| How to Get Sweat Stains out of Clothing Posted: 19 Mar 2016 05:00 PM PDT Sweat spots are just one of life's many problems. Ironically, almost all sweat stains are caused by deodorant and laundry detergent, products you'd expect to keep your clothes sweat-free and clean! Learn how to fight these stains, then consider switching to a deodorant with less obnoxious stains. - Understand the cause. White or yellow sweat stains are caused when two products react: underarm deodorant with aluminum-based ingredients; and alkali laundry detergent with carbon compounds. You can't do much about the detergent, but switching to a deodorant without antiperspirant can solve your problem. If the switch isn't worth the sweat, you'll need an acidic treatment to dissolve the aluminum bond. Read on for more guidance.
- Not all antiperspirants are created equal. Neutral, unscented antiperspirant tends to leave white stains, which are harder to notice and easier to clean. However, all-natural, plant-based deodorants may leave a very yellow stain, even if unscented.
- Examine the stain. No single treatment is best at cleaning sweat stains, because of the vast differences between deodorant brands. Check out the stain to get a good idea of what might work:
- If the stain is white, hard, and brittle, any acid will usually remove the stain. Use the most convenient option from the lists below.
- If the stain is bright white and bends easily, it will require stronger acids. Try one of the strong treatments below, such as lemon juice or vinegar.
- If the stain is yellow, it's hard to evaluate. Try any convenient option first. If that doesn't work, you may need to make several attempts with strong treatments.
- Choose a light treatment. If you happen to have these already, you can give them a go. These tend to be weaker acids than the strong treatments below:
- Clear soda or soft drinks (carbolic and phosphoric acids); avoid colored sodas
- A paste of baking soda and a little water (although alkaline, this contains carbonic acid)
- Crushed aspirin (acetylsalicylic)
- Meat tenderizer powder (not a great option, due to variation between brands)
- Choose a strong treatment. If the stain is tough to remove, try these stronger treatments:
- Strong white vinegar (acetic acid)
- Do not use balsamic vinegar as that will further ruin the clothes
- Lemon juice, or any raw citrus fruit (citric acid)
- Professional cleaners may use stronger acid treatments. Request this as a last resort, due to the risk of burning holes in your clothing.
- Let the acid soak in. Saturate the stain with your chosen acid. Let sit for 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how old and heavy the stain is. Squeeze out the wet area of the shirt before you continue.
- Treat white shirts with hydrogen peroxide (optional). This is a whitening agent, which may bleach colored clothing. If used on a white shirt, this can help make the stain less noticeable. Saturate the stain and let sit another 20 minutes.
- Optionally, add baking powder and salt as well to abrade the stain.
- Run through the washing machine. You can add this to the rest of your clothes. If you are concerned about setting the stain further, you may want to run it through without laundry detergent — but most people do not find this necessary.
- If the stain is less visible but not completely gone, run it through a second time.
- Wash with strain remover and bleach. This may do the job, but it will bleach colored clothing. If nothing else works, apply stain remover over the stain and wash again with a scoop or two of bleach directly on the clothing.
- Set your washer on the highest spin speed so the bleach is evenly distributed throughout your clothing.
- Hard, brittle, white stains are caused by deodorants that contain bulking agents. This is usually calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide. These stains are easier to clean.
- If you're using unscented, non-plant-based deodorant and you still get yellow stains, it is probably reacting with organic molecules on your skin. You may not be able to avoid this, but fortunately this is an easy type of stain to remove.
- Wear an undershirt to catch sweat stains.
- Clean as quickly as possible for best results. While the stain is still damp, try scrubbing it off with baby wipes.
- The fragrance in deodorant is usually based in aldehyde or ketone. This can react with other components to create some of the toughest, yellowest stains.
- Check the label. Some articles of clothing contain warning labels against vinegar or hydrogen peroxide as this will splotch the colors. About 99% of clothes are already naturally resistant, but a small minority will get ruined. If there is doubt, to try the vinegar or peroxide in a small part of the cloth first before committing it to the stain.
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| How to Clean Old Books Posted: 19 Mar 2016 09:00 AM PDT Old books are a charming link to the past, but quite a fragile one. Dust, mild stains, and pencil marks are fairly easy to remove. More serious damage from insects, acid, or damp is difficult but not impossible to repair. If you're treating an antique, you may want to place it in the hands of a professional. EditRemoving Dirt, Stains, and Odors - Blow dust off the edges. Hold the book shut and blow the dust off each edge of the pages. Remove stubborn dust with a clean, dry paint brush, or a soft, new toothbrush.
- Remove smudges and pencil marks with an art gum eraser. This is softer than a rubber eraser, but you should still use it with great care to avoid tearing the paper. Work with the art gum eraser only on one direction.
- If you don't want to visit the art store, you can pick up some pencil marks with a piece of soft white bread.
- Remove serious residue with Absorene book cleaner. This is a soft and pliable putty that will remove grime and smoke residue from pages and from fabric bindings. Just roll it gently over the grime to pick up the dirt.
- Clean leather bound volumes. Apply a little clear shoe polish or cleaning polish with a soft cloth. Test on a corner of the book first to make sure it doesn't remove any ink. Wipe off the polish with a clean cloth after you've removed the dirt.
- Clean fabric covers. Carefully clean fabric covers with an art gum eraser or a slice of white bread. Excessive dirt may require a cloth dampened with fabric softener, but be aware this increases the risk of damage or mold. Make sure the book is fully dried before storing.
- Wipe with a slightly damp cloth as a last resort. This is only recommended on paperback covers and waterproof dust jackets. You can also try this on especially stubborn dirt, if you accept the risk of further damage. Here's how to minimize this risk:
- Take a cloth made from microfiber or another lint-free material.
- Rinse out the cloth with very hot water, then wring it out thoroughly.
- Wrap a dry towel around the cloth and wring it out again. Remove the cloth, which should now be barely damp at all.
- Carefully wipe away dirt from the cover, and very lightly from the page edges.
- Buff with a dry cloth immediately afterward.
- Clean off sticky residue. Label adhesive or other residue responds well to a little baby oil or cooking oil on a piece of cotton wool. Press firmly and work in until the glue lifts. Remove the oil with a clean piece of cotton wool.
- Oil may cause stains on some material. Test on a corner first.
- Absorb smells. If the book smells musty, put it in a container with something that can absorb smells and moisture. Try a sock filled with cat litter or rice, or place the book on newspaper dusted with talcum powder.
- Sunlight will make this most effective. Dappled shade is a compromise that will reduce color fading.
EditRepairing Serious Damage - Dry out wet books. Books which have been subjected to water damage, immersion or a spill need to be dried slowly and carefully. An airing cupboard is ideal, but you may use a surface next to a radiator or a sunny window. Open the book to allow the air to circulate and gently turn over a few pages at regular intervals to prevent sticking. Once dry, press beneath several heavy books to flatten pages and restore the appearance.
- Don't be tempted to use a hair dryer, oven, or fan. This can easily damage pages and loosen them from the spine.
- Freeze books affected by pests. If the book is full of tiny holes, or if bits of paper flake off when you move it, it could be infested with book mites or other paper-eating pests. To prevent further damage, seal the book in a freezer bag with the air squeezed out. Place the bag in the freezer for several weeks to kill off insects and eggs.
- Check for signs of mold. Mold usually causes a strong musty smell. Any book with warped binding, wet or stuck-together pages, or obvious water damage is also at risk of mold. Unfortunately, mold damage is extremely difficult to repair without hiring a professional. Store the book in a warm, dry location to minimize further damage.
- If you see a furry white or grey mold on the pages, gently wipe it away with a soft cloth.
- Repair the book's binding. In severe cases, you can repair the binding or make a new one. While not difficult with practice, it's best not to try this on rare or valuable books.
- Seek professional advice. Any librarian or rare book dealer should be able to advise you on more specialized cases. If you have a valuable or antique book, consider hiring a professional archivist to make the repairs.
- Store books vertically on a shelf, with the spines facing outward. Avoid direct sunlight, strong smells, and humidity.
- Never use water to clean paper, or any non-waterproof cover. This may cause further staining and warping, and leave the book vulnerable to mold.
EditThings You'll Need - Soft, clean toothbrush or paint brush
- Art gum eraser
- Absorene book cleaner
- Microfiber cloth
- Baby oil (for adhesive)
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| How to Comfort a Dying Cat Posted: 19 Mar 2016 01:00 AM PDT When your cat is dying, it may be hard for you to cope with the idea of losing her.[1] However, you can make the best of this time with your cat by making her as comfortable as possible. Rather than being sad about what you know is inevitable, take advantage of this time to bond with your cat and remember just how special she is to you. EditMaking Your Cat's Environment Comfortable - Minimize noise and activity around your cat. When your cat is nearing the end of her life, it is extremely important for her to be comfortable in her own space. She will need a calm, quiet environment that is free of noisy activity and chaos. For example, if you have other pets, you may need to restrict their access to her.[2]
- Consider moving your cat's rest area to a part of your house that does not get much activity or noise.[3]
- If moving your cat's rest area to a different room would be too much of a change for her, then you should adjust your habits, as well as those of your family, to decrease the amount of activity and noise around your cat.
- Allow your cat choose where to sleep.[4] She may naturally choose an area that will give her the peace and quiet she desires.
- Playing soft, low music for your cat could make her feel more comfortable. Examples of soothing music are singing birds and running water.[5]
- The hustle and bustle of daily life may be too much for your cat to handle in her final days, and could actually make her illness or general state of health even worse.[6]
- Provide your cat with extra bedding. When your cat is dying, it may be difficult for her to rest as comfortably as she used to. Extra blankets and bedding will give her some extra padding on which to lay and get comfortable. The extra padding can also prevent pressure sores that could develop if she lies in one position for too long.[7]
- Your cat may soil her bedding due to bladder control issues or physical inability to walk to her litterbox.[8] Choose extra bedding that is easy to clean, such as blankets and towels.
- Foam bedding, though comfortable, can be difficult to clean.[9]
- Check the bedding regularly for evidence of soiling (dampness, fecal material) and clean it as often as is necessary.
- The extra bedding can also serve to keep your cat warm. Older, dying cats can have difficulty maintaining their body temperature and can become cold more easily.[10]
- Adjust the lighting in your cat's environment. Changing the lighting for your cat can make her environment seem more comfortable to her. During the day, open the window shades or blinds just to enough to let in diffuse, natural light.[11] When the sun goes down, provide your cat with soft lighting.[12]
- Leave a low light on for your cat when it is time to say good night. She may feel more comfortable with a low light than complete darkness.[13]
- Visit your local home improvement store to learn more about low lighting options for your cat.
- Place her necessities nearby. As your cat nears the end of her life, she may have trouble getting up and walking around. The distance that she used to walk to get to her litterbox and food and water bowls may be too far for her now. To minimize her discomfort with eating, drinking, and using the litterbox, place her bowls and litterbox in a nearby area that will be easy for her to get to.[14]
- Even with the close proximity, your cat still may have trouble getting up on her own. You can either fashion a sling out of a towel or blanket, or purchase a sling, to help her to her feet.[15]
- Place her favorite toys close by.
EditFeeding Your Cat - Give her tasty food. Earlier in your cat's life, you may have limited the amount of tasty morsels your cat ate so that she could maintain a healthy diet. Now that she is near the end of her life, why not indulge her a bit more? Spoil your cat with some tuna, such as tuna flakes or even tuna juice poured on top of her food.[16]
- Meat-based baby food,[17], such as turkey,[18] is another type of tasty food to feed your dying cat. Since onions are toxic to cats, make sure the baby food does not contain any onion powder.[19]
- Gourmet cat food is another tasty food option for your cat.[20]
- Whichever tasty food you give her, make sure that it has a strong and appealing smell. Your cat probably won't have a big appetite in her final days,[21] but giving her food that is very aromatic may encourage her to eat at least a little bit.[22]
- Make her food easy to eat. Not only may your cat be losing her appetite when she is dying, but she may also no longer have the physical ability to chew her food adequately. Therefore, you will need to make her food easier to eat. For dry food, you can soften it by soaking it in some water or mashing it.[23]
- Other than mashing dry food, you can grind it up in a blender.
- If you are feeding your cat baby food, you can mix it with some water to make it even softer.[24]
- Warming up your cat's food can make it easier and more appealing for her to eat.[25]
- Talk with your veterinarian if you are unsure what types of foods your cat can eat, and would want to eat, at the end of her life.
- Give your cat fresh water. Your cat, in her final stages of life, may not want to drink as much water as she used to. In addition, her body's 'thirst' signal may not be working very well, so she may not even realize that she needs to hydrate herself.[26] Keeping your dying well hydrated is key to keeping her comfortable.[27]
- Her water should be lukewarm instead of cold.[28]
- If your cat is too weak or in too much pain to drink out of her water bowl, you will have to help her by gently supporting her head upright.[29]
- She may not want to open her mouth willingly to drink the water, so you may have to give her water using a medicine dropper.[30] While supporting her head, position the medicine dropper next to her back teeth on the inside of her cheek. When she opens her mouth, gently squeeze the water down her throat.
EditManaging Your Cat's Medical Challenges - Identify your cat's health challenges. Your cat may be at the end of her life, but that does not mean that her health challenges should not be addressed. In fact, not addressing her health problems could make her feel even more uncomfortable and speed up her rate of decline.[31] Make an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss your cat's various health challenges and what can be done to manage them.
- If your cat has a terminal illness, such as cancer or chronic kidney disease, develop a plan with your veterinarian to manage and minimize your cat's discomfort.
- Minimize your cat's pain. Depending on your cat's medical condition, she may be in a lot of pain. When she is dying, you should do what you can to relieve this pain. Your veterinarian can recommend what type of pain medications your cat would need to achieve pain relief.[32]
- Remember that, at this stage in your cat's life, the pain medication is to make her feel more comfortable, not cure her physical ailments.[33]
- Consider using a pill popper to administer the pain medication if your cat cannot open her mouth on her own.[34] Position the pill popper as you would the medicine dropper. When she opens her mouth, push on the pill popper to dispense the pill down her throat. To stimulate swallowing, give her a few drops of water using your medicine dropper.[35]
- Manage your cat's elimination problems. Pain, disease, or general weakness can make it very difficult for your dying cat to make it to the litterbox in time. If your cat has trouble controlling her bladder, your veterinarian may want to prescribe a medication to manage the incontinence.[36]
- Your cat may also have trouble controlling fecal elimination.
- Check your cat regularly for evidence of soiling or wetness.[37] Gently clean her genital and rectal area to prevent urine scald and other skin irritation caused by elimination problems.[38] Clean her with a soft cloth and warm water.
- Disposable cat diapers are also available. If your local pet store does not carry them, you can either search online or ask your veterinarian for recommendations on diapers for your cat.
- Putting a diaper on your cat may be a bit awkward and challenging at first, so you may want to ask your veterinarian about the easiest way of doing it.
EditPreparing for Your Cat's Death - Talk with your veterinarian about euthanasia. While you are making the best of the time you have left with your dying cat, you will also need to prepare for the realities of her eventual death. By no means is this easy, but it is something you must do. Talking with your veterinarian will help you handle and organize this difficult preparation.
- Euthanasia is a painless and humane way of ending your cat's life. To perform euthanasia, your veterinarian would administer an overdose of an anesthetic drug.[39] After a few seconds, your cat would slip peacefully into unconsciousness and eventually stop breathing.[40]
- Do not feel ashamed or guilty about thinking or talking about euthanasia. Many pet owners struggle with the idea of putting their pets to sleep.
- Your veterinarian can help you sort out your emotions and questions regarding euthanasia.
- Decide when the time is right for euthanasia. After talking with your veterinarian, it is up to you to decide when the time has come to have your cat euthanized. It may be helpful to look for clinical signs that your cat is clearly suffering: hiding, sleeping more, wasting away, and either withdrawing from human contact or being overly clingy.[41]
 - Ask yourself this question: 'Am I keeping my cat alive for myself or for my cat?'[42] How you answer that question will help you decide when the time is right to euthanize her.
- If your cat is truly suffering, despite your best efforts to make her comfortable, then it may be time to have her euthanized.
- It can also help to either observe or keep a written record of your cat's daily activities. When you notice that she's having more bad days than good days, it's probably time to start thinking about euthanasia.[43]
- When you have made the difficult decision to euthanize your cat, promptly call your veterinarian to schedule the appointment.[44] Delaying the process will only make it more difficult for you, and may prolong your cat's discomfort.
- Some veterinarians will offer to perform the euthanasia at the owner's home. Ask your veterinarian if he or she offers this service. If not, then schedule the euthanasia at a time when the veterinarian clinic is quiet—usually the early morning or late evening.[45]
- Make plans for what do with your cat's remains. As if the decision to euthanize your cat was not hard enough, you also need to think about what do with your cat's remains. You have the options of burying your cat at a pet cemetery or having her remains cremated.[46] Do not feel pressured to choose one option or the other—decide what you are most comfortable with.
- Your veterinarian can give you information about pet cremation and burial services.
- Although it can be hard to think about your cat dying, focus on the chance to make your cat as happy and comfortable as possible. Focusing on the positive can help you provide the comfort your cat needs and desires.
- Keeping your cat comfortable during her final days of life is known as pet hospice. With pet hospice, you see you cat's death as a natural part of her life and want her death to be dignified.[47]
- Your dying cat will appreciate the comfort of human interaction. Continue to spend quality time with her, even if she is not able to play like she used to. Hold her gently to minimize her pain and discomfort.[48]
- Since your dying cat may not be able to groom herself very well anymore, you can help her by gently cleaning around her eyes, ears, mouth, genitals, and anus.[49] Dampen a soft cloth with warm water to clean her. You can also brush her gently with a soft bristled brush.[50]
- After your cat has died, allow yourself time to grieve. Also, don't be afraid to reach out family and friends who can comfort you as you grieve the loss of your cat.[51]
- Your veterinarian can recommend bereavement counseling services and pet loss hotlines that can help you manage your grief.[52]
- Cats can be very good at masking pain.[53] Your dying cat may do her best to conceal the fact that she is in pain.
- Depending on how sick she feels, your cat may stop eating and drinking completely, no matter how much you try to feed and hydrate her. Realize that the smell of food may make her feel sick to her stomach.[54]
- Your cat's condition may deteriorate more quickly than you expect. Have the contact information for your veterinarian and an emergency veterinary hospital close by in case your cat's condition suddenly makes a turn for the worst.[55]
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