| How to Remove Grass Stains from Clothing Posted: 20 Mar 2022 01:00 AM PDT It's fun watching your children frolic and play in the grass until you find dreadful grass stains. Grass stains are like a dye stain, which means they are difficult to remove. This is due to the complex proteins and coloring of the grass pigments. While difficult and annoying, they can be removed with the proper mixtures and some elbow grease. [Edit]Preparing Garments - Check the clothing label. On the inside of your garment, there is a care label. Reading this label will give you an idea of what you can use on your garment safely.[1]
- For example, an empty triangle is the symbol for bleach. If the triangle is black with a large "X" through it, you cannot use bleach of any sort. If the triangle is striped black and white, you can use non-chlorine bleach only.[2]
- Read the product information. Before using any cleaning product or detergent, read the label. The label can help identify which products are best for which garment. It can also tell you if it is safe on the type of garment you are using.[3]
- For example, a detergent with bleach will be best for a white garment, but may not be the best choice for a dark colored garment.
- Test on a small area. Before putting anything on a stained item of clothing, do a test spot first. A test spot will allow you to check that you can use your stain removal solution on the clothing without causing permanent damage like changing the colour.[4]
- The inside hem is a great location to test a solution because it is very inconspicuous.[5]
- Remove any excess dirt or grass. Before doing anything with your item, you should remove excess dirt or grass from the stained location. Blot, rather than rub, to try get the excess out. Rubbing will only cause the stain to move further into your clothing.
- Struggling to get some dirt off? Try holding the clothing taut between your fingers, and flicking from the inside of the garment. This should forcefully fling off any excess mud.
[Edit]Removing With Liquid Detergent and Vinegar - Pretreat the stain. After you've removed excess dirt and grass, you should pre-treat your grass stain for the best removal. Pretreat by dabbing a 50/50 mixture of warm water and white vinegar. Saturate the stain well to ensure deep penetration by the vinegar.[6] Allow the watered down vinegar to sit for five minutes.
- Never use fruit vinegar for stain treatment. Only use plain white vinegar.[7]
- You can also dampen the stain with cold water.[8]
- Apply detergent directly. After your vinegar solution has sat on the clothing item for five minutes, apply laundry detergent directly to the stain. If available, use a detergent that has bleach. Bleach contains enzymes which help break down grain stains.[9]
- Try using a dime-sized amount of detergent, or just enough to cover the stain.[10]
- Using powder detergent? Try mixing a dash of water into the powder to make it paste-like, then spread over the stain.
- Massage the stain. Once you've applied the detergent, massage the stain. You want to massage gently, as to not ruin the clothing, but firmly, to ensure you get deep into the stain. The longer you massage the more effective the treatment is likely to be. After massaging for several minutes, allow the detergent to sit.[11]
- Use a clean toothbrush to the brush over the stain.[12]
- Rinse and check. Once the stain has sat for 10-15 minutes, give it a rinse with cold water. Check to see if the stain has been removed. It should be significantly fainter, if not completely removed. If the stain isn't banished, you can safely repeat the process with water, vinegar, and detergent until the garment is stain-free.[13]
- Let your garment hang-dry after you've spot treated the stain.[14]
[Edit]Removing With Alcohol - Wet the stain with isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is a solvent that will dislodge any color from stains. This includes the green pigment left behind by grass. To wet the stain, take a sponge or cotton swab and generously dab with alcohol.[15]
- Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, works on removing grass stains because it dissolves the green pigment left behind in a grass stain.
- If you're working on a delicate fabric, try a 50:50 solution of water and alcohol. Note that adding water means it may take longer to dry.
- Air dry and rinse. Allow the stain to complete air dry before moving forward. The alcohol will evaporate out of the stain and most of the pigment should be dislodged. After the stain is dry, rinse it with cool water.[16]
- Using cool water prevents the stain from setting. Use of hot water, or heat at all, will set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.
- Apply liquid detergent. Apply a small amount of detergent to the stain. Massage for at least five minutes, but the longer the better. Once you're satisfied with your massaging, rinse the stain with cold water until the water runs clear.[17]
- Check the stain. Allow the garment to air dry. Once it is dry, check to see if the stain is gone. If not, repeat the process. If the stain has been removed, you can launder the item as normal.
[Edit]Removing With DIY-Stain Remover - Mix your DIY-remover. If you've got a particularly stubborn grass stain, try using a homemade stain remover. Mix ¼ cup bleach, ¼ cup peroxide and ¾ cups cold water into a container. The combination of hydrogen peroxide with bleach will work as an incredible stain remover.
- When working with bleach and peroxide, mix in a well-ventilated area to prevent inhalation of fumes.
- Never substitute bleach with ammonia. Ammonia is known to immediately set a stain.[18]
- Bleach is known to change the color of a garment. Always spot test on an inconspicuous location before applying the mixture to the stain.
- Apply, massage and let sit. Place your homemade solution onto the stained area. Allow it to saturate the stain. Next, massage it in gently. Once you've massaged for several minutes, put the garment somewhere safe and allow it to sit. Ideally your solution can sit on your clothing for 30-60 minutes, but longer is better.
- Rinse and check. Once your item has finished sitting, give it a thorough rinse. Check to see if the stain has disappeared. If there is still traces, feel free to apply your DIY-remover again. If it is gone, you can launder the clothing as normal.
- Do not dry the item until you're sure the stain has been removed. Any heat will set the stain permanently.
- The sooner you treat the grass stain, the better. The longer the stain sits the more difficult it will be to remove.
[Edit]Warnings - Laundry detergents and cleaning products are harmful to mucus membranes and skin. Always protect yourself when working with chemicals by wearing gloves if handling, and keeping the mouth closed.[19]
- If a chemical is put into your eye, rinse your eyeball with water for 15 minutes and call your local physician.[20]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Deep Fried Chicken Posted: 19 Mar 2022 05:00 PM PDT Chicken that has been deep-fried is famous comfort food that is appreciated all around the world. To create your own batch, first, marinate the chicken in buttermilk before dredging it in flour. The chicken should then be fried till golden brown in heated oil. To ensure that the chicken is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. Finally, serve the chicken with typical Southern side dishes, a sandwich, or a chicken and waffles meal. [Edit]Ingredients - Eight chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, breasts, wings)
- 1 quart (0.9 liters) buttermilk
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups (240 grams) flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- Approximately 5 cups (1.5 liters) frying oil
[Edit]Battering the Chicken - Marinate the chicken. Combine (.9 liters) buttermilk, 4 teaspoons salt, and one teaspoon of pepper into a large bowl. Stir the ingredients to combine them. Next, place all of the chicken pieces into the marinade, pressing them into the liquid to completely coat them.[1]
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 4-24 hours.
- Wash any surfaces that touched raw chicken, including your hands.
- Bring the chicken to room temperature. If you try to fry cold chicken, your chicken pieces will cook unevenly. To reheat the chicken, place the bowl of chicken and marinade on your kitchen counter for thirty minutes.[2]
- Don't leave your chicken out for more than thirty minutes. If you do, the chicken may go bad.
- Combine the dry ingredients. Place an extra-large resealable plastic bag on your counter. Combine 2 cups (240 grams) of all-purpose flour, of baking powder, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, and one tablespoon of onion powder in the re-sealable bag. Close the bag and shake it thoroughly to incorporate the ingredients. If desired, add additional seasoning. For example
- Add a teaspoon of paprika or cayenne for a spicy kick.[3]
- For Cajun fried chicken, add 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, and 5 dashes of Louisiana hot sauce.[4]
- Add 2 teaspoons crumbled dried oregano, 2 teaspoons crumbled dried sage, and 2 teaspoons crumbled dried thyme to add an herbal fragrance to the fried chicken.
- Coat the chicken in flour. Use tongs or clean fingers to move a piece of chicken from the marinade into the re-sealable bag of flour. Seal the bag and shake it well to coat the chicken in flour. Open the bag and transfer the floury chicken to a plate. Repeat this step for each piece of chicken.
- Coat one piece of chicken at a time to avoid incorporating any liquid into the flour.
- Coat the chicken again. Once all of the pieces have gotten their first coat of flour, repeat the coating process. First, gently dip a floury piece of chicken in the marinade to moisten the surface. Next, place the piece of chicken back in the flour bag. Shake the bag to completely coat the chicken with the second layer of flour. Repeat this step for the rest of the chicken pieces.[5]
- Place the freshly coated chicken pieces on a new plate. This will help you know which pieces you've already coated twice.
- Coat one piece of chicken at a time. If you don't, the flour bag will absorb too much moisture and will become a thick batter.
[Edit]Deep-Frying the Chicken - Choose a deep-frying method. You can either fry your chicken on the stove or use a deep-frying appliance. If you decide to use a pot, choose a deep pot with thick sides. If you use a deep fryer, follow the manufacturer's instructions when frying chicken.
- Cast iron pots such as Dutch Ovens are great for deep frying.[6]
- Deep fryers can be purchased online or at cooking supply stores.
- Fill the pot or deep-fryer with frying oil. Leave about 4 inches (10 centimeters) of space at the top to allow for splattering. Choose a frying oil that has a high smoke point. These oils will fry your food at the right temperature without giving them a sour, burned flavor. High smoke point oils include:
- Peanut oil (avoid if you have nut allergies)
- Sunflower oil
- Safflower oil
- Soybean oil
- Vegetable shortening
- Lard[7]
- Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). If you're using a fryer, follow the manufacturer's recommendations when heating the oil. Place the oil on your stove over medium-high heat if you're using a pot. Check the temperature of the oven after a few minutes. For an exact measurement, use a candy thermometer to find the oil temperature. Follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a thermometer.
- If you don't have a candy thermometer, place a wooden spoon into the hot oil. If the oil bubbles around the spoon, the oil is hot enough.
- Alternatively, throw a pinch of flour into the oil. If the oil bubbles around the flour, the oil is hot enough. If it turns black within a few minutes, the oil is too hot. Reduce the heat slightly.[8]
- Fry a batch of chicken. Use tongs or a slotted metal spoon to place a few pieces of chicken in the hot oil. Each piece of chicken should be able to rest without touching any other pieces of chicken. If you add too much chicken, you will overcrowd the pan.
- If you overcrowd the pan, the oil will cool quickly and the chicken won't fry properly.
- If you're using a deep fryer, lift the metal basket, place the chicken inside, and lower it into the hot oil.
- Brown the chicken. Cook the chicken in the hot oil for 15-20 minutes, turning the pieces if necessary.[9] If the batter turns dark brown after just a few minutes, your oil is too hot. Reduce the temperature. After about fifteen minutes of frying, look for signs that the chicken is ready. For example
- Properly fried chicken has a golden-brown crust.
- Clear juices will leak out of the chicken, even when it's frying in the oil. If the chicken isn't done, pink juices will leak out of it.
- Dark meat takes more time to cook than light meat. Keep an eye on any chicken breasts or wings.[10]
- Test the temperature of the chicken. Use tongs to move a large piece of chicken from the oil to a plate. Next, use a meat thermometer to know the internal temperature of the chicken. To do so, stick the metal end of the thermometer into the thickest part of the biggest piece of chicken. The temperature should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius.)[11]
- If you don't have a meat thermometer, check the chicken by cutting it into the largest part with a knife. If the meat appears raw, cook the chicken for a few more minutes.
- Place the batch on a wire rack to cool. Some people like to place the chicken on a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up excess oil. However, this method will steam the surface of the chicken, creating soggy fried pieces. Instead, place the fried chicken on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. This will help the chicken to become more crispy and delicious.
- Let the chicken cool for ten minutes before serving.[12]
- You can pat the chicken with paper towels to remove some excess grease.
[Edit]Serving Fried Chicken - Serve fried chicken with Southern sides. In many Southern states, such as Texas, Louisiana, and Kentucky, fried chicken is eaten as a main dish with a variety of succulent side dishes. There are many different side dishes to choose from, but some common dishes consists of:
- Make chicken, and waffles. This combination may sound strange if you've never done it before. However, this dish is very popular in many Southern states. The meaty crunch of fried chicken pairs deliciously with a plate of buttery, sweet waffles.
- Some people like to cover their chicken and waffles in maple syrup, while others prefer to make a Dijon cream sauce from Dijon mustard, cream, and thyme.
- Create a fried chicken sandwich. This method is very suitable for boneless fried chicken. First, choose a bun. Many people prefer a toasted wheat sandwich roll, but you can use any kind of bread you like. Next, place your fried chicken on the bun and add any desired toppings.[13] Popular toppings include:
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Play Stratego Posted: 19 Mar 2022 09:00 AM PDT Stratego is a two player game that requires memory and strategy skills. The goal is to be the first player to capture your opponent's Flag or to capture all of your opponent's moveable pieces. You do this by attacking your opponent's army pieces with your own army pieces.[1] Each army piece has a different rank and some pieces have special abilities. During your turns you can either move a piece or attack one of your opponent's pieces. Get the game, learn the rules, and you will be all ready to start playing Stratego. [Edit]Preparing to Play the Game - Set up the board. Each Stratego set comes with a 10X10 board to play on. The board is large enough to accommodate both players' armies plus non-moving pieces. The board has two 2X2 lake areas on it that pieces cannot move through and that act as the barrier space when you first set up the game. Do not place any pieces on or near these spots when you set up the game. Keep the two center rows of the board empty until the game has started.[2]
- Get familiar with the army pieces. Each Stratego game comes with two sets of army pieces (one red and one blue). Each army has 33 army pieces and every piece is ranked from 1-10 (1 is the lowest rank and 10 is the highest rank). Each set also includes 6 Bombs and 1 Flag, but these pieces are not ranked and they do not move. Only the army pieces may move and attack. Each army set includes: [3]
- 10: 1 Marshall
- 9: 1 General
- 8: 2 Colonels
- 7: 3 Majors
- 6: 4 Captains
- 5: 4 Lieutenants
- 4: 4 Sergeants
- 3: 5 Miners
- 2: 8 Scouts
- 1: 1 Spy
- Choose your army color. Since there are two sets, you and your opponent will each have to choose a color before you can set up the game. Try choosing at random by holding two different color pieces in each hand (so your opponent cannot see them) and ask your opponent to choose one. Whatever color your opponent chooses will be his or her color for the game.[4]
- Put up the fortress screen. Before you set you your army pieces, you will need to set up the fortress screen to prevent your opponent from seeing how you are positioning your pieces. Do not remove the fortress screen from the board until you and your opponent have finished setting up the board.[5]
- Set up your pieces. As you set up your pieces, make sure that they are facing you and not your opponent. Your opponent should not be able to see the types of your pieces and you should not be able to see the types of your opponent's pieces. After you have set up your pieces, you are ready to play.[6]
[Edit]Playing the Game - Understand how gameplay works. During each of your turns, you may either move or attack an opponent's piece. You may not do both. If you find yourself in a position where you cannot move or attack, then you have lost the game and must announce your defeat to your opponent.[7]
- Move your pieces. Take turns moving your pieces in vertical or horizontal directions. Pieces may not move in a diagonal direction. Pieces may only move one space, except for the Scouts which can move an unlimited distance. Just keep in mind that because only scouts can move more than one space per turn, moving a scout more than one space will reveal its identity to your opponent and may cause your opponent to attack that piece.[8]
- Pieces cannot jump over the lake or over other pieces. They also may not occupy the same space as another piece.[9]
- Pieces cannot move back and forth between the same two spaces over three consecutive turns.
- Attack your opponent's pieces. Attack your opponent's pieces to reduce his or her numbers and capture your opponent's Flag. You may only attack pieces that are directly next to your pieces. They may not be a space away or diagonal to one of your pieces. They must be right next to each other in a vertical or horizontal direction.[10]
- When you attack your opponent (or your opponent attacks you) you must both announce the rank of your piece that attacked (or was attacked). Whatever piece has the highest ranking wins the fight. Remove the losing piece from the board. If both pieces have the same rank, then remove both pieces from the board.
- Place captured pieces in the tray as you play. Doing so will help to keep them organized for future games.
- Place the winning piece on the space that was occupied by the losing piece.[11]
- Observe the special attack privileges of certain pieces. Some pieces have special attack privileges that make them capable of attacking more powerful pieces. Make sure that you observe these special attack privileges as you play the game.[12]
- The Spy can capture the Marshal if the Spy attacks first. If the Spy is attacked by the Marshal, then the Spy is captured instead.
- Scouts can move and attack on the same turn. No other pieces can do both in the same turn
- Miners can disarm Bomb pieces. All other pieces must be removed from the board if they attack a Bomb piece.
- Win by capturing your opponent's Flag or all of your opponent's moveable pieces. Whoever captures his or her opponent's Flag first wins the game. But you may also win the game if your opponent reaches a point where he or she cannot make any more moves. For example, if all of the player's moveable pieces have been captured or blocked, then that player would lose the game.[13]
[Edit]Using Strategy - Protect your flag with Bombs. A common strategy in Stratego is to surround one's Flag with Bomb pieces to prevent players from accessing it. However, this strategy may fail if your opponent uses a miner to defuse these Bombs and then captures your Flag. If you do surround your Flag with Bombs, make sure that you have some high ranking, moveable pieces nearby to take out any approaching pieces.[14]
- Keep your Miners in play. Since surrounding the Flag piece with Bombs is a popular strategy, you will benefit from keeping some of your Miner pieces in play. Having Miners on hand will help you to defuse Bomb pieces later in the game and hopefully capture your opponent's flag.[15]
- Position some Scouts in the first two rows. Scouts are helpful in identifying your opponent's frontline pieces, so it is a good idea to keep some Scouts in your front row. Since Scouts are low-ranking pieces, you can afford to lose a few in the first few turns if it helps you to identify some of your opponent's higher ranking pieces.[16]
- Make some higher ranking pieces available for movement. Although you do not want to have all of your high-ranking pieces up front, it is wise to have a few in your first two rows so that you can use them if necessary. Otherwise, your opponent's high-ranking pieces may take out an entire row of your low-ranking pieces before you can stop him or her.[17]
- Pay attention to the positions of pieces that do not move. Stratego requires you to use your memory skills and pay attention to what pieces are where as your opponent attacks. It is also helpful to note the pieces that never move during the game. These pieces are likely to be Bombs, so you may want to send your Scouts to check them out or send Miners to defuse them.[18]
- Try different arrangements every time you play the game to see what strategy works for you. If you often play the same opponent, make sure that you change your strategy often.
[Edit]Warnings - Do not line your front row with bombs because they cannot move! If you block yourself in, then you lose the game.
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| How to Teach Your Pet Not to be Scared of the Vacuum Cleaner Posted: 19 Mar 2022 01:00 AM PDT Most house pets have a fear of vacuum cleaners. The fact that they are large, and quite noisy, makes this fear understandable. Most pets run away as soon as the cleaner comes out, and cats might even hide under the bed. However, with a little work, you can help your pet overcome its fear of the vacuum cleaner. [Edit]Acclimating Your Pet - Store the vacuum in an open area. When the vacuum cleaner is not in use, place it where your pet can easily see it. Being around the vacuum while it is not making noise should help your pet view the cleaner as something other than a threat.[1]
- Keep the vacuum low to the ground. Make sure the vacuum is as close to the ground as possible. Adjust the upright section of the vacuum so that it is lying on the ground or is as close to the ground as possible. Reducing the overall height of the vacuum may make it seem less imposing to a pet.
- Allow your pet to investigate the vacuum. Move the cleaner to where the pet is sitting while it is turned off and allow the animal to look at and smell it.[2] Pets go by scent as well as sight. Once they get used to seeing and smelling the vacuum, they should naturally be less afraid.[3][4]
- Never place the vacuum cleaner where your animal likes to sleep or eat. This might only work to make them afraid of those areas, causing further problems.
- If you have a cat that you are trying to acclimate to a vacuum, never place the vacuum by its litter box.[5]
- Reward your pet whenever they show interest in the vacuum.[6]
- Make the vacuum more familiar. Try placing a towel or sheet the animal uses on the vacuum cleaner while it is turned off. Your pet may want to get closer to the vacuum because it smells familiar or because it has something the animal wants on top of it.[7]
- Place a treat on the vacuum. When the vacuum is lying on the ground in the off position, try placing a treat on top of it and see whether or not your pet tries to retrieve the treat. Animals will become much more steadfast in their resolve when a treat is involved.[8][9]
- Utilize an animal's toys. Animals can be quite territorial when it comes to their favorite toys. Take a toy you know your pet loves and place on the vacuum cleaner while it is off. Over time, the animal may come to associate the vacuum cleaner with one of its play things.[10]
- Turn the vacuum on. Now that your pet has had the chance to investigate the vacuum while off, try turning the vacuum on. Your pet will probably run away because of the noise, but it might keep looking at the vacuum from a distance, showing more curiosity than fear.[11][12]
- Keep the vacuum stationary. While the vacuum is on and making noise, leave it in one place. If it is not moving, but still making noise, your pet may choose to be brave and approach the vacuum. At the very least, it may get a little bit closer, signaling a minor victory.[13]
- Be sure to reward your pet for any attempts to get close to the vacuum with treats or toys.[14]
- Keep your distance. Try to vacuum at a distance from the animal. Do not go too close while they watch you. After a while, they might be braver and actually follow you around as you vacuum.[15]
- Reward the animal after vacuuming. When you finish vacuuming the desired area, turn the vacuum off and offer your pet a treat, toy or reward.[16] If your dog loves going for walks, take him out for a walk immediately after vacuuming. If your cat likes wet food, give it a can when you have finished vacuuming. If you do this consistently, the animal will come to associate the vacuum with activities it enjoys.[17]
- Try talking to your pet. Talking to your pet in a calm voice while vacuuming may help it realize that the vacuum is not something to be feared. Animals take verbal and non-verbal cues from their humans. Try calling the pet over to you with a friendly and calm demeanor while the vacuum is running. Its eagerness to follow your commands may be enough to help your pet overcome its fear.
[Edit]Using Alternative Methods - Look into sound therapy. Have a look at the Sound Therapy 4 Pets website. They have a number of CDs that prepare and treat dogs that have sound phobias. While not always effective, getting your animal used to the sound without the sight of the vacuum could help the animal overcome its fear.[18][19]
- Purchase a quiet vacuum. All vacuums make some noise, but many vacuums are designed to limit and almost eliminate the amount of noise they make. If your pet is really scared of your vacuum, try buying one that isn't as noisy.[20]
- Be patient. While some pets will fear the vacuum cleaner their entire lives, some pets just need to get used to its presence. If you have young pets, simply go through your vacuuming routine as usual. Over time, they may get used to it and lose their fear. [21]
- Use clicker training. If your pet has been trained with a clicker, try using the clicker to get the animal used to the vacuum. Start with the vacuum off and click while dropping a treat when the animal comes around the vacuum. Once the animal is close, run the vacuum very briefly and turn it off again. While you are doing this, click and drop a treat for the animal before it has the chance to react to the noise.[22]
- Once the animal has gotten used to the sound of the vacuum, try using the clicker method while moving the vacuum around your pet.[23]
- While they might get familiar with the noise and look of the cleaner, most household pets, will still remain at a distance as you vacuum. Do not be concerned.
[Edit]Warnings - Do not tease animals with the vacuum cleaner or make believe you are going to push it onto them. While it might look like fun for you, it truly scares the animal.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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