they do not penetrate far.

Absorbs Stains

Boiling Water – Thin liquid sink quickly into surface. Blot the area with paper towel or white cloth immediately. Launder or sponge to remove the rest of the stain.

Other Stains

Mystery Stains - If you do not know the cause of a stain, proceed with caution. Soak washable items, and then launder them according to fabric. Sponge non washables with clean warm water. If staining persists, apply a hydrogen peroxide solution.

Dried Stains – To loosen dried stains, use a glycerin solution. Sponge off this initial treatment before using another chemical that may react with the glycerin.

DIFFERENT SURFACE

Stains should be treated not only according to type, but also according to the surface on which they fall. The three methods below outline the basis treatments that can be used for stain on carpets, stains on non washable fabrics or upholstery, and stains on clothes.

Carpets

Shampooing Carpets – After removing deposit, treat the remaining mark with a solution of carpet shampoo. If this leaves a startlingly clean spot, you will need to shampoo the entire carpet using either a manual or an electric machine.

Upholstery

Absorbing Stains - Scrape up any deposit, and blot the stain well. Apply talcum powder, and leave until it appears discolored, having absorbed the stain. Wipe away with a cloth. Apply more talcum powder if the mark persists.

Cloths

Dabbing Away Stains – Treat stains on washable cloths as soon as they occur, and always before you launder the item. Use lukewarm or cold water and a cloth to dab the mark. Alternatively, soak the garment if recommended.

STAINS ON WASHABLE FABRICS

Laundering a stained garment can set the stain, making it very difficult to remove. Always treat stains before laundering, using one of the three methods below. Observe the guidelines for different fabrics, and invest in any laundry aids you think might be useful.

General Treatment

Rinsing off stains – Rinse in cold or lukewarm water as soon as possible after they occur. Alternatively, sponge with clean water until the stain fades. Never use hot water on stains; it will cause them to set.

Protein Stain

Soaking Items – Stains made from substances such as milk and blood respond best to soaking in enzymatic detergent. Do not soak items longer than recommended; always immerse the whole item.

Persistent Stains

Applying a Solvent – if stains persist after rinsing or soaking, use a stain or grease solvent before laundering. Place a white cloth under the stain to avoid transferring the stain to another layer, then dab.

Laundry Aids

· Detergents

These comes in varying strengths, and many contain additives to remove stains. Some stains require extra treatment with one of the substances below.

· Detergent with enzymes

These works well on stains that contain protein, such as egg yolk, blood and sweat. It is often a constituent of ordinary detergents, but is best used with care on colors. It is often a constituent of ordinary detergents, but is best used separately for stain removal.

· Bleach

This has a whitening effect, so it should be used with care on colors. Avoid contact with your skin and cloths

· Laundry Borax

This old fashioned laundry aid is an excellent stain remover. Dilute for sponging or soaking or sprinkle directly on stains remover.

· Other Aids

Stain solvents and prewash sticks and sprays help remove marks on cloths. Ink stains are best treated by soap flakes

FABRICS AND THEIR TREATMENTS

Fabrics	Treatment Notes
Colors	Treat stains with care to avoid producing bleached patches. Soak the whole item when using a bleaching treatment such as laundry borax.
Whites	Natural fabrics can usually be bleached. Synthetics and mixtures can yellow with this treatment and may respond better to the correct detergent.
Natural Fabrics	Because these can be at high temperature, rinsing or presoaking items before laundering is usually enough to remove most stains.
Synthetic Fabric	These are easily damaged by some chemical so test any treatment on a hidden part before tackling the stain.
Delicates	These fabrics should always be treated cautiously. Avoid using strong chemical treatments on delicate fabrics

IRONING CLOTHES

ALWAYS IRON FABRICS that need the coolest setting first, and work up to the hottest settings. Iron as many items at possible at once, since iron use a lot of electricity heating up. Ironing is easiest if clothes are slightly damp.

Ironing Basics

Use long, smooth strokes when ironing, and iron clothes until they are dry. Freshly ironed clothes crease easily, so hand them carefully afterward – do not simply drape them over chairs (especially not over wooden ones, which can transfer color onto cloths).

Equipments

· Iron Safety Check the cord frequently to make sure you have not accidentally burned it with the iron and destroyed the protective coating.

· Steam Irons Empty steam iron from becoming clogged. Descale using commercial descaler or white vinegar.

· Ironing board Choose an ironing board that can be adjusted to your height, since ironing at the wrong height can cause backache. Starch your ironing-board cover so that it stays clean and crisp.

Simple Ironing Techniques

· Fastenings Iron around zippers and buttons, since metal zippers could damage the iron and nylon zippers and buttons could melt.

· Seams and hems To avoid creating a line over seams and hems, iron the garment inside out, and stop just short of the seam or hemline.

Protecting Delicates

· Iron delicate fabric over a clean cloth or tissue paper to avoid damaging the fabric. Make sure the garment is evenly damp.

Ironing Collars

· Always iron collars on both sides, wrong side first. Iron inwards from the point to avoid pushing any creases to the tip.

Special Ironing

Some fabrics need special attention when ironing. Acetates, triacetates, and some polyester should be ironed on the wrong side when evenly damp. Iron acrylics from the back when dry. Always iron corduroy and crepe on the wrong side, cover with a damp cloth.

Household linen

- Timesaving technique Fold large items such as sheets and tablecloths double, and iron one side. Fold in half again and iron the other two sides. This also works for smaller items such as towels, napkins and handkerchiefs.

- Large items Stop sheets and other large items from trailing on the floor by putting the iron half over a chair back. Cover wooden chairs with a towel to prevent stain from transferring from the wood.

Pleated Skirts

Hold Pleats in place – Use bobby pins to keep pleats firmly in place. Press all but the hen, then remove bobby pins and press the rest.

Heavy fabrics

Preventing Shininess – Iron heavy fabrics such as wool and viscose rayon over a damp pressing cloth to prevent the fabric from becoming shinny.

IRONING Small and Unusual Items

Trimmings If items have trimmings that need a cooler setting than the main fabric iron these first, before ironing the rest of the garment.

Hair ribbons To “iron” in a hurry, grasp both ends and pull ribbon back and forth against a tea kettle that has just been to boil water.

Creaseless Ties

Slip a cardboard template into ties before ironing. So that the impression of the seam does not show through on the front.

Ironing Embroidery

Lay the piece of the embroidery face down on a towel, and iron the reverse side. This way you will not flatten the embroidery.

Damping Items

Items that are too dry are difficult to iron. Use a plant spray bottle to dampen dry cloths. Alternatively, put all the cloths into the tumble dryers together with a wet towel, and run the dryer on no-heating setting. If you cannot finish a load of ironing, keep it damp by putting it in the freezer in a plastic bag.

Alternatives to Ironing

- Tumbled-dry cloths Take synthetic fabrics (cotton and polyester mixtures) out of the dryer as soon as the drying cycle is finished. Hang the items on coat hangers while they are still hot; creases will drop out as the items cool.

- Drip-dry clothes Straighten collars, seams and pleats while still damp to ensure that they dry straight.

- Velvet and silk Hand silk and velvet items in a steamy bathroom to dry – the steam will make creases drop out.

- Pressing without an Iron If you must press something but have no iron, put the item under your mattress overnight. The weight of your body will give it a thorough pressing. Dampen creases on pants with a wet towel first.