HOUSEHOLD TIPS

      A CLEANER, FRESH-SMELLING WASHING MACHINE





     My fairly new washing machine started to get an odor.  It was one of those smells--like a touch of mildew or mold.  It's probably from not having a water softener and deposits forming in the machine.  I'm not sure but it was enough for my roommate to talk to our neighbor, Cystal.  She recommended to go buy a $3 box of BORAX, a white powder to clean the washing machine.   Each load of wash, I put in a 1/2 cup of the white powder, and within a couple weeks, with a half a box left--the washing machine has no odor.  It has a draft of a good smell.  That problem is solved.  Next to my washing machine is my water heater.

     On your water heater, a dial adjusts water temperature.  My dial reads A,B, and C.   I had my water heater set on B+.  The water temperature was 135 degrees F.   My friend Terry Gilbertson told me that without a water softener, minerals will build up starting at 122 degrees F to 125 degrees.  So, I have adjusted my water heater to that temperature.   On my water heater, I'm about on the A+ setting.  Hastings has very hard water, and I don't have a water softener.  From my experience, water heaters and furnaces last about the same amount of time; about 17 years.  Usually, its a good idea to replace them both at the same time if they are on that cycle.  Oh yes, to measure your water temperature, just get a thermometer that goes high enough over 140 degrees and run water onto the thermometer off the kitchen sink tap or the bathtub spout.

CLEANING YOUR EARS

     Instead of using cue-tips, my medical doctor recommended to use DEBROX, a $9 little bottle of drops.  It's simple to use; lay on the couch on your side (yes, you can watch TV at the same time) and squeeze the bottle drops into your ear.  Let sit for a couple minutes.  Grasp a towel for that ear, and switch ends on the couch and lube the other ear drum.  Afterwards take a shower and rinse ears with warm water. 

     I don't know if you ever have had ear trouble.  But, I did once with a build-up of wax--and my ear ache was a shooting pain.  I remember the Doctors and assistants used a mini-pressure washer to extract the ball of wax.  DEBROX is a simple way to remove a build-up of wax.  Repeat every few months as needed.

     My old remedy I learned in Chicago.  Whether it was right or not, I was told to pour a cap full of Hydrogen Peroxide into your ear.  This method is cheaper and you can really feel and hear the wax bubbling in your ear.  It is probably too inexpensive for the medical profession to recommend.  All I can say is read the labels for children's uses.