Quick Questions on ANYTHING part 2. Please read first post for links to other threads

valk_scot

SunnyGirl wrote: »

I've always just poured a bit of the bicarb round the plughole then poured vinegar on top & watched it fizz very satisfyingly I always follow with a kettle of boiling water down the sink too. It always ends up smelling lovely & drains faster as well. HTH

Pouring boiling water straight into a ceramic sink is very likely to crack it btw, especially if it's old. Similarly older moulded plastic sinks can warp. Water from the hot tap is hot enough. You can get away with pouring boiling water down a stainless steel sink. (If you think your plumbing seals are up to it that is....)

I keep my sink drains clean the old fashioned way, by making sure I don't tip too much rubbish or grease down them: using a sink plug strainer: fishing hair out the drains straight after I've had a shower: sluicing them out with a jug of hot water plus squirt of washing up liquid when I'm cleaning the sink area and if they start running slow I get some caustic soda down them...but I've only had to do this twice in about ten years. Keeping drains fairly clear in the first place is much easier than unblocking them.

3plus1

Does anybody know if I can hand wash velvet?

My mother bought me a very expensive velvet jacket for Christmas. I've never owned anything made from velvet in my life, so I'm not sure how to look after it!

It says 'professional dry clean only', but I don't know if that's a genuine warning, or something I can happily ignore? I tend to hand wash all of my supposed 'dry clean only' clothes, but I'm not sure what to do here.

In case it makes a difference... 80% viscose; 20% silk.

Would be grateful for any opinions on this one!

Savvy_Sue

If it was very expensive, I'd dry clean it. However, the silk shirts I buy from charity shops go through the washing machine and tumble drier with no apparent problems.

My guess is that if you wash it, it will need ironing. And ironing velvet's not easy because you crush the velvetiness out of it - is the technical term the nap?

valk_scot

3plus1 wrote: »

Does anybody know if I can hand wash velvet?

My mother bought me a very expensive velvet jacket for Christmas. I've never owned anything made from velvet in my life, so I'm not sure how to look after it!

It says 'professional dry clean only', but I don't know if that's a genuine warning, or something I can happily ignore? I tend to hand wash all of my supposed 'dry clean only' clothes, but I'm not sure what to do here.

In case it makes a difference... 80% viscose; 20% silk.

Would be grateful for any opinions on this one!

Take it to the dry cleaners. Viscose can shrink and silk can bleed, and pressing velvet is a job for the pros.

If it just needs freshening up though, give it a brush (with the nap, like you were stroking a cat from nose to tail) with a very soft brush like a baby's hairbrush then hang it in the bathroom while there's some steam there. Shake it out and hang it somewhere airy to dry off.

mouseymousey99

I'm planning on making Stovies tomorrow (haven't done this for years) would it work ok with leftover pork do you think? Many thanks

valk_scot

Can't see why not. I make stovies with roast beef or corned beef or sausages...there's no "correct" way or meat to use.

marri_lou

Stovies is one of those recipes that you ask 100 people, you get 101 different replies back.

My mum makes a massive stovies.
Onions
Carrots
Butterbeans
Stew
chopped sausages
potatoes
gravy/oxo

She used to make a huge pot and it would feed 5 of us for 2 days!

belfastgirl23

I bought some medium wholemeal flour when I couldn't get strong wholemeal flour for my breadmaker. Turns out it isn't the same thing and the bread didn't rise at all...I hate to waste it though. Can anyone come up with anything else I can do with it?

I did eat the bread in the end but it was very dense and I'm not that keen to repeat it...

valk_scot

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I bought some medium wholemeal flour when I couldn't get strong wholemeal flour for my breadmaker. Turns out it isn't the same thing and the bread didn't rise at all...I hate to waste it though. Can anyone come up with anything else I can do with it?

I did eat the bread in the end but it was very dense and I'm not that keen to repeat it...

Wholewheat flour can be used for crumbles or for pastry, mixed 50:50 with normal white.

Penelope_Penguin

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I bought some medium wholemeal flour when I couldn't get strong wholemeal flour for my breadmaker. Turns out it isn't the same thing and the bread didn't rise at all...I hate to waste it though. Can anyone come up with anything else I can do with it?

I did eat the bread in the end but it was very dense and I'm not that keen to repeat it...

Use it in fruit cake

Penny. x