BS: Handy Hints

Subject: BS: Handy Hints
From: Bert
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 10:36 PM

The kids had left a load of laundry in a plastic sack and forgotten it.

By the time we found it, it was smelling pretty bad.

Tree said "Look up Heloise on the internet and see what we can do with it"

Heloise said to use a half cup of ammonia with the wash.

It worked great and had the added benefit of getting the clothes REALLY clean.

Now we use it all the time and it saves a lot on laundry detergent. Our Laundry detergent goes about three times as far.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 03:17 AM

Doesn't it make them smell?

In times past, they used urine as a cleaning agent because of the ammonia content

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: GUEST,micca at work
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 04:07 AM

They also used urine for extracting Woad, and apparently, that smelled pretty bad too, I think it was Elizabeth 1 had some kind of a law enacted that kept Woad production several miles from anywhere she might be living because of the production smells.
You need not worry much about "residual" Ammonia in clothing after the wash, as Ammonia is one of the most water-soluble gases around the rinsing process should remove it all. Another benifit of putting it in the was is it will degrease the pipework in your washing machine and help keep that clean too!

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 05:59 AM

It's used for tanning too - urine that is, not woad. The law was that tanners were not allowed to set up their workshops closer than a mile to the city workshops and not upstream.

Apparently male urine was better than female urine and huge barrels were left in convenient places for men to use. Guess they were the original pissoirs.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 06:11 AM

Okay......I'm waiting for the inevitable comment............................................................ ............................................................................................................... ......................................................................anyone? ........................................................................................................................... ..................................................................like, "Finally, another use for men" ......................................

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 06:16 AM

Oh Spaw, as if we would.....












We already knew you were all piss artists!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 07:20 AM

Lol!!!

My goodness Spaw, you really left yourself open to that one! Talk about setting someone up for a good line!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 07:24 AM

Used in tanning eh!
Does that mean if you go to tanning salon they piss all over you?
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Scrump
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 07:49 AM

Hmm, I think we'd better not go there skipy :-)

Dog s**t was also used in the tanning industry, and people used to go around collecting up dog turds.

See here for some info on tanning in the old days.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 08:59 AM

Urea is still used as a component of skin softening lotions and creams. Where do you suppose they get it????

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Wesley S
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 09:04 AM

Toothpaste makes a good silver polish.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: mack/misophist
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 10:54 AM

In the old days urine was the cleaning agent of choice for white stone steps.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:04 AM

My mum used to use ammonia to clean combs. Does it do any damage to the clothes like bleach would if it was used over a long period of time?

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:16 AM

Micca!
I thought they wore WOAD for extracting the urine!
Or is that another story....
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:19 AM

Hey, skipy: ever heard/read this Epitaph?

"Here lies Squire Hugh.
Ye harlot crew,
Come mak yer watter on him:
I'm sure that he
Weel pleas'd wad be
Tae think ye piss'd upon him".

(R Burns.)

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: jeffp
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:21 AM

Urine was also used in the manufacture of saltpeter, which is a component of gunpowder. During the American Civil War, urine was collected for this purpose. Now there's a job for you!

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: frogprince
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:38 AM

While I was in Navy boot at Great Lakes, there was some medical research going on that called for major amounts of some urine component. We all peed in trash cans instead of the urinals for awhile, and had our turn at the "piss detail", carrying cans to a collection point. I couldn't begin to remember any more clinical specifics about it anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:48 AM

Ok, changing the subject...back to the Handy Hints line of thinking...

I love to burn candles but have always had trouble getting the leftover residual wax out of the bottom of the votive cups. I don't remember where I heard it or from whom, but the following works every single time without scraping and all that messy stuff:

Candle Wax Removal (from plates or votive cups)

Put votive cup in freezer for a few hours. Take the cup out of the freezer and the wax should pop right out in one piece. Sometimes the wax sticks and can be easily loosened by using a butter knife along the edge of the wax and POP, it comes right out!

:) LQF

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Scrump
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:49 AM

Of course, in olden days in the Navy they used to drink the stuff on long sea voyages when the fresh water ran out. Are you sure they were collecting it for medical research, frogprince? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Bert
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:52 AM

eanjay asks 'Does it do any damage to the clothes'

It doesn't appear to. We've been using it for a few weeks now and all the laundry seems cleaner and fresher.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Scrump
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 12:01 PM

What, Bert, urine?

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 12:03 PM

Scrump, you are taking the piss!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Micca
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 12:25 PM

When I was doing the Biochemistry section of my college course we "collected" urine by putting a 20 litre aspirator in the Gents toilet at the college. It was used for practicing techniques of "drug" metabolite extraction and preparatioon for yous in High Pressure Lisuid Chromatography, and in Gas-Liquid Chromatography, It gave "authentic" extraction and metabolic results, and carefully calibrated amounts of the "drugs to be tested for was added, this helped in both detecting very low concentrations and also in calibrating the accuracy of teh instruments . With these calibrations we could detect concentrations in the body of 1:1000 million easily and a lot less of somethings.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 01:24 PM

The same works with chewing gum as with wax. Chewing gum can be easily removed from clothes it they are put in the freezer - the chewing gum will just lift off.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 02:06 PM

Chewing gum and freezer... doesn't work with hair.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: bobad
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 02:10 PM

"doesn't work with hair."

For that you need liquid nitrogen.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: terrier
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 02:48 PM

The ancient Welsh would keep their teeth clean and bright by scrubbing them with birch twigs and even up to the last war, soot and salt was used to keep your smile whiter than white.

Researchers have decided that when using your washing machine, ignore the ammounts of washing powder stated on the packet, it's just too much. Usually about one sixth the stated amount is plenty. Too much powder actually can damage the machine.

And ...... the best way to move a trash can full of urine..........CAREFULLY.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 04:26 PM

To clean the dishwasher run it empty with a cup of white vinegar.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 04:27 PM

I mean empty of dishes - you still need the water!

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 04:57 PM

But, it is not empty if it has a cup in it.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 05:01 PM

We simply take the kids dirty smelly underwear - put them into an industiral shredder, bottle them and sell them on ebay
as deer repellent.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Becca72
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 05:20 PM

to go briefly back to the piss tips...my great grandmother swore by it for clear skin...she (supposedly) put used (wet) diapers on her face...yeesh.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 05:30 PM

Nice one, Skipy - more than once!! What makes me think you are not taking this absolutely seriously?

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 05:32 PM

Table salt and lemon juice paste will get rid of rust stains on natural fiber clothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 12:40 AM

"eanjay asks 'Does it do any damage to the clothes'

It doesn't appear to. We've been using it [half cup of ammonia] for a few weeks now and all the laundry seems cleaner and fresher.)

Of course you know NOT to use it with bleach.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Bert
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 12:47 AM

Yup.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Peace
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 01:07 AM

And not to use it as turkey basting, right?

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 04:23 AM

Apparently if you get stuck with spines of a sea anemone, peeing on them will release them and ease the discomfort.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 04:42 AM

I believe that the remedy for sea anemone stings also works very well on politicians!
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 05:14 AM

Urine is also a good wood stain. Many old flutes and recorders were stained by leaving them immersed in urine for a few weeks or months. If you have an old boxwood instrument that isn't yellow, that's what's been done to it.

I've seen this effect in houses in Edinburgh: one I lived in was built in 1826 and the bed had been in the same place ever since. Where the chamberpot would normally go there was a dark circle on the floor. You find this fairly often where the original floorboards are still in place. It also happens underneath the baby's cot.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 05:38 AM

What's the differance between:-
a rich scotsman
a poor scotsman
& a dead scotsman?

a rich scotsman has a canopy over the bed,
a poor scotsman has a can o pee under the bed,
and a deed scotsman, can a pee at all!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 07:12 AM

All this praise in favour of ammonia and its many uses; nobody questions why we stopped using it as much, though... It's because of the damage to the environment caused by ammonia/nitrates. I thought everyone knew that. The effect would be visible a few hundred yards from the oh-so-clean clothes, the sparkling machine and pipeworks, at whatever point the effluent comes into contact with nature.

Have we come so far from our idealistic youth?

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 09:14 AM

Since ammonia has a high affinity for water absorption, it can easily concentrate in lakes, rivers, and ponds . This is a major problem since dissolved ammonia is acutely toxic to fish and other water habitat in concentrations as low as five parts per million.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 12:52 PM

They used to collect dog turds once upon a time too...


I'm not making this up you know....

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 01:04 PM

If anyone's still collecting them I can help - everywhere I go there seems to be dog s***.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: autolycus
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 03:42 PM

back to handy hints [and thanks for the one about washing powder.]


   The same is true of toothpaste. You don't have to do a line of paste right along the brush.as they do in the ads.

   A drop of toothpaste the size (oh God,I didn't think of this beforehand.Honest.) the size of a pea [NO, PEA] is sufficient.





       Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: terrier
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 05:28 PM

Somebody mention doggy doo? Try this for a HANDY TIP

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 07:26 PM

eanjay - If you can find the address of the owner, feel free to post it back through their letterbox.
I certainly would if I could identify the ones who take their animals to foul the pavements where our little ones walk to school.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: leeneia
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 09:44 PM

I've started using washing soda to cut down on the amount of detergent I use. Again, it doesn't take the amount they say. The box says to use a half-cup, but a palmful (2T, maybe) softens the water enough.

Ammonia may be bad for the environment, but a little bit in warm water will remove blood from cloth better than anything else I've ever tried.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: GUEST,JuJu
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 10:12 PM

The pee in your lotions & shampoos etc., comes from horse pee. Ever read the ingredients on Eucerin lotions? Wee Wee!

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Metchosin
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 10:14 PM

And white wine will remove red wine stains from tablecloths.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 10:49 PM

... but red wine does not remove white ....

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 08:17 AM

According to Kim and Aggie you can put your dishcloth in the dishwasher as well as in the washing machine. I tried it last night and it worked.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Bainbo
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 08:34 AM

You can save money on batteries for your doorbell, by taking them out, and then going to the door every two or three minutes to see if there's anyone there.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 08:45 AM

Bainbo -

just leave the door open, then they can all just walk in...

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 09:05 AM

You can tame budgies and parrots easily by replacing their grit with iron filings. By holding a large magnet, they will sit hapilly on your hand for hours.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 09:08 AM

Old people:- If you feel cold indoors this winter, simply pop outside for ten minutes without a coat. When you go back inside you will really feel the benefit.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 09:24 AM

Never throw a brick straight up.

Don't put your finger between the nail and the hammer.

Paint will "take out" all color of wine stains.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 09:43 AM

When cooking spaghetti, tie all the ends together. That way you can eat it in one long suck, eliminating the drudgery of washing up knives and forks.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: skipy
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 09:48 AM

DIETERS:- Buy only Russian Alphabetti Spaghetti as there are only 22 letters in the Cyrillic alphabet. Just watch the pounds fall off.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 09:52 AM

So Skipy,

you mean

Eatng spaghetti sucks...

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Scrump
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 12:01 PM

A handy hint: you can impress your friends by taping the BBC TV Quiz show "Mastermind", and memorising all the correct answers. Then, when they come round, play the recording back, but don't tell them it's a recording, just act as if it's on TV now for the first time.

Then watch their faces as you correctly beat all the contestants to the right answers, and make smart remarks such as "Fancy not knowing that - this is supposed to be his specialist subject, the idiot", etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Handy Hints
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 12:36 PM

Don't let someone else reload for you.

Demand written proof that she's over 18.

Never eat at a place called "Mom's".

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.