Tuesday 27 February 2018

RELIEVE YOUR FABRICS FROM STAINS........... (PART -I)



                                                 image of stained fabrics के लिए इमेज परिणाम


Fabrics are one which we handle most in our day to day life. The utility of the fabric is enormous and the chance of getting stains is also high. The process of removing the stain and getting the fabric back to shape requires more care and attention.

Stain is a mark or spot of discolouration left on fabrics by the contact and absorption of some foreign substances. Some stains are easily removed by ordinary methods or reagents but there are quite a few which need special treatment. This entirely depends on the nature of the stain.

Stains therefore have to be classified according to the substance that causes them. Broadly speaking they can be divided into;
1.    Animal 2. Vegetable 3.Grease 4.Dye and 5.Mineral

1.Animal: Stains are those caused by blood, egg, milk and meat, &juices. As these contain protein matter, heat must be avoided  to remove them, otherwise the protein will get fixed in the stain.
2. Vegetables: Stains include those caused by tea, cocoa, coffee, fruit and wine. These are acidic and therefore require alkaline reagent to remove them.
3. Grease: Stains may be just grease spots or some colouring matter fixed with grease. These include butter, curry, oil, paint, & varnish. In removing these stains, some grease solvents or an absorbent is first used to dissolve or absorb the grease before removal of colouring matter. A solvent soap is also very effective for removing these stains from washable fabrics.
 4.Dye: Stains may be acidic or alkaline and so the nature of the stain is ascertained before a specific removing reagent is used.
5. Minerals: Stains such as Iron mould, black ink and certain medicine stains are compounds of a metal and a dye. These are first treated by acid reagents to act on the metal and then by an alkaline solution to neutralise the acid reagent and act on the dye.

Neither perspiration nor scratch marks fall into any of the above group. Perspiration has no protein component and cannot therefore fall under any group, even though it is acidic.

Scorch: It is a boron stain caused by a very hot iron and it is a class by itself.

Grass:These stains come under vegetable groups, but a very different method is used for removing the green colouring matter.
Stain removing must be carried out with care and in such a manner so as to restore the garments to its original appearance and texture.

GENERAL RULES FOR STAIN REMOVAL:


                         image of stained fabrics के लिए इमेज परिणाम

*Remove the stains as and when it is fresh and it is easy to remove with simple methods.

*Study the nature and texture of the fabric especially when chemical reagents and bleaches are to be used, as these have injurious effect on wool, silk and synthetic fabrics. The chemical reagents when used on animal fabrics, must be diluted.

*Treat known stains with specific reagents.

*Unknown stains should be treated with simple methods such as steeping in cold or hot water or washing with soap. Then use mild reagents and follow with strong ones. If the stain persists, resort to bleaching only, when all other treatments fail.

*The fabric should be in contact with the reagent only until the stain removed. The fabric should be rinsed several times to remove the reagent, if allowed to dry with the reagent, it may damage the fabric.

*All acid reagents should be neutralised with an alkaline rinse and vice versa.

*If a stain is to be removed by sponging method, dip the sponge in the solution and work in a circular movement from the outer edge of the stain to its center. This prevents stain from spreading.


                                                                     (to be continued.........)

Monday 26 February 2018

CONSIDER THESE WHILE BUYING CHILDREN’S BOOKS……


                               image of children reading books के लिए इमेज परिणाम

“”It is better to bind your children to you by a feeling of respect and by gentleness, than by fear.”” TERENCE.

Children of any age group have their own likes &dislikes, fears, secrets, love and expectations. From their younger age itself, story -telling can be an effective means of communication, parents play a big role in      incorporating this practice. Next to storytelling comes the books, Books are the best friends and encouraging the role of books in their lives reaps more benefits.

                                image of children scribbles के लिए इमेज परिणाम


#Allow children to write or scribble on slates, papers, floors &walls. let them play with chalk pieces, pen, pencils, &colours in your supervision.

#Picture books- the first to be introduced to children, let them see observe and familiarise themselves.

#Then comes -the colouring books. Ask them to fill them with colours of their choice and create whole new world.

                               image of drawing books for children के लिए इमेज परिणाम

#Next comes drawing books, help them to make their lines into a new object or form.

#Buy books depending on their interest. If they love and like sparrows and cats, select the book which carries them and don’t buy the books that hold in them the things of which they are feared or scared  like  a ferocious tiger, an owl, or lizards etc.

#While you buy books for children, don’t buy the bigger volume, as such they may feel burdened with many pages. Go for two books with minimum pages.

#As for as possible be with children, while they read stories, help them get the right meaning and moral in a right way.

                                       image of children reading books के लिए इमेज परिणाम

#Up to a certain stage till you feel that they manage on their own, support them with story -telling or you read out for them.

#Select books according to their age. Books meant for children are marked with age too. Get the right book for right age.

#Take them to the book shops as for as possible and with care & governance, just ask them take glance.

#There are variety of publishers in the children’s category, try as many as you can and update yourself and your child. Catch the one in which your child feels more comfortable.
                                           image of children reading books के लिए इमेज परिणाम

Kahil Gibran, the well-known Lebanese mystic, has expressed so beautifully in his masterpiece, ‘THE PROPHET”” about parenting:
·       “”You may give them (Your children) your love, but not your thoughts.

·       You may house their bodies but not their souls.
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams

·       You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

·       For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.””

Tuesday 20 February 2018

FEW POINTS ON GREAT GINGER


                                                  image of ginger के लिए इमेज परिणाम



Kitchen is a place where varieties of dishes are prepared every day and for that many ingredients are required. Few of them are dry, raw, fresh, cold and hot.  That includes vegetables, fruits, herbs, ghee, oil, butter, cheese, and spices.  One such item in the kitchen, which is used in almost all cuisine is GINGER.

GINGER is used like a spice and also functions like a herb. GINGER belongs to Rhizome family and also called as GINGER ROOT. The benefits of using GINGER in the cooking are: Good taste, flavour, hot &spicy effect, and provides the rich texture and consistency to the dish. That’s why GINGER is used in both cookery and bakery items. GINGER is available in both fresh and dry form.   Powdered dry ginger is generally used while preparing ginger bread, cookies and cakes.

                                             
                                            image of ginger के लिए इमेज परिणाम

GINGER when used in cooking, the skin is first peeled off, chopped and then add to the dish, most of the time ginger is grounded as a paste & add along with other ingredients. GINGER is also added to hot &cold drinks.  MASALA CHAI or ADRAK VALI CHAI is a tea prepared with addition of some GINGER while simmering. 

CHUKKU in Tamil, is the name for DRY-GINGER, with which a special coffee is made and stated that it is good for throat and also enhances voice &tone. Bharatratna awardee Late M.S.Subbulaksmi used to drink CHUKKU COFFEE regularly.

                                               image of dry ginger के लिए इमेज परिणाम


GINGER pickle is most famous in South India.  ALLAM is the term used for ginger in Telugu. For a dish called PESARATE, ALLAMPACHADI is a great combination and highly relished in ANDHRAPRADESH, INDIA.  INJI THAYIR PACHADI, is a well- known dish in the houses of Tamil Nadu, INJI is name for Ginger in Tamil.   Then comes, the INJIMORAPA,- the name for GINGER CANDY in Tamil. Many consume this candy after completing their lunch. It aids in digestion.

Let’s have a look into the recipe of GINGER CANDY:

1.      Weight & wash ginger in cold running water.
2.      Peel and cut into pieces.
3.      Place the pieces into boiling water, cook till the pieces become soft.
4.      Drain the pieces and add half an amount of sugar required and allow to stand overnight.
5.      Heat the pieces till it reaches 50˚ brix.
6.      Add sugar and citric acid and heat the pieces every alternative day till it reaches 75˚ brix.
7.      Keep the pieces for a week, drain the pieces and dry it in a dehydrator till the pieces are dry and have a film like coating.
8.      Keep in clean and sterilised cans.

Monday 19 February 2018

TURN TOWARDS TAPS, FUSES &PLUGS



                                       image of bathroom with taps, switches & plugs के लिए इमेज परिणाम


Newly built house or the old one, when fixing or replacing fittings like taps or other bathroom accessories, high caution is required. It’s the place where both water &electricity are close to each other.

 Taps with normal features or the ones with more look &style of international brands, all need a service time, whenever it demands or at regular intervals, depending on the usage.  The most common problem with the taps is leaking. Leaking taps leads to water wastage, so, to avoid this take up the work as soon as you notice the problem. This is usually termed as “Rewashing of the Tap”



                                                      
                                                image of taps के लिए इमेज परिणाम



This is a simple procedure:

 – Turn off the water supply to the tap

_ Turn the tap on fully, to make sure the water is turned off &to allow space for the work to be done and also to lift the dome.

_ unscrew the nut by griping it at point A and remove from tap, if the washer plate is fixed to the spindle it will lift out with it, if not, remove it separately.

-          Unscrew the other nuts if any in new model taps and lift it the done, as high as possible.

-          Remove old washer by knot B and replace it with a new washer.

-          Reassemble the tap and turn on water supply to test that the new washer is working efficiently.

Next comes the Switches in the bathrooms, the risk is high when we touch them with wet hands. So, whenever the switch is broken or had slight cracks, or fuse out, or wiring issues, all these need immediate change without any delay so as to avoid unnecessary consequences. Repair of fuses and wiring of the plugs needs more attention and alert during the process.



                                   image of plugs & switches के लिए इमेज परिणाम




-To change the switch,

 cut off the power supply, remove screws from the corners of the switch board.

- detach the switch from the connected wires, then fix the new switch in the same way to those existing wires inside the board.

_ close the board and fix all the screws on the boards and the new switch is ready to use.

Repair of fuses:

-          Turn off the main switch

-          Find the fuse that has blown, this may be known before hand, if not find it by checking each one of them.

-          Remove broken fuse wire

-          Replace with new fuse wire of the correct size.


-          Before replacing the repaired fuse and before switching on, fix the cause of the old fuse wire melting, check all connections and the leads of the appliance if it caused the fuse to blow.

The wiring of plugs:

-          Remove the over sheath for about 3 cm-5cm, thus leaving 3 coloured wires exposed.

-          If the plus has a bridge, clamp the flex sheath lightly under the card grip.

-           Measure each wire, cut it off at a length which will allow it to go round the terminal. The last portion of the wire only is cleared for insulation.

-          Wind uncovered wire in clock wise direction around the terminal. Orient insert in terminal and tighten screw.

-          Replace the costing of the plug.
-           


A SHRINE WHERE BRIGU MAHARISHI WORSHIPPED THE LORD

     The Divya Desam TIRUPPAVALAVANNAM is located in the temple town of Kanchipuram. There are two shrines of Pachai vanna Perumal and Paval...