Bottom line on brak water
HAVING moved from PE, I am now living in a rural town where we get our water from a spring near the mountain. I understand this to be brak water, which we cannot use in our electric kettle or steam iron and have to buy bottled water for this purpose.
Some of my husband’s white underwear is becoming all shades of grey to yellow from the washing.
I remember reading too much washing powder makes washing go yellow or grey – or is it too little?
Our white bath, hand basin and toilet all have this sticky brown build-up which is virtually impossible to clean unless we use spirits of salts. Is there something we can do about this water? – NC, Aberdeen
Here is a tip I have discovered for storing cheese in the fridge. Remove all wrapping and keep the cheese in a fruit punnet, like the one you buy grapes in. It has ventilation holes and I find the cheese keeps extremely well. – MH, Port Elizabeth.
I would like to thank the readers who gave me leftover mohair in response to my request in your Home Market section. I was able to finish my blanket, which is the size of a king size bed but tucks in snugly on the double bed it was made for. The recipient cannot tolerate weight, and the light but warm mohair is just what was needed. – SF, Cannon Rocks. Our white bath, hand basin and toilet all have this sticky brown build-up
I spoke to Frik Barkhuizen of Jeffreys Bay, who is an expert on water filtration. He feels the problem is caused by the presence of iron and manganese in the water, and judging from some of the pictures he sent, this could be the case. You can find out about it, and treatments, on his website, www.chlorinedioxide.co.za
I am forwarding you the material he sent me. Filtration treatments seem more appropriate for implementation at municipal than household level.
What do other residents do? Is there not a firm in Graaff-Reinet that offers household filter systems?
Of course, it is also true that ’n boer maak ’n plan. Frik says farmers used to pump spring water on to their tin roofs, and from there into the rain water tank. This system helped with oxidation of the water by the air. The tank had two outlets. Using the higher one enabled them to avoid the sediment, which sank to the bottom. The lower outlet was used when the tank was cleaned.
Regarding the washing powder, you should use the amount recommended on the container. Otherwise, try the liquid version, which includes the correct measuring cup.
That’s interesting. I always wrap up my cheese completely airtight! I have one reservation about your method. Smelly cheese tends to permeate the fridge. If this happens, a small bowl of vanilla essence soon eliminates it.
It’s nice to hear readers have helped make life more comfortable for someone – and well done with your knitting!
I accidentally blew out a candle on my coffee table, which is yellowwood, and the wax splashed all over it. I don’t want to scratch the table, so I am hoping there is an easier way to get it off. – SH, Jeffreys Bay.
There are two methods you can try. One is to harden the wax with a bag of ice, and then scrape it off with a hard plastic item, such as an expired credit card. Wash away the residue with a solution of one part vinegar to three parts warm water, and shine up with furniture polish.
An alternative is to apply heat by means of a hairdryer, set on medium. You can then wipe off the wax as it softens. Remove residue as above.