Suddenly domestically challenged

Caring for paintbrushes

Prettifying our ordinary distribution board had been my dire wish for a long time. We had open trip switches, situated in our kitchen above the stove. Initially I looked for a new cover-plate with a lid, but could not find one sold separately, only complete distribution boxes. So I bought this ready-made piece of masonite and fabric paint matching the wall-tiles from an art-supply shop with the intention of making a lid. But, as life goes, it started collecting dust. Yesterday, while on leave, I decided today is the day. I unscrewed the cover, vacuumed the inside of the box carefully and proceeded to sand the white-painted cover. Marked the position of the lid, placed and marked the position of the holes to mount the hinges. Drilled the holes carefully and riveted the hinges in position. Then positioned the lid and marked these holes, drilled and riveted the lid onto the hinges. Thereafter I started painting the cover and lid. The fabric paint on the white resulted in a wood-like effect, which turned out quite nice. Soon as the second coat of paint dried I screwed the cover-plate back in position and applied a third coat of paint. I finished the job by decorating the cover and lid with some sea-theme card-making goodies.

I did some oil-based painting in the morning and placed this paintbrush in some turpentine to soak. I placed the brush I used for the fabric-paint in some water to soak. This morning I put a teaspoon of washing powder (vary the amount in accordance to the number and size of brushes) in a small bucket. Cleaned the brushes as best I could in their respective soaking fluids by rubbing them against the side of the containers—normally if more than one brush, for example in turpentine, I would brush them against each other—not using my hands, because turpentine dries out the skin. Added the brushes to the washing powder in a small bucket and pour hot water from the kettle I boiled. Then leave the water to cool down. When lukewarm, I would clean the bristle of the brushes thoroughly, remove any remaining paint on the metal and wood/plastic parts of the brush (with bigger brushes I normally make sure the brush is properly clean by rubbing my finger in-between the bristles) and then discard the water. Take clean lukewarm water and rinse the brushes thoroughly. Thereafter I take half a teaspoon of hair conditioner (vary the amount in accordance to the number and size of brushes) — fabric softener would probably also serve the purpose — and lukewarm water for the final rinse, where after I let the brushes dry before I store them away for future use. Many of my brushes have served me well for many years.

Fixing a bra hook

Washing machines can be hard on bra hooks.

The hooks tend to catch onto other clothing and then bend. I've tried putting bras in a mesh laundry bag—ideal for stockings or lacy panties. I tried making a point of folding the ends into the cups. But no, the bras keep on hooking onto other clothes.

My solution for a perfectly good daily-ware bra with one or more kooks missing—rendering the bra useless—is to keep replacement hooks in my sewing kit.

When the unfortunate happens, I remove the broken hook by opening the end of the bra's fastening strap just enough to get the broken hook out and insert a new hook—small jewellery-making pliers works well to pull the broken hook or bits of hooks out (it is important to remove all the pieces, a leftover piece of hook become most uncomfortable when wearing the bra). I then sew the new hook into position and sew up the opening. Voila, good for use again!

Tip: do not wash your (her) special lingerie in the washing mashing, rather let them soak a little in a bowl with lukewarm water and detergent, and wash them gently by hand. Alternatively wash them on a gentle washing machine cycle with other delicates. (You will be in big trouble if her delicate lingerie is spoiled). Do not hang the delicates on the washing line either, let them dry on a towel.

When looking for pictures to illustrate this post I came across something I've never seen, which is such a wonderful idea: armpit snap shields. Visit the URL for more information on disposable and washable armpit shield—they absorb sweat, keep the individual comfortable, as well as save time and money on dry-cleaning.

Hairdryer for quick defrosting a freezer

Are the drawers of the freezer section of your fridge-freezer sliding open and close with difficulty? Are some of the items on the top shelf getting stuck? You might be experiencing an ice build-up situation in your freezer, which is not good.

Why postpone? I just cleaned our freezer in less than half an hour. Which, when the going gets tuff is just difficult to find.

Here is the quick way:

Apparatus needed includes:

• Cool-bag / news papers / blanket / sleeping bag
• Hairdryer in working order with long enough cord (or extension cord)
• Serving tray / oven pan / biggish bowl
• Egg-lifter
• Detergent (preferably a spray bottle)
• Soft clean cloth

Noooo, it looks worse than it is: switch off, empty, hot air, help ice off with egg-lifter, throw ice in tray, clean & dry, switch on and repack—now for the detail:

1. Switch the appliance off.
2. Take a cool-bag (one of those that keep the meat and/or drinks cold when going for a picnic/braai) and pack it with the content of the freezer, to avoid any defrosting—if you do not have a cool-bag, use newspaper and wrap every item quite thick or pack the content on a blanket / sleeping bag and cover.
3. Pull all the drawers out—those that are iced, place them on the kitchen sink to defrost—the clean drawers out of the way.
4. Place a tray / oven pan / biggish bowl in front of the freezer
5. Grab your or your partner's hairdryer; switch it to its warmest setting and full blast—do not put it down in the freezer, because it might cause an electric shock—do not just quickly go to the loo / attend to a child's needs / make a call while leaving the hairdryer on in the freezer.
6. Start from the top and blow hot air over the ice layers.
7. When you start seeing tiny trickles of water, grab the egg-lifter in one hand and continue blowing hot air with the hairdryer in the other.
8. Gently help pieces of ice to let go of the sides of the freezer, by bumping lightly with the lifting edge of the egg-lifter.
9. Through the pieces of ice that come loose into the tray / oven pan / bowl.
10. Once all the ice is off, switch off the hairdryer and put safely aside and put the egg-lifter down.
11. Wipe the worse of the water off the inside of the freezer; wrench the cloth dry and move the tray / oven pan / bowl aside.
12. Spray some detergent on most surfaces and wipe the inside of the freezer clean.
13. Rinse the cloth in clean water, wrench dry and wipe the inside of the freezer once more.
14. Wash/wipe all the drawers and top shelf clean and insert in appropriate slots.
15. Move the fridge-freezer into its appropriate position and switch it back on.
16. Pack the content back in the freezer—pay attention to dates and place the oldest content on top in order to use first.
17. Throw the ice pieces on the lawn or spread it among your flower boxes of pot pants (take care not to cause frostbite) in order to defrost and serve a good purpose.

Cleaning the fridge section is even easier. I normally do not even switch it off. Empty the fridge; wash entire inside, shelves and veggies tray with water with detergent and cloth; dry and replace shelves and veggies tray. Inspect content, return the edible stuff and dump the rest in the rubbish bin. Easy?

Accumulation of washing

Two young womyn sharing a unit in our complex, at times dragged black bags, normally used for rubbish, filled with washing out the door and towards the lift. Their explanation: they do not own a washing machine and have nothing left to wear; they must get the washing done at a relative.

There are of course alternatives. When I was living alone, without any appliances, I regularly - every second to third day - stripped naked, filled the bath with warm water, add the washing, sprinkled the washing powder and got into the bath and played washing machine. Where necessary I would get down and scrub. Alter the washing ‘cycle’ I’d empty the bath before the rinsing ‘cycle’. Hooking a garment over the tap and turning it to wrench it dry is quite effective—just be careful for damage. I used to lift the garments out of the rising water and held it up to get rid of most of the water, where after I would shake out most of the rest of the water. This way I avoided unnecessary wrinkles. Hanging it carefully on a clothes horse to dry, further reduced my ironing efforts.

 

Other alternatives include dropping the washing off at a laundry service. We do that when on holiday. There is a range of choices, such a wash and dry only; wash, dry and iron and even dropping off washed clothes just for ironing. We have at times when our domestic had been ill, on leave or away washed and dried the washing and then took those that needed ironing to a laundry service.

 

Another alternative is to take a book, the washing, washing powder and spend some reading time attending to washing machine and dryer cycles. This post reminds me of Spin Cycle by Zoë Strachan—an interesting story of a woman that worked in a Laundromat. The story revolved round clients and staff, strange obsessions and some twisted psychology—worth spending quality laundromat time on J