Water Stains: “Water stains are notoriously tricky since they can seep below the finish into the wood itself,” Crew says. He recommends gently applying equal parts baking soda and white toothpaste to lighten watermarks with a damp cloth.
Pet Stains: “Pet urine stains are among the most difficult to remove since the ammonia not only stains but can eat into the finish,” says Crew. “Hydrogen peroxide soaked into a cotton cloth and left on the stain for 10 minutes works wonders. Just be careful not to oversaturate — it can cause wood swelling.” Alternatively, you can use an enzyme cleaner (be sure to choose one that’s safe for hardwood floors).
White Rings and Spots: Crew explains that these are the result of moisture penetrating the finish of the wood. He recommends putting a couple tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl and slowly adding water until you have a paste, or a dab of non-gel toothpaste and working it in with a cotton cloth. “Their abrasive quality works well to lift the stain without damage to the wood beneath,” he says.
Ink Stains: Crew says rubbing alcohol or a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide works for these types of stains. Mix equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide or one part rubbing alcohol with four parts hot water in a spray bottle, then spray directly onto a microfiber cloth and work into the hardwood floors.
Wine Stains: Wine stains can be cleaned up with an enzyme cleaner or a diluted vinegar mixture. Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray directly onto a microfiber cloth (never directly onto the surface!) and then use it to wipe the stain away.
Grease Stains: Crew says certain grease stains from food can be removed with a few drops of dish soap mixed with warm water in a bowl. Work the mixture into the stain with a cotton cloth.
Oil-Based Stains: Fuenmayor says most oil-based stains require expertise. “Based on my experience, I can say that the most difficult cases are removing old oil stains,” Fuenmayor says. “These often require special solvents that aren’t safe to use without proper ventilation and experience.” It’s best to call in a professional for these types of stains.
RANT to grocery stores that have digital coupons. Recently, there was a gentleman who was not able to afford a bag of cherries because he didn’t have the app and found it too hard to figure out. Instead of $3.99/lb he would have had to pay $7.99/lb. My 97-year-old dad can’t buy a digital deal because he has a flip phone! Personally, I don’t want to have to click, scroll or scan when I am grocery shopping! For heaven’s sake, just mark it as a sale price and let us all have access!
RANT to scooter users who reach their destination and leave the scooter in the middle of the sidewalk. They also leave them in the middle of the corner where people are crossing the street. Pedestrians and people with mobility issues have to navigate around them. Please, use some common sense.
RANT to a West Seattle tire store. Our daughter had a slow leak in one tire. She went to have it fixed, and having no tire knowledge, ended up being sold four off-brand tires. This $20.99 fix ended up costing $947.31, with every conceivable extra charge. The old tires were far from worn out, and the car drove fine. This on a car that is 24 years old and Blue Books for about $1500. I think this is called upselling.
RANT to my neighbors for not participating in the post office food drive. I was the only one on the block who did. In the past, one would receive a thank you card for participating that was put in your mailbox. It made sure that it was received and not someone coming down the street and stealing it, so rant to the post office for not doing that. Hope you got my blue bag full of food.
RANT to tired, dull graffiti. How unoriginal it all seems to me, those same poofy letters in that same old style. If you are compelled to deface public walls, you might at least have some aesthetic standards and not be so boring.
RANT AND RAVE Rave to my employer for reminding staff during Mental Health Awareness Month that counseling is covered by our benefits plan. Rant for sending the reminder in a mailed envelope from the human resources office, causing anxiety about a possible layoff notice.
RANT to those who buy houses and then do not maintain the exterior or garden. Once nice neighborhoods are now pretty sorry-looking with all the newer town houses with faded trim and overgrown weedy gardens.
RANT to people who cough into their hands rather than into their elbow or sleeve. Yuck for everything you then touch. Did you forget everything we learned during COVID?
RANT AND RAVE Rant to “takeovers” by preteen kids! The behavior I saw in a Starbucks was really disturbing. Taking drinks you didn’t pay for, bouncing balls inside, being extremely noisy and a lack of respect! This behavior would not be tolerated at school, why should it be at a place of business?! Rave to the poor employees who have to deal with that!
What is one practice you do daily to help you continue to evolve and rise above the noise?
Every day, I meditate—first thing in the morning. Even if I just do it for a minute, though I usually do it for longer, I meditate. I have no evening routine whatsoever. The night is for unwinding. But every morning, I try to still the waters of my mind. And I will tell you, the difference that I notice in my own self—in my reactivity, in my processing, in the way that I’m thinking and handling things—when I give myself that regular practice versus when I fall behind on it is extraordinary. – Brianna Wiest
Conversation With Myself by Nelson Mandela. I was excited to pull this from my stack of books. This book jacket is beautiful. The detail of the close-up picture of a smiling Mandela, with a face full of beauty and wisdom, is breathtaking. I just knew it was going to be delightful. How could it not be? It’s Mandela, and the forward of the book was written by former president Barack Obama. Sadly, that is where the joy ended. Now, I understand that Nelson Mandela is a change manager, and I adore and respect him. However, this book did not make my 50-page mark, it left me feeling the same way I did when readingLorraine Hansberry’s autobiography. The format does not flow. This is not your typical biography. There is no chronological order in Mandela’s archives, including excerpts of conversations, letters, speeches, and diary entries. You do get to see the influences and the struggle Mandela went through by some of the pieces written by the amazing man himself, or correspondence from friends, but it’s just too much to try to put together the rambling style that was presented in the book.
I’m an avid gardener in a suburban neighborhood, and in turn, I meet lots of neighbors. There’s one lady who keeps stopping by with questions for her yard, which I’m happy to share. However, she asked if I would go with her to the local nursery to help her select ones for her garden bed, to which I agreed. She canceled at the last minute both times via text. No apologies were given.
Since then, she’s knocked on my door and continues to text me with questions, without a please or thank you. Her last text said she was able to pick up the plants on a specific day but wasn’t feeling well enough to plant them (hint hint).
All this after I’ve told her no that doesn’t work for me.
My husband suggested quoting her my rate for services; however, I have no desire to communicate on any level with her. Is it rude to block her and ignore her? – Garden Plot
Yeah, it’s a little rude. Sometimes blocking is the only recourse, though. Before you do that, though, have you tried telling her directly that you can’t be her garden go-to anymore because of the cancellations and the lack of appreciation? That may be opening up a can of worms, and not the kind that are good for soil aeration. But if you block her without a conversation, it’s not like she doesn’t know where you live. Probably best to say, “enough is enough” and let nature run its course.
Real Life of an MSW 