Thursday, June 2, 2011

Summer Survival Time...School is Out

Laundry tips: A summer stain survival guide


(ARA) - Warm weather means open windows, barbecues and time spent outdoors. It also means more hours in the laundry room trying to remove all the stains and grime left as remnants of a great summer day.



The key to success is knowing how to treat different types of stains, according to Kimberly Nies, home economist for LG Electronics USA. Certain stains may require pre-treatment in cold water, others hot. Some need bleach alternative, others need nothing but a rinse, she says.



From removing grass, mustard and grease stains to reducing  

summer allergens, Nies suggests some laundry tips for dealing with some of the worst stains that summer can throw at you - just be sure to always check the care label first:



1. Quick stain removal

A laundry trend that is growing quickly is the use of steam in clothes washers and dryers. Once you pretreat a stain, using steam is a great way to finish the job because steam particles are smaller, hotter and more active for a powerful cleaning, but they are also gentle on clothing.  For example, the most advanced steam washers, like those with TrueSteam technology from LG use real steam to deeply penetrate fabrics for great cleaning results.  As an added bonus, these washers are ENERGY STAR rated, so you know you're saving in energy usage, and supporting more beautiful summer days in the future.



2. Grease and oil

From grilling and eating delicious yet greasy burgers, to oiling your lawn mower or hedge clippers, drips and smears on summer clothing are bound to happen. For grease stains, soak in cold water. Rub fabric against itself to dislodge the stain. If stains are old, scrape off crusted material and soak in cold water with detergent. Launder in warm water with detergent. Don't use hot water to soak or wash items with protein stains such as blood, dairy products, baby food, or even mud as it may set these types of stains.  



3. Colorful liquids and sauces

Few things are more refreshing than sipping your favorite beverage on a hot day, but these drinks are often bright or deep in color. If you find yourself with a stain from a soft drink, fruit juice or wine, rinse first in cold water. This also applies to mustard and berry stains. For fresh stains, wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric with your favorite detergent. For older stains, use detergent with bleach or bleach alternative. Avoid using any type of bar soap on tannin stains, which include alcoholic beverages, coffee, berries, juice and soda - it makes them harder to remove.



4. Summer allergens

Warm weather spreads allergens that can leave your family with sniffles and sneezes. For these, be sure to look for washers, like several washer and dryers from LG, that are certified "asthma & allergy friendly" by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).  These models have special cycles equipped to effectively reduce common household allergens like dust mites and pet dander.



5. Waxy substances

Throwing a summer soiree? Stains from candle wax, chewing gum, crayon and lipstick are complex because they generally involve two components: oil/wax and dye/pigment. The best way to tackle these types of stains is to remove the oily portion first and then the dye portion. For stains that are waxy, scrape and treat with a dry-cleaning solution first, then rub with detergent and scrub the stain under hot water. For most other combination stains, rub detergent into stain, then wash in the hottest water possible for fabric with a detergent that has bleach or bleach alternative.  



6. Dry clean only

Getting stains on dry clean only items can be worrisome. Always check the care label first and if the item is dry clean only, blot the excess stain and take to the cleaners within 24 to 48 hours.



If you're still having trouble with summer stains, consider these additional strategies:

* If using a pretreating liquid, allow to sit on the stain for five minutes so the chemistry will have a chance to soak in.

* For deep-set stains and soils, presoak the entire garment in water with detergent for 30 minutes.

* For extra-dirty clothes, consider a prewash cycle.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

New Zip Code

NEW ZIP CODE, 75033, ANNOUNCED FOR PART OF FRISCO (May 17, 2011) Effective July 1, 2011, more than 10,000 Frisco households and 400 businesses will use a new, five-digit ZIP Code, 75033.

The area impacted is bordered by Main Street, State Highway 289 (Preston Road), F.M. 423 andU.S. Highway 380. Businesses and customers living on the north side of Main Street (even numbered addresses) will use the new ZIP Code, 75033. Those on the south side of Main Street (odd numbered addresses) will continue to use 75034. Businesses and customers on F.M. 423 -- between Main Street and Eldorado Parkway -- will also use ZIP Code 75033. No changes are being made to the 75035 ZIP Code at this time.

Customers within the boundaries should notify any mailers or correspondents of their new five-digit ZIP Code. The Post Office can provide a postcard for you to use to notify your magazine and newspaper suppliers.

Do NOT submit a ‘Change of Address Request’ to the Postal Service. Impacted postal customers may still use all of their existing stationery and mailing supplies; however, when reordering those materials, customers should use the new ZIP code, 75033. The United States Postal Service will ensure delivery of mail with the ‘old’ ZIP Code for a period of one year to allow customers to make the transition to the 75033 ZIP Code.

New ZIP Codes are assigned when present ZIP Codes are insufficient for existing mail volume or operational requirements. The U.S.P.O. reports when new ZIP Codes are accepted and used, it saves time and money which is passed on to customers.

Source: City of Frisco

Saturday, April 16, 2011

The Art of Frisco

There are many places around Frisco to enjoy the beautiful art. Take the visual time to enjoy.

Source:
http://www.ci.frisco.tx.us/projectsPrograms/publicart/Pages/default.aspx

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Rotating Outages

Feb. 2, 2011, Austin -- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has instructed utilities to begin rotating outages to compensate for a generation shortage due to numerous plant trips that occurred because of the extreme weather.

Rotating outages are controlled, temporary interruptions of electric service, typically lasting 10-45 minutes per neighborhood. The locations and durations are determined by the local utilities. Critical need customers such as hospitals and nursing homes are generally not included.

It is not known at this time how long the need for rotating outages will last. Consumers and businesses are urged to reduce their electricity use to the lowest level possible, including these steps:

* Limit electricity usage to only that consumption which isabsolutely necessary. Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic equipment.

* Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting andelectricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.

* Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

Courtesy of the City of Frisco

Monday, January 3, 2011

"Quiet Zones" in Frisco

(January 3, 2011) The City of Frisco has completed the process to
establish a railroad ‘quiet zone,’ which will take effect at five railroad
crossings in the city beginning Wednesday, January 5. The ‘quiet zone’
designation means train engineers will no longer sound a train’s horn when
approaching the following street-level crossings, except in the case of an
emergency:
• Southbound Dallas Parkway
• Northbound Dallas Parkway
• Frisco Square Boulevard
• Main Street
• All Stars Avenue

“Some of Frisco’s neighborhoods developed around rail lines that have been
operating for decades,” said Brian Moen, Assistant Director of Engineering
Services/Transportation. “Unless a crossing is designated as a ‘quiet
zone,’ federal law requires train engineers to sound the horn 15 to 20
seconds prior to reaching a crossing. The ‘quiet zone’ designation will
stop most of the unwanted train noise for these residents.”

The City of Frisco has been working since 2007 with the help of Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) to make intersection improvements and
upgrades at the railroad crossings that would meet the Federal Railroad
Administration’s (FRA) Train Horn Rule design and certification
requirements. To meet FRA standards, the city had to make sure each
crossing had certain supplemental safety measures in place including
gates, flashing lights and median barriers.

“Once the quiet zone is in effect, motorists still need to follow the
same safety rules they have always followed at railroad crossings,” said
Moen. “Trains are approaching these crossings when the gates are down
even though the horns can no longer be heard. You should never attempt to
go around or under an active railroad gate.”

In addition, warning signs indicating there is no train horn will be
installed on January 4 before the ‘quiet zone’ takes effect. Train
engineers may still sound the horn to provide warning to animals, vehicle
operators, trespassers or crews on other trains in an emergency situation.

During the first few weeks of the quiet zone, it is possible that
residents will occasionally hear the train horn sounded at these
crossings. It can take time for all of the train engineers to receive
information that a quiet zone has been established. If residents continue
to hear the horn after the first few weeks, they can notify the City of
Frisco Engineering Department at 972-292-5400.

Courtesy of City of Frisco