text:
Want to know when this item is back in stock? enter your email address below and we'll let you know when it's available to order!
These timeless construction sets are always a hit with the little engineers of tomorrow and adults alike. With our many different kits children have a chance at an early age to learn the technical and mechanical diversity of modelling while having hours of fun. Featuring easy-to-follow clear instructions, high quality stainless steel pieces and specialist tools. Also compatible with other brands and systems for endless possibilities! Contains everything you need to make an incredible Tractor!
Free insured delivery on all UK orders is available to all of our customers, new or old.
Your order is also insured so that if anything goes wrong with the delivery, we can replace it for you quickly and at no additional cost.
Not only do we allow payments via debit and credit cards processed by SagePay, we also take payments via PayPal so you can use your PayPal balance when you want to pay.
Customer service is our main focus and this is apparent in how loyal our customers are. A dedicated team of staff are ready should you need to contact them for any reason at all. Check out our Help Centre or try the Live Chat to get in touch.
You need to be logged in to leave a comment.
Please log-in or if you have not yet got an account with us, you can register here.
Want to know when Tractor Construction Set drops below a certain price? Enter your email address and price below and we'll let you know when it drops below that price!


text: Finally gonna get my crapy avons off the car (Well front two anyhow!) Gonna get 2 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's fitted and balanced for £221 inclusive! Now I think thats a bargain! Looking forward to seeng what all the fuss is about /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif These Avons probably have about 2-3mm left and have started to go out of shape slightly (as most avons do so I am told!) so it feels like I have a wheel bearing gone! Cant wait to get them off! Rich.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Jeremiah 6:7 says of Jerusalem, "As a well keeps cold its waters, so shee keeps cold her wickedness."
Cities are wells. How? Visually there is a resemblance: Walls enclose a city as walls enclose the shaft of a well. No doubt too there is a third term in the comparison: Women are wells, cities are feminine, and therefore wells are cities. But in Jeremiah, the accent is on what wells and cities might contain. People went to wells in ancient Israel to get water, and so people might go to a city to find the necessities of life. Water bubbles up inside a well, and flows out, and a city also always has an outflow. Living water flows from some cities (like the bride-city of Revelation), but from Jerusalem in Jeremiah's day there comes only "fresh" wickedness, destruction, and violence.


text:
Karla K. McGregor
Karla K. McGregor received a B.A. degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA in 1984, a M.S. degree in speech pathology from Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, USA in 1987, and a Ph.D. degree in Speech Pathology, also from Purdue, in 1992. She then joined the faculty of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA as an Assistant Professor and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor in 1998. In 2005 she joined the Faculty of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA where she was promoted to her current position of full professor in 2008. She is currently also an Adjunct Professor (courtesy position) on the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney, Australia. Dr. McGregor's research is concerned with word learning, memory, and usage. She focuses particularly on learners with developmental language impairments. She is a past Editor for Language for the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. In 2009 she was made a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Biography Updated on 1 December 2010


text:
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Oral Cancer
Pea size bump
Last week, I started feeling twitching / spasms in my tongue. Since last night, I have felt a pea size sore bump on the left inside of my tongue. Should i be concerned? Is there anything I can do to help it? I am using the warm water and salt. Thank you.
The symptoms you describe unfortunately are not specific for a diagnosis or recommendations. I would recommend that if you are noticing a persistent abnormality, that this be evaluated by an otolaryngologist (ENT) physician who can examine you and give you more specific guidance as to what this might represent.
Amit Agrawal, MD
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University


text:
Functionality, artistic architecture, unique design details, energy efficiency, and precious property views are at the forefront of each of our custom homes. The floor plan is the first and most important step to creating a home that lives as well as it looks. First, think about your Read More
We strongly recommend that you get a mortgage loan commitment before you approach a bank for a construction loan. Since the mortgage loan is the longest and most expensive of the two loans, it's important to concentrate more on comparing mortgage plans than "short term" construction loans.
When you Read More
Financing a home you plan to have built on your land is different from financing a pre-existing home. With a pre-existing home, the banker determines the value of the home through an appraisal and then agrees to lend a percentage of the value to you as a mortgage. The Read More
Except for a fortunate few, building a dream home usually involves both a construction loan and mortgage loan. Financial consideration can greatly influence the size and style of a new home, so it's best to talk with your banker or financial advisor early in the planning process.
Get a Read More
One major decision you'll be making during the log or timber home process is the type of wood you'll be using for the exterior and interior of your home. Your decision will be based not only on your preference, but also on your location and budget. Some people decide Read More
Fifty to seventy percent of the energy used in the average American home is for heating and cooling. The impact a house makes in the environment is massive and the reason that Wisconsin Log Homes decided from the start to build the industry's most energy-efficient custom wood homes with Read More
Choosing a floor plan that's right for your family can often be overwhelming once you decide to build a new home. But with careful planning and help from an experienced custom design team, your new home will be functional and comfortable for years to come.
Here are a few Read More
Most everyone has an image of the setting they want for their dream log or timber frame home. Before you start searching, it's important to consider the impact that site selection can have on your budget and home Read More
From the beginning, Kathy and I wanted to give clients more than just high quality homes. We wanted to provide superior services that would also complement their lifestyle. Over the years, we've implemented complete Design & Build Services including Architectural Planning & Design, Turn-Key Construction, Full-Service Interior Design & Read More
As anyone who's built a custom home knows, the design and decorating process can sometimes be overwhelming considering all the different choices you are faced with. Our goal has always been to make our clients' lives as easy and stress-free as possible during the design and build process, and Read More
My work as a builder combines craftsmanship, quality, and art, and I refused to settle for less. I pioneered our Thermal-LogTM Building System in the 1970's knowing that log homes could be both beautiful and smart, and homeowners shouldn't have to settle with the many flaws that come along Read More
Building our first log home over 39 years ago, Kathy and I learned first-hand that the quality of your experience is just as important as the quality of your home.
In fact, we founded Wisconsin Log Homes in 1976 with an idea to offer a complete package and complete Read More
Staying within your determined budget throughout the entire home building process is not only important to you and your banker, but it's also a priority for the team at Wisconsin Log Homes.
Having a team of experienced professionals you can trust to guide you from beginning to end is Read More
Since Wisconsin Log Homes' focus has always been on energy-efficiency, it's very important to us that each of our homes are heated and cooled in the most efficient, economical way possible. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal systems are "the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space Read More
We periodically hear concerns from people about the trees we use and how we harvest our logs in harmony with nature. I'd like to share a few personal reasons why this subject is very dear to me and Dave. I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and Read More
The search for a qualified contractor should begin as soon as you have a building site and preliminary drawings, even if you don't plan to break ground for several months. It may take time to find a contractor who suits your requirements, and once you find the right one, Read More
If someone says they can give you an accurate cost per square foot estimate during your first meeting, I suggest you move forward with caution. Numerous factors affect the cost of a custom home, and without getting thorough information regarding your visions first, it's nearly impossible to give an Read More
Today more than ever, it's extremely important to choose a company who has a history of stability, success and a solid financial standing.
Do your research before making a choice. Has this company been in business for a long period of time? Do they have a strong financial standing? Read More
While you're researching custom log and timber home companies, you may see a few of them advertising discounts on their homes. This is something you'll never see at Wisconsin Log Homes for the following reasons:
After visiting their parent's home land in the late 1970's, a couple wanted us to build them a European stone style cottage. Knowing that they wanted to incorporate log, the couple eagerly took advantage of Wisconsin Log Homes Thermal-LogTM Building System since solid log home providers would not have Read More
Wisconsin Log Homes actually started with designing and building solid log homes in 1976. Because Kathy and I lived in a solid log home ourselves, we discovered over time the complications and disappointments that come along with the solid log system. That's why we founded the Thermal-LogTM Building System, Read More
Site Map -
Home -
Designing Your Home -
Hybrid Homes -
Hybrid Timber Homes
Custom Floor Plans -
Building Custom Homes -
Photo Gallery -
Log Homes
Custom Log Homes -
Thermal-Log Building System -
Insulated Building System
Design Build Solution -
Glossary of Terms -
Privacy Policy -
Terms of Use
© Copyright 1984 –2017 Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc.


text:
Great Advice For Securing The Right Injury Attorney
Injury Claim Lawyers Help with all Accidental Injuries within the Law System
When you have to be able to deal using a individual injury case, obtaining a lawyer can be tough. having said that, it is essential cal injury lawyer for you to search to get an attorney with plenty of expertise in your specific situation. A New large amount of knowledge in this area is necessary in order to get any case; therefore, the harder experienced and experienced these people are, your better.
Personal injury lawsuits can injury lawyer california end up being tough for you to win. So, your attorney should be experienced on this field. Locate a person using a lot of wins within this field, and a person will discover that he offers excellent tricks of his trade which may enable you to get inside your case.
Just since you stood a preexisting condition, it does definitely not mean that you're not qualified being paid out for any accidents you're in. be truthful with your lawyer about any kind of injuries who suffered ahead involving the accident. you do not need him to obtain sandbagged by utilizing it when you might be throughout court.
American Bar Association resources supply assist with finding an excellent injury lawyer. This specific organization is likely to be in a new place to supply referrals, also as records associated with complaints or even concerns with almost all the lawyers.
Before insisting on the court date, consult the private injury attorney to establish the perfect course of action. This specific may save you much anxiety and extra court costs as well.
It is extremely important which you record just about any injuries you sustain either to any supervisor or the authorities. If a main accident occurs whilst you're in work, create certain that anyone report it for your supervisor immediately. Inside the event of a vehicle accident, help to make positive in order to contact the correct authorities pertaining to health-related and police assistance.
If it's possible, maintain your vehicle within the exact position it is at should you were within an accident. Performing this can sometimes worsen damages along with lessen the liability associated with one other party for the harm to your vehicle. An exception is if this occurs throughout visitors on the busy street.
It's vital in which you understand the type of coverage the individual in fault has. Occasionally individuals as well as companies are usually included in multiple policies. Knowing your laws along using your legal rights is important so as to acquire your own case without having any legal aid.
Contact a California Injury Lawyer when filing an Injury Lawsuit Claim to the Court
Don't wait in taking legal motion when you obtain an injury. There might always be deadlines in which you will not be capable of claim the lawsuit. A Person must get in touch with good lawyers right away and enquire about deadlines regarding your lawsuit.
If you've a consultation with a lawyer you're considering associated with hiring, you have to help to make certain that you're taking copies involving documentation that will are needed to produce your own case. Individuals documents include insurance business correspondence, police reports, bills, medical records, documentation associated with earnings loss, as well as more. all of those documents can assist a lawyer within seeing your case's details so they will really determine they're able to handle it or not.
Make particular to have contact info regarding almost all witnesses for your accident. Memories fade as well as your case can take weeks to have for you to court. A Person must get accurate information as quickly after the accident while you can. people forget over time, or perhaps transfer away, so obtaining info right away will be one of the actual greatest ways to reach all of them so as regarding you to prevail.
If you can easily find physical indications of injury, document your own injuries with photos, before you decide to obtain any treatment. You'll have a stronger case if you have all involving your injuries documented within this way. having photographic evidence can make all the distinction in the amount of your settlement.
If an individual just breeze through the whole method of filing the lawsuit, anyone might overlook some excellent opportunities. Buying to possess an attorney to aid using a personal injury case can be similar to purchasing to find a vehicle. New individual injury firms crop up every one regarding the time, and furthermore the ones that employed being good is most likely not on the radar now.
Hiring an Individual Injury Attorney for Your Work Injury Legal Case Claim
If you're thinking about hiring the individual injury attorney, question them pertaining to referrals. References will easily notice you a lot about a lawyer and the perform ethic. You'll realize some thing is actually amiss in the event the attorney just isn't willing to discuss a new list of references with you. That could end up being required for you to have the different attorney.
Talk for you to any potential individual injury attorney concerning their own trial experience. Although plenty of lawyers are very skilled with receiving fair settlements, don't assume all of these are generally genuinely experienced in personal injury. Therefore, if things got serious in court, they may not necessarily know how anyone can effectively handle it. Don't indicator around the dotted range until you understand concerning the lawyer's experience. Anyone will want this sort of knowledge so as to produce a great decision.
Tell your physician everything. Don't exaggerate how injured you may well be because this can put you via unnecessary and possibly harmful medical procedures. Give oneself the actual very best chance in good results by simply being honest.
Dealing by having an insurance organization requires careful thought on your own own part. This gives a far better idea of everything you tend to be up against. And Also in case anyone are not fully mindful of the particular proceedings, or in case a person are just uncomfortable together with going through everything on your own own own, you should really engage a individual injury attorney.
It's not necessarily simple to try such a case. However it can be created simpler simply by knowing that flip in order to with regard to help, as well as what things to realize in choosing legal assistance. Simply study these as required and also utilize the recommendations to assist anyone prevail. Read more on Injury Lawyer help and the different laws with car accident injuries - Injury Lawyer helping with Car Accidents


text:
Giveaways should now be closed! Hosts: Please email your winner by December 18, and note the winner in the giveaway post. Ship your item by December 24.
Thanks to everyone for participating! As always, we welcome your feedback. What worked for you? What didn't? Please keep in mind how generous it is for someone to host a giveaway (no matter what they choose to give away) when you give feedback.
- Were you amazed by some of the giveaways? We'd love to hear about them.
- How did your own giveaway go?
- If you have tips for people new to Giveaway Day we'd love to hear them. We'll share them in our instructions next time around (May Giveaway Day!).
» Contests & Giveaways » Thank you for a fabulous Giveaway...
Related Posts
37 Responses to Thank you for a fabulous Giveaway Day (Week)!
I loved the new system with the thumbnail photos, that made it a lot more fun! I'm also glad that a lot of people listened to your advice of no hoops. I became a follower of several blogs I liked but they were all blogs that didn't require it to enter (even for a second entry). I agree with Ana, I didn't like the use of Rafflecopter and winner posts would be fun.
I like the categories but want to add one thing for people holding giveaways that are open to a few countries but not all (like Canada and US). Of course they belong in the International category but it would be nice if they could say to which countries it is limited either on the thumbnail or at the top of the post. But that's just a minor thing, I had a blast!
Thanks very much for hosting the Giveaway! It was great to have so many enthusiastic visitors to my blog and I really enjoyed reading their comments and picking a winner for my prize.
I think it was a good idea that you changed the rules but I did come across one giveaway that required a Facebook response so I gave that one a miss.
Plus points for me were: a longer submission, thumbnails of the giveaways, the veto of Facebook etc
Minus points: some people were using Raffleizer (or something…) which seemed to me to be against the spirit of an simple giveaway. Also I felt that not doing a separate "ta da!" winners post took a little of the excitement out of the event. Perhaps a link on the giveaway post, to a winner post would suffice.
One other comment. It was lovely to do what is essentially a Christmas giveaway but I would have liked to do it earlier so that my winner really did get their prize for Xmas, so what about doing it a week earlier? Also it adds to the general Xmas panic so a little earlier would help that too.
But… THANKS! it was great fun – I'm already looking forward to the next one!
Wow, wow, wow, how fun! I never knew of SMS (blasphemy, I know!) and a fellow crafty textile designer tipped me off to your AWESOME Giveaway Day *just* in time on the evening of December 12th that I too was able to organize a couple of giveaways. What. A. Blast! One of my post questions was good and the other I should have changed as it wasn't the most thought-provoking. No worries though. I loved the new visitors and it was a fun social time. It even inspired me to make a couple of videos to reveal my giveaway winners! FUN! (samarrakhaja.tumblr.com)
I loved the format. It was very easy to enter an item to give away. I got some great input from my entrants on the items that I make.
Yes, I loved that I could see a thumbnail of each giveaway – certain ones caught my eye right away. I liked that you had them in categories too. Thanks so much for doing this. It's wonderful that there are so many talented people willing to share their creations and supplies with us.
Loved the linky setup and the way the giveaways were split by type…easy to navigate! So many wonderful blogs and sites to visit!
That was so much fun! This is the 1st year I've taken part, both as a giver and a recipient. I'm glad it was a week long, cuz there was no way I could have entered as many giveaways in one day. My only issue was some blogs that were in the wrong category (mostly in will ship internationally when they stated they wouldn't, a few on the wrong page), but I'm not sure how you could prevent that. Some very generous participants out there. I'm definatly in for next time. Thanks for hosting this.
I just want to say I LOVED the linky style of doing this giveaway day!!! WAY easier than the previous years. to participate in and enter for things!
Thank you Sewmamasew! It was awesome! Thank you for all who hosted a giveaway! I found quite a few great new blogs to follow. I had planned to particapate this year but had a last minute dental surgery done right before the giveaway date…so maybe next year. Any who just wanted to say Thank you!
Hi folks, just want to thank you for sponsoring such a wonderful hop. I'm fairly new to blogging so didn't host but I did visit many new sites thanks to the hop and "met" some wonderful new bloggers with wonderful stories to tell and quilting to share. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for organizing this!
I don't know whether I won anything, but the giveaways were fantastic. And I found many new sites that I will return to after the first of the year, when all my Christmas activities have ceased.
Thanks again.
Pat K.
A huge thanks to everyone who participated and many, many thanks for making it a week long event. I needed 5 days to find enough time to visit and enter all the many wonderful giveaways. A shorter window would have meant missing so many new-to-me blogs.
This was so much fun! I really appreciate the catagorizing of blogs and thumbnail pics this year..thanks! What didn't work so much for me were the blogs that had multiple requirements for entries. This takes way too much time. But there weren't so many this year which is good.
Again, I always have so much fun reading comments and discovering new blogs and if I win that's an extra bonus!
Thanks SMS for hosting …you're the best! Cheers!
Such a fun week discovering new blogs, thank you! I really loved the way they linked up this year with pictures and blog names. I'm a visual person so pictures are always helpful. Thanks!
Using inlinkz list for the giveaways was great. It was so much quicker to scroll through them and see what I wanted to enter, rather than having to click on individual links to determine. My preference would have been to have the giveaway item listed in the Name field though.
I absolutely loved the new format! Navigating all of the links was so much easier this time! I couldn't believe the generosity of some of the fabric giveaways – an amazing prize for some lucky winners! I had two giveaways this year and was really happy with both. My only tip for others is to ask those who are entering to say something specific in the comments. It's so much more fun to answer a question than to leave a random comment (and much more fun to read, too!) I always ask about favourite books and end up with a great list of recommendations!
I was so busy this week that I missed the giveaways! I did go back and look, though. It is a major improvement over your other Giveaway Days simply by dividing into categories and providing picture linkies. I hope everyone had fun with it.
I was amazed at how many people visited my blog with lovely and kind comments about my handspun yarn. This was a great experience, and I will definitely be back for the next round!!
I loved the new system where I could take a look at pictures before deciding which giveaways to visit!
Thank you for running this giveaway. It was my first time giving away and I had a lot of fun! I don't think any changes are needed.
I didn't host a giveaway this year, but I visited a few and entered those whose products I was interested in. I really appreciated the thumbnails in the categories page. It made it easy to see what people were giving away, which in turn helped me understand the style of blog that I was visiting. In most cases the prizes aligned well with the blog. I liked that. I wanted to visit not just because of the prizes, but because I was looking for new blogs for my reader based on writing style and appeal. In a few cases, I got a personalized message back from the host. This was both delightful and surprising as there were so many entries. Thanks to everyone who organized, hosted and participated.
I think this round wend a lot better than the May one with the linky lists, as it made it so much easier to see quickly whether or not it was something you would be interested in, and the subdivisions of items was good too (although I'll admit to being a tad unsure where to put my wee sewing kit, 167 people still toddled over :o) )
The only down side was people still wanting hoops including following…
I love the new system with the picture of what's being offered! As my time is limited, it really helped me focus on things I would actually enjoy having and using. Thanks for running this, I actually won something this time!
Love the Giveaways…. but I spend more time exploring all the new blogs than actually entering giveaways – great way to spend a few hours!!
I thought this giveaway was exciting. I stumbled upon it a couple of days ago. Most of the giveaways were amazing! I loved it. I would like to participate in the May one, please keep me posted!
I liked that each giveaway listed had a picture attached to it. That made easier than in years past. I gave up entering a year ago because there were so many text only links. It took up too much time and my hands hurt. But now I'm back in the game.
Thank you so much for hosting this, it was a lot of fun. I appreciate that everyone kept to the spirit of a simple give away with answer a question, but feel free to look around. I also liked the picture links b/c there is no way I had time to go to all the sites, but this helped me see at a glance where I might want to focus what time I had.
Thank you for hosting this again, Loved it this time too!
It was quite easy and time saving as the links were with photos of the giveaway items.
Yes, Amazed by some of the SUPER generous giveaways 😀
Now I'm waiting to see if I've won anything ;D
Thanks again!
best giveaway day {week} ever!!! love the new format! thanks sew, mama, sew! ♥ maybe i will even win something fantastic… wouldn't that be fun!
I personally love your coordinated giveaway days. So much fun to discover new blogs and writers. I did not get to everyone – even with the extra days. All of the giveaways were off the charts fantastic.
There were some commercial ventures but they kept it for the most part low key.
The one thing I did not get was the concentrated ire over no-reply bloggers. My inbox was full from giveaway hostesses commenting on my entry comment. Checking to see if all of the entries are reachable struck me as odd. If you draw someone who is difficult to get a hold of – draw the next name. Seems simple so I must be missing something here.
It was very easy to link up and for the most part I liked the thumbnails accompanying the individual giveaways.
All in all, a very successful giveaway day again. Hip, hip, hooray for SewMamaSew.
So many great giveaways!! Maybe next year I'll try to give something away too…this time I just entered to win other people's great things-I love the variety that was available, and was pleasantly surprised how many people were giving away adorable fabric that was boy-friendly!
My only complaint was that Blogger hates me (which obviously isn't anything SMS can do anything about!) I wasn't able to enter giveaways on Blogger blogs with embedded comments from my computer, but the ones with pop-up box comments worked fine, so if other people had the same problem, I'd propose that friendly bloggers please change their settings to have the comment box pop up in a seperate window, or use Rafflecopter instead of comments.
One more thought: I couldn't believe how many people actually replied to my comments I left entering their giveaways; I think sewing bloggers might be the nicest group of people I've ever met!
This was my first time participating and it was an amazing ride. There are phenominal artists in the world and this was a great way to not only se their work, but get to know them as well. I was even convinced to give quilting a try – who'd have thought?
Thank you SMS for hosting an excellent Giveaway Day 🙂
The only bad thing was that I work alot of hours during the week and didn't have time to visit many blogs. Maybe the next one can start on a Saturday!
Giveaway Day {Week} was a lot of fun! It was my first time participating and I was overwhelmed by the response. My biggest feedback would be regarding no-reply bloggers. I made it amply clear in my blog post that I needed an email address, whether in the comment or in their profile, otherwise I would not be able to get in touch with them, and I could not beleive the number of comments that did not include an email address. I chose to delete those messages as they came in so that only valid entries would remain, and I probably deleted 30-40 comments that did not include email addresses.
Other than that, I had a lot of fun hosting and a lot of fun participating in other people's giveaways. I enjoyed the questions that blog owners asked to be commented on. I will definitely participate again.
Thank you for hosting the giveaway, I am exhausted! But in a nice way. There were some I didn't enter because of the jumping through hoops – just wasn't the time, but over all I think it was a great success. Linda
Thank you! That was so much fun. I loved finding a bunch of new blogs to read… and also just love that all that goodness is out there. Merry Christmas!
« Giveaway Day ~ Handmade for the Home Sewing Trends ~ Holiday Color »


text:
State of Art of Multi Relational Data Mining Approaches: A Rule Mining Algorithm
In this 21st century is completely called as the information science where the large organizations need useful knowledge. The data mining algorithms look for patterns in data. While most existing data mining approaches look for patterns in a single data table, Multi-Relational Data Mining (MRDM) approaches look for patterns that involve multiple tables (relations) from a relational database. The database consists of a collection of tables (a relational database). Records in each table represent parts, and individuals can be reconstructed by joining over the foreign key relations between the tables. To reduce the I/O cost, the data accessed together during extraction phase are to be clustered in the same disk block. This paper represents the index structure, what the authors generally called as the Imine index structure.


text:
Winners Announced in the Only U.S. Professional Baking Competition - 4th Annual America's Best Raisin Bread Contest
Oct 20, 2011, 09:00 ET from California Raisin Marketing Board
FRESNO, Calif., Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-seven finalists in America's Best Raisin Bread Contest, the only professional baking competition in the U.S., gathered October 14-15 at the American Institute of Baking (AIB) in Manhattan, KS to compete for industry honors, industry recognition and a prize that includes a California tour of the raisin industry, Napa Valley, and the Culinary Institute of America.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111020/CG90021)
"Our goal is to discover and reward the most creative and talented bakers in the country by challenging them to create raisin bread products in four categories – Artisan, Commercial, Breakfast and Student," said Larry Blagg, senior vice president of marketing for the California Raisin Marketing Board (CRMB), which sponsors the contest. "The competition has grown each year, and attracts the top bakers in America. This year's entries were impressive and innovative, and the judges had their work cut out for them."
Of the thirty-seven finalists, twelve bakers garnered top prizes for their innovative baking:
- Grand Prize – Gary Gottenbusch, Cincinnati, OH (Servatii Pastry Shop) for California Raisin Walnut Pretzel
- Judge's Prize – Jory Downer, Evanston, IL (Bennison's Bakery) for Sweet City Loaf
- Idea Prize – Monica Hoffberg, Seattle, WA (Bakery Nouveau) for Raisin Rouleaux
- Grand Prize – Rachel Crampsey, Carlstadt, NJ (Tribeca Oven) Currant Seeduction Bread
- Judge's Prize – Angela Dodd, Lake Oswego, OR (Cargill) for Cinnamon Raisin Apple Streusel Bread
- Idea Prize – Nancy Sepe, Providence, RI (Nancy's Fancies) for Nonni's Golden Raisin Sweet Bread
- Grand Prize – Phillippe Sanchez, Orlando, FL (Marriott International) for Double California Raisin Whole Wheat Croissant
- Judge's Prize – Bill Hunter, Grapevine, TX (Crestone Group Baking Companies) for Sunrise Bagels
- Idea Prize – Joanne Wilcox, Utica, NY (Apple Crumbles) for Marathon Mini Loaf
- Artisan – Morgan Choi, Chicago, IL (The French Pastry School) for Laminated Rosemary Raisin Epi
- Commercial – Maddy Beck, Manhattan, KS (Kansas State University) for Barbeque Raisin Bread
- Breakfast – Nicole Barry, Chicago, IL (The French Pastry School) for Muscat Grape-Vanilla Cream Raisin Danish
At the urging of the judges due to the quality and originality of the finalists' products, CRMB awarded one additional prize – The California Prize – in each of three categories.
"These winners didn't make the top three, but the quality was so good the judges convinced us to award three additional prizes to bakers who were very deserving. In one case, the judges deemed a gluten-free bread product 'the best they've ever tasted,'" said Blagg.
California Prize:
- Artisan - Daniel DiMuzio, Greensboro, NJ (La Brea Bakery, Inc.) for Jumbo Raisin Fougasse with Toasted Walnuts
- Commercial - Ron Guerrero, Lenexa, KS (Caravan Ingredients) for Gluten-free Raisin Bread
- Student - Julie Thompson, Providence, RI (Johnson & Wales University) for Sunny Side Up Orange Raisin Brioche
All finalists received medals. The Grand Prize, Judge's Prize and Idea Prize winners received plaques and will receive an all-expenses paid trip to California to visit the growing areas of California Raisins, as well as a visit to the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA to enjoy California cuisine and wines. The California Prize winners received plaques and $500.
More than 100 professional and student bakers submitted between one and three original formulas to the competition. Finalists are determined by initially blind testing by the judges of both product formulas and photographs.
During the competition, each contestant was required to produce at least six samples of their original product at the AIB kitchens, while the judges observed technique, formulations, efficiency and professionalism. Finalists then presented their products to the judges, who questioned them about their formulas, production techniques, as well as the retail or commercial viability of their products.
The judging panel included Ciril Hitz, Department Chairman for Baking & Pastry at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI; Klaus Tenbergen, Certified Master Baker and Professor of Culinology at California State University, Fresno; Dominique Homo, President of Ecole du Pain in Montreal, Canada; David Guilfoyle, President of Half Baked Consultants, Inc. in Abilene, KS; Dan Malovaney, Executive Editor of Baking & Snack, Schaumburg, IL. Chief Judge and promoter of the contest is Theresa Cogswell, President of BakerCogs, Inc. Olathe, KS.
The 5th Annual America's Best Raisin Bread Contest will kick-off in January 2012. Bakers interested in competing should contact Theresa Cogswell at email@example.com.
About the California Raisin Marketing Board:
A State Marketing Order in 1998 created the California Raisin Marketing Board, which is 100 percent grower funded. Its mission is to support and promote the increased use of California-grown raisins and sponsor crop production, nutrition and market research. For more information about the California Raisin Marketing Board and to browse delicious recipes, visit www.LoveYourRaisins.com.
SOURCE California Raisin Marketing Board


text:
Q&A: Mat Zucker, chief creative at OgilvyOne NY
Mat Zucker
Mat Zucker, chief creative officer at OgilvyOne New York, on creating great content-driven campaigns and managing brand reputationQ: You have said in the past that you want to reinvent, reinvigorate and reinterpret direct for today's digital era. How are you doing that?
A: We need to focus on the experiences that will unlock value for customers. It's about focusing on the important key principles and figuring out what we can throw out. What's getting in the way of really great creativity? Sometimes it's our words; sometimes it's the silos we create and sometimes our addictions. We're addicted to printed mail and the way we manage our lists.
Q: What role does content play in creating those experiences?
A: Content is such an exciting area. Customers are desperately hungry for more content than brands seem to be able to give them; we're not giving them enough. We've learned that consumers are getting their own facts and that's great, but salespeople are finding that those consumers are sometimes not getting the right facts, like a patient self-diagnosing without a doctor.
Q: How do brands better manage their content-based messaging?
A: Some brands think their site is their only property, but sites aren't that interesting anymore unless it's an e-commerce or a mobile site. It's about managing your definition on Wikipedia and branded content on YouTube, SlideShare and any other sites where content can be aggregated.
Q: What's a great example of a content-driven campaign you've seen recently?
A: TBWA did something called Gatorade Replay. They took two high school rivals that ended a basketball game in a tie 15 years ago and documented these former athletes, now in their 30s, training for a comeback with Gatorade on their way to finishing the game.
Q: How does domestic direct marketing creative stack up to the best from abroad?
A: We may be lagging in direct, but not overall. There are plenty of creative experiences happening in the US that involve customer acquisition and engagement, but they're being created by non-direct agencies. Direct in the US is, in some ways, stuck in a prison of the proven. A lot of the young talent coming out of schools doesn't want to do direct, even though they're well-equipped to be successful.
Q: What sector presents the biggest challenge in terms of creative approach?
A: Most financial services is acquisition-oriented, so unless you take a risk by targeting new audiences and you get to do something new, there's always that proven ground to fall back on. There's not a lot of room for error or optimizing.
Q: The idea of an "interactive" agency may be redundant in the future, given all agencies will have digital capabilities. Should "direct" agencies worry about this as well?
A: Everyone is learning to target media more effectively and engage customers, but there will always be relationship marketing agencies that nurture customers beyond acquisition, which is a big piece of direct.


text:
Espiñeira, Pacheco y Asociados, member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, is pleased to offer its services and is confident that they will be of great help to the modern Venezuelan businessman. Our experience, expertise and highly qualified personnel make us the best choice for consulting solutions, solving complex business problems for our clients and providing services based on quality and integrity.
Welcome and discover more about us on the following pages:


text:
Jeremy Lin Loses at PIG & See What Lil Wayne Calls Him [Video]
A pre-Linsanity Jeremy Lin, then with the Golden State Warriors is challenged to a friendly game of PIG. Before LINsanity hit, Adam Lustick and Matt Fisher played Lin in a game of "Pig". Guess who wins…not Jeremy Lin. It's LINsane.
Check out the video below and see what Lil Wayne had to say about Linsanity!
Subscribe to Club 93.7 on
Weezy said:
"Jeremy Lin has been added to Rising Stars Challenge game for All-Star Weekend after recent Lin craze. Now, everyone got the Lin fever and everybody doing the Lin — I don't, I'm trying to figure out what I call him. Well, he beat my Lakers. So ever since that game, I hate him. So I call him Lin Laden. Yeah, that's what I call him. Lin Laden. Trend that. That's what y'all need to start calling him. Lin Laden."


text:
REQ: addon features - Printable Version
+- Kodi Community Forum (https://forum.kodi.tv)
+-- Forum: Support (/forumdisplay.php?fid=33)
+--- Forum: Skins Support (/forumdisplay.php?fid=67)
+---- Forum: Rapier (/forumdisplay.php?fid=120)
+---- Thread: REQ: addon features (/showthread.php?tid=58333)
REQ: addon features - crazycage - 2009-09-22 00:36
Hey Scarfa,
I LOVE YOUR SKIN! It works so beautifully right from the start.
Here are the few things I personally would hope to see in a future release:
1) More Home menu sections (comics, Trailers, Emulators, Games etc and each with their own background assocations)
2) Weather implemented on home screen.
3) The ability to specify which home menu item is picked (highlighted) by default on system start up. (Ie. Programs, Movies etc)
4) XBMC Lyrics button for OSD area
5) Larger RSS feed line (font size)
6) More layout views for Music, Pictures and Programs (Movies is GREAT)
7) Animated backdrop images (pan and zoom) similar to Transparency 2.0
... thats all i can think of for now eheh. Thanks for all your hard work. I know my list is smaller things, but your skin is sooo close to perfect I would not ever have to switch skins again if you kept adding new stuff.
- scarfa - 2009-09-22 01:59
I will consider some of these.
Sweet! - crazycage - 2009-09-22 04:59
Sweet thanks Scarfa!


text:
Morgan Pozgar is thirteen years old and she is fast. At least, her thumbs are fast. "Thirteen-year-old Morgan Pozgar, of Claysburg, Pa., was crowned LG National Texting champion on Saturday after she typed "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from "Mary Poppins" in 15 seconds."
link: 13-year-old Pennsylvania teen wins $25,000 prize in New York text-messaging contest
link: OMG, 13yo grl nu txt champ
I wonder what speeds she can reach on a real keyboard.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
[tags]morgan pozgar, texting, champion, speed, catherine forsythe[/tags]


text: Bubble, Bubble, Toil & Trouble: Soapmaking Workshop ADD TO Trip Planner Creating soap is not a difficult process – no more challenging than following a recipe for pastry and turning into a pie. Learn the art of making soap with the cold-process method. You will receive a booklet with soap recipes, several bars of homemade soap, and the knowledge of how to become squeaky clean! Fee includes the cost of materials. Please bring protective clothing, as some materials used are caustic and can burn. Class size is limited; contact the park to reserve your space. Get Directions Gas Calculator Details Dates: February 12, 2011 Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Venue: Powhatan Historic State Park1888 Courthouse Address: Powhatan, AR 72458 Admission: $20 Phone: 870-878-6765 Contact: Park Superintendent Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
GRAHAM � Alamance County taxpayers� funds will not be used to have portraits done of former and current county Superior Court judges.
The portraits were to be hung inside the Alamance County Historic Courthouse.
The Alamance County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday didn�t present a motion which requires a second for a vote to be taken. Since there was no motion, the issue wasn�t considered for a formal vote.
On Aug 4., Sheriff Terry Johnson requested the board consider having the portraits done of former Superior Court Judges James Latham, Steve Balog and David Smith, and current Superior Court Judge Wayne Abernathy. Smith is the current chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
Since then, the county added recently retired Superior Court Judge Robert Johnson and former Superior Court Judge Thomas Cooper to the list.
Commissioners Bill Lashley and John Paisley Jr. said Tuesday while they supported having the portraits done and hung in the courthouse, they didn�t support using county funds to pay for them.
The bar association in the past has handled selecting and paying for the judges� portraits at the courthouse, Smith said. It was the first time the county had considered having the portraits made.
According to County Manager Craig Honeycutt, oil portraits of the judges would have cost $3,500 to $4,000 each, not including framing. If the commissioners had agreed to have photographic portraits done of the judges, it would have cost about $900 each.


text:
We're seeing the exact same setup in shares of Unilever (UL), the $125 billion London-based consumer goods conglomerate. Like Wells Fargo, Unilever is forming an ascending triangle setup, in this case with a resistance level at $44.50. So, just like the last chart, a breakout above that $44.50 level is our buy signal.
Momentum, measured by 14-day RSI (not to be confused with relative strength), is the side indicator that's adding to the Unilever trade. RSI has been making higher lows since February, an indication that UL's upside momentum is outpacing its corrective days. Since momentum is a leading indicator of price, that's a good sign.
At first glance, it looks like UL's chart is full of price gaps. No, that doesn't mean that this name is especially volatile. Those gaps, called suspension gaps, are the result of off-hours trading on the Euronext and London Stock Exchange. From a technical standpoint, you can ignore them.
Unilever is somewhat unique in that it's a dual-listed company. For that reason, a similar setup is in play in Unilever (UN), the Rotterdam-based Dutch ADR, with a breakout level at $43.


text:
A candle could have closed green having last made a lower low and you need to know that.
Three candles show the way
2/3 truth and 1/3 lie
Several candles show the way
they are but three
2/3 truth and 1/3 lie
monolisa wrote:MO,
So the best setup would be time-based charts with the most recent highest high/lowest low marked? How far do you look back when you identify these highs/lows?
I understand the need to plan for trading. However, where should I start (eg. monthly chart) and which important areas I should concentrate on?


text:
It's Colorado's first rail jam of the season, they're rolling in 25 tons of snow and Keystone's Oktoberfest kicks off following the jam. What more is there to say?
Press Release, Keystone, CO, September 3, 2013:
Back for a second year, the highly anticipated Backyard BBQ Rail Jam, the first competition in the popular A51 Rail Series, hits Keystone Resort Saturday, September 7 with 25 tons of snow. Competitors and spectators alike will enjoy a festive atmosphere with the first rail jam of the season in Colorado. With winter right around the corner, Keystone offers skiers and riders the opportunity to warm up for the season, testing out new tricks and skills on a multi-rail feature. For those with winter on their mind, 13-14 Winter Season Passes will also be available onsite at the Keystone Season Pass office throughout the event.
This year's event has moved to a new location in River Run Village, making for not only a great competition set-up, but also improved spectator vantage points. The West Gondola Parking Lot, located behind the Keystone Sports and Inxpot Village locations, will feature a hillside setup complete with 25 tons of snow and a multi-rail feature that will lead into a wall ride. Competitors in men's and women's ski and snowboard divisions will have plenty of room for coming up with creative ways to try out tricks in hopes of walking away with great prizing such as cash, gift cards, GoPros, Never Summer Snowboards, Red Bull and much more.
Guests at the Resort can not only enjoy watching young talent display their skiing and riding skills, but also browse a spectator village filled with vendor tents from local industry favorites including Never Summer, Candy Grind and Phunkshun Wear. Cold beverages and bar-b-que will be available on-site from Keystone's talented culinary team, while tunes spun by DJ Blue Collar Prophet will set the mood. Huge crowd giveaways will occur throughout the event, making the Backyard BBQ the perfect way to raise the stoke level for the upcoming winter season.
During and following the Backyard BBQ Rail Jam, participants and spectators can meander into River Run Village for the first annual Keystone Oktoberfest featuring tasty Colorado beers and plenty of German food. Festivities begin at 2 p.m. with free live music from Those Austrian Guys from the village plaza stage, accompanied by traditional polka dancers. Commemorative beer steins will be available for $25 and will include three Colorado brew tickets for use at brewery tents such as Breckenridge Brewery, Dillon Dam Brewery and Pug Ryan's Brewery. For the younger crowd, free kids activities including a kids train, face painter and a bounce house will be available while parents sip on tasty German inspired ales.
A season pass on-site vendor tent will be selling the best value in skiing: the new Keystone A-Basin Pass™, as well as the complete lineup of Epic Pass products. Vail Resorts announced last week that the Epic Pass now grants passholders access to skiing and riding in six states and four countries, with the addition of France's Les 3 Valles. The new Keystone A-Basin Pass™ pays for itself in less than three days on mountain, with passholders enjoying unlimited skiing and riding, with holiday restrictions, on more than 4,000 acres of terrain.
Schedule of Events:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — Rail Jam Registration and Check-In
11:15 a.m. — Rail Jam Participant Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. — Women's Snowboarding Preliminaries
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. — Women's Skiing Preliminaries
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. — Men's Snowboarding Preliminaries
2:00 p.m. – 6 p.m. — Keystone Oktoberfest
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. — Men's Skiing Preliminaries
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. — Snowboarding Finals
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. — Skiing Finals
4:30 p.m. — Awards
Registration for the Rail Jam costs $20 and can be accessed at http://keystonea51.eventbrite.com.
For more information about Keystone Resort, visit keystoneresort.com or call (877) 204-7889. Follow the resort at @keystonemtn on Twitter or at www.Facebook.com/Keystone.


text:
Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson couldn't help but crack a smile Monday night.
Karlsson had a wide-open look at the Pittsburgh Penguins' net after taking a feed from Clarke MacArthur, but Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, while moving from post to post and falling to the ice, snared the puck out of the air in what was truly one of the saves of the year.
The stop kept the game knotted at one goal apiece midway through the third period, a score that held until Penguins winger James Neal netted the game-winner in overtime.
"That's something that I did not count on," Karlsson said after the game, via TribLive.com. "It's a great save. I can't really do anything else but tip my hat and say 'good job.' I thought it was a clear shot and an open net. I just smiled at him. There's nothing really I can say. Unfortunately, I'm going to be on the highlights for quite a time with that one."
Check out the save in the video below.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP


text:
Indeed, with those four familiar colored squares – set in a bigger square rather than standing on a point in a diamond – Microsoft's new corporate logo seems almost inevitable. As you'd expect, the company's name makes up part of the logo, but instead of the thick italic letters it has used for the past two and a half decades, it's in a more standard, lighter font.
Jeff Hansen, Microsoft's general manager of brand strategy, notes that the point of the new logo is to "signal the heritage but also signal the future – a newness and a freshness." It's very fitting when you consider just how many of the software firm's signature products the company either has launched or will launch in the coming months, from its iconic operating system to its ubiquitous Office suite.
Indeed, the new logo and the new product designs share a certain look and feel. They both feel cleaner and less cluttered; both even feature colorful tile-based designs. The Windows-like square isn't the only familiar feature in the new logo; the company's name is written in the Segoe font, which Microsoft owns and has used for several years. Appropriately, the new Windows 8 operating system makes extensive use of the Segoe font.
The new corporate logo follows some of the most important rules of logo design. It's easily recognizable, even from a distance. It recognizes the value of trademarks with its nod to Windows, perhaps the company's best-known product. It blends graphics, text, and colors well. It even gives a nod to continuity by connecting the "f" and the "t" in the name "Microsoft," just as they were in the old logo. Hansen explained that "it was one of the subtleties we thought we could bring forward."
Like all good corporate logos, Microsoft's new logo contains deeper levels of meaning. In addition to the continuity represented in the name mentioned above, the colored squares stand for more than a gentle reminder of the Windows operating system. The different colors – blue, orange, green, yellow – represent "the diversity of our products and the diversity of people that we serve," according to Hansen.
Scroll to the bottom of Microsoft's home page and you'll see a list of the company's products with their own logos and colors – one color per logo, aside from white, all using shades from the new logo. Windows and Skype use blue; Office and Windows Phone use orange; Xbox uses green; and Bing uses yellow.
As of this writing, you can still find the old logo (or something resembling it) in a few spots, but all in all, Microsoft is to be complimented for the change. Many of the older logos – including the one the company used for 25 years – feel not only dated, but rather like the logo you'd expect to see from a company trying to take over the world. They were heavy, over-wrought, and full of their own importance. The new logo seems more like the neighbor who'd chat with you across the fence and give you a little help with your new garden if you ask. It's the logo not of a mad scientist, but of a quiet, friendly tinkerer interested only in getting some work done. With so many new and updated products coming out, Microsoft no doubt hopes it will help win over many new customers.
You can find more on this story here.


text:
Australian banks including Westpac, ANZ and Macquarie have announced that they will soon accept contactless payments made via Android Pay — although would-be Apple Pay customers are still being left out in the cold.
The reason? Banks continue to be unhappy with Apple's terms for its mobile payments solution, and showing that they are willing to accept Android Pay is a way of forcing a better deal with Tim Cook and pals.


text:
Research Topics
Cynthia Stuhlmiller
Affiliation: University of Hawaii
Country: USA
Detail Information
- Rethinking mental health nursing education in Australia: a case for direct entryCynthia Stuhlmiller
School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA
Int J Ment Health Nurs 14:156-60. 2005..This article urges consideration of an undergraduate direct entry mental health programme similar to that of midwifery or the nursing foundation/mental health branch programmes of the UK...
- Computer-assisted CBT for depression & anxiety: increasing accessibility to evidence-based mental health treatmentCynthia Stuhlmiller
School of Social Work, Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 47:32-9. 2009..In this article we describe outcome studies of computer-assisted CBT (cCBT), outline the current technologies available, discuss concerns and resistance associated with computerized therapy, and consider the role of nurses in using cCBT...
- Trauma, culture and meaning: central issues for mental health nursingCynthia Stuhlmiller
Int J Ment Health Nurs 12:1-2. 2003


text:
* Prices may differ from that shown
~*~The Product~*~
Dri Pak Soda Crystals 1000g
~*~My usage Experience~*~
I purchased the soda crystals predominately for my grand-children's science experiments that we were doing together from the book The Usborne Big Book Of Experiments. But I found so many other great uses for the crystals to!
Please be aware that Amazon notes the following as a "Guide to strengths…
Soda Crystals are usually used by dissolving them in warm water. The strength required depends on the application, as a starting point, we recommend the following:
Mild - 1 tablespoon (20g) to one pint (500ml) of water
Regular - Half a cup (100g) to one pint (500ml) of water
Strong - 1 cup (200g) to one pint (500ml) of water
I helped my two grand-sons grow crystals using the soda crystals. Growing even a couple of smaller star shaped crystals took a fair amount of the soda so I was glad that I purchased the large bag as there would have been disappointment for sure! After pouring hot water into a Pyrex jug, I had to pour the soda in and stir well. The soda disperses fairly quickly which was important as the children were very excited and wanted to begin making the shapes for their crystals using pipe cleaners as soon as they could. I won't go into the procedure of the experiment only to say that the next day, the soda had worked well and the grand-tots had two very sparkly sturdy crystals to hang in their bedrooms.
*Preparation surfaces*
I have a well-used chopping board that I cut just about everything on. I was thrilled to see how lovely and clean the board came up. All stains were removed and even the strong odours of garlic and alike had been removed. A really fine fresh scent emanated from the board after I rinsed it well under warm running water.
*Cookers and hobs*
I used the same method as above but no matter how much elbow grease, only easier to lift marks was removed! I'd be careful if you have stainless steel tops as this will scratch; the liquid solution will be far kinder on such surfaces!
*Sink blockages*
I popped a sizable mug amount of the crystals into the kitchen sink plug hole and left to dissolve slowly after adding a small amount of hot water. Unfortunately, I had to resort to a branded drain clearer as the crystals didn't remove the blockage but it did help to deodorise the drain!
~*~Would I recommend?~*~
Yes I certainly would recommend the purchase of these soda Crystals for a variety of uses. The crystals are better for some uses than others but still a very useful product to have in the home.
The Dri Pak Soda Crystals 1000g are currently available via Amazon for £2.34 + £1.49 delivery
Thank you for taking the time to read my review
Soda Crystals are one of my favourite household products. I use them mainly for keeping my drains clear and removing tough stains from my clothes when doing the laundry. I get a 1kg packet of Dri Pak Soda Crystal from Tesco for a £1 normally and depending on what you are using the crystals for depends on how long the bag will last you.
I live in an old flat, with old plumbing so I like to be pro-active after we suffered some blocked pipes shortly after moving in. I put half a packet down my stainless steel sink and half a packet down the plug hole in the shower, with the plug and shower tray made of plastic, once every 3 months and this has kept any blockage from re-occurring over the past 3 years. Wash the soda crystals down with a kettle full of boiling water and you're down in a matter of minutes.
The soda crystals seem friendly to all surfaces that I have tried them on and certainly seem more safe to use than some other products I have used in the past to unblock drains. Some other products I have tried have left burn marks on a plastic shower tray for example.
Saying that, I do have quite sensitive skin and find that if I get the soda crystals on my wet hands, it's quite an uncomfortable feeling so I tend to wear gloves.
To remove tough stains from clothes or to bring up your whites nice and bright my wife and I add a tablespoon, as per the instructions, to our laundry detergent. This has always removed any hard to shift staines from football kits and made our whites nice and bright.
It's a great product and certainly one I would recommend for the kitchen cupboard. Excellent value for money.
I love to have a clean home and because I work part-time I am fortunate enough to be able to use products that may be a little more cost effective and less time effective. I am also interested in using products that are suitable for a variety of purposes, such as baking soda (which can be used for cleaning some items) as I like to use minimal space in my cupboards (leaves more for stocking up on bargains!) and I like to use one product for a variety of uses as it means I have to carry less products home from the supermarket too. In general it is fair to say that I will use household products perhaps designed for other purposes in my quest for cleanliness and soda crystals were an item that were recommended to me by my Mum about 4 years ago. I have been using them ever since and it is normally this particular brand that I purchase.
I buy my soda crystals from Sainsburys and I pay around 90p for a 1kg packet. They have been around this price for as long as I can remember and the brand is 'Dri-Pak'. The packaging is easy for me to recognise because it is green and it stands out quite a lot in the laundry aisle of my local Sainsburys. Also there is a drawing on the front of this packaging of some of the household items that you can use it for (sink, washing machine and oven). Also the back of the packaging shows you lots of usage guidelines and you may just pick up some tips on other items you can use this for cleaning too. The packaging is incredibly informative, possibly more than other cleaning product I have ever used and this is a huge plus point for me, particularly the very first time I purchased these soda crystals.
To open my soda crystals I just cut a corner off the packet and then leave this stop up in my cupboard. I've never had any problems with moisture getting in to the packet or any of these crystals leaking out other than when I tip the bag but you could always transfer them to a pot or other container if you wanted to.
Within the packet the actual soda crystals are very fine and white. I have always found that some of the soda crystals clump together when I've not used them for a week or two or when they have been sat in my cupboard for any period of time. This isn't a problem at all as I just tend to pour this wherever I am using them rather than accurately measure them out by grams or any other unit of measure. There is no scent to these soda crystals and really it is like having a bag of salt or white sand in your cupboard. There is no mess from using these, as long as I am careful when pouring directly from the bag, and they are easy enough to vacuum up should a spillage occur. On the one occasion I accidentally dropped a large amount I just swept them up and put them down the plughole anyway, no point wasting them!
The main two reasons I use these soda crystals are for putting in the drawer of my washing machine when running a cycle and for pouring directly down the plughole. To pour them down the plughole I pour a load down, then I run boiling hot water (usually boiled from my kettle just to avoid any cold water going down while the water is warming up) down afterwards. I've not often had problems with blockages in my sink but when I've had disgusting smells coming out I've found that one or two goes with soda crystals has cleared it no problem and any potential blockage that might have been causing the smell too.
I mainly use soda crystals for dealing with stains on clothing and I have found them to be very effective. The packaging advises to use 1 tablespoon of soda crystals but I tend to put 3 or 4 in as I just measure this out by eye and go with what I think is a reasonable amount depending on the amount of dirt or stains that I want to be removed. Now these soda crystals work an absolute treat on the collars of shirts & blouses and they've even helped remove curry sauce (home made of course!) stains that just wouldn't come out with my normal washing tablets alone. I add soda crystals to almost every wash because it works as an anti-limescale and has kept my washing machine in good condition (so far...!). I have also used soda crystals to soak with water as a pre-soak and this has worked well also.
In all it is fair to say that I have been very pleased with the quality of these soda crystals. They have a wide variety of uses, many more than I have already mentioned, and they work fantastically in my washing machine. Our smart work clothes are looking good, free of dirt and marks around the colour and there hasn't been a stain yet that these soda crystals haven't been able to lift. On one or two occasions I've had to re-wash items or give them a pre-soak beforehand just to ensure that stains are removed but in all these soda crystals are absolutely fantastic, low in price and firmly recommended from me.
I am a cleaning obsessed person and when I find a bargain product I am generally incredibly pleased! I like products which can be versatile and do a multitude of cleaning tasks which is probably why I like bleach so much. A few months ago I noticed that my utility plughole and my kitchen plughole didn't smell as fresh as they should and rather than go to the expense of having a plumber out I thought I would try and find a product available to buy to try to shift whatever was blocking the drain and rid the odour.
After a call to my mum I went out and bought a bag of soda crystals by the brand Dri-pak obviously the product name is Dri-pak Soda Crystals! Despite knowing about soda crystals and seen them to buy in stores I had never bought a bag before and I am rather surprised I had never thought about using them before. Soda crystals have been used for years around the home whether unclogging pipes to helping with the laundry. At 99p per bag (1kg) from Wilkinsons I thought they were definitely worth a go!
The soda crystals come in a green plastic bag which isn't see through so you cannot see what the product looks like. The packaging is colourful and easily spotted on the shelf (found in the cleaning products aisle). The images on the front of the bag clearly depict how you can use the soda crystals whether on your kitchen cooker, washing machine or down the plughole. On the back of the bag there is a full set of usage instructions should you have never used them before which I found particularly useful.
The bag is easy to open but I did find that the easiest way to store is in a sealed/ air tight plastic tub or similar as once the bag is open I find that the plastic can rip easily and the last thing I'd want to clear up are millions of tiny crystals! The soda crystals themselves are pure white in colour and look exactly the same as grains of salt although a little big. There is no scent to them whatsoever which for me is fine as they are only going to get flushed down with water in any event.
I first used the soda crystals in helping to break down a blockage in my utility room's sink. I simply poured the soda crystals down just as the instructions say and then rinse down with hot water. I also used the same method when trying to rid the odour from my kitchen sink which after one application the odour seemed to reduce quite a lot which was obviously nice for me! For the blockage in the utility room it did take two doses of the soda crystals and plenty of hot water for it to go down effectively and to stop the water from rising due to the blockage. And because it had two doses of the soda crystals the odour was eradicated.
Due to my unhappiness with Persil Bio Washing Powder in trying to rid my partner's football kits of horrid muddy stains I did give the soda crystals a go in trying to tackle the stains. Apparently back in the day soda crystals were one of the most popular laundry products around and were renowned for being able to cut through dirt and stains so I thought they were definitely worth a try. I followed the instructions and simply added 1 tablespoon of the soda crystals to my usual detergent (I put them in the drawer). You can use them to pre-soak clothes if the stains are really tough by making a strong solution in warm water and soaking for an hour. Soda crystals are also great for helping to tackle limescale as they soften the water which for me is ideal as I live in a hard water area so at least my washing machine is being looked after a little bit more.
I have washed my partner's clothes in both methods whether pre-treating or putting directly into the washing machine and I was amazed at the results. The horrible mud and grass stains were lifted and whilst the white shorts and socks didn't look as good as they did new they certainly looked a lot cleaner than they did and I was amazed at a product so cheap managed to do a really impressive job! The items all looked clean and I now use this along side my usual laundry products for my partner's clothes as well as his junior team kits.
Overall, I have absolutely no complaints about Dri-pak Soda Crystals as they really are a versatile product and I am so glad my mother recommended them to me (she has been using soda crystals for years). Every time I'm in Wilkinsons now I pop a bag in my basket as not only are they cheap I find that they are incredibly effective. Definitely a recommendation to all wanting a versatile cleaning product which won't break the bank. 5 stars from me!
~ Useful Information ~
Brand: Dri-pak
Size: 1kg
Price: From 99p (currently 70p in Wilkinsons at the time of writing 06.10.12)
Availability: Supermarkets, discount stores and online
No, it isn't another constipation remedy; nor will they clear your sinuses. Well, they may do, but I wouldn't try it, if I were you.
I only recently discovered the benefit of using soda crystals. They have been around for years of course, but we just didn't see a need for them until recently when we had a stubborn blockage in the pipework below the bathroom sink.
This sounds pretty rank but I don't suppose we are the only ones to have blocked up our sink waste pipe with my wife's hair and shave slurry - oops - that's MY shave slurry. (I don't know what my wife does with hers).
We all like to think we keep our bathrooms clean; however over a period of weeks, a slimy mess can build up in the waste pipe, mostly somewhere below the sink plug but before you get to the U bend.
Sometimes the U bend itself is the problem and this can be easily removed, cleaned and replaced. However, other sections of pipe work are more difficult to get to. Enter Soda Crystals, produced and marketed to be used on a maintenance basis to keep sinks and drains clear.
The pack we buy is a 1kg standard size and this gives you sufficient crystals to keep you going for a good while. I think we usually get it in Home Bargains.
I simply sprinkle a handful of soda crystals into the plughole - add a small quantity of hot water and leave it to do its work before swilling away as normal. In our case, it worked a treat and we no longer had the problem with a slowly draining sink leaving a nasty scum on the sides.
Soda Crystals have a number of other uses; these are listed on the pack and include:
* Cleaning stains from clothes
* Acting as a water softener
* Soaking pans and grills to remove stubborn burnt on residue.
* Removing moss from patios
Fuller details and a free leaflet are available via dri-pak.co.uk, the manufacturers of DP Soda Crystals.
I have tough old hands; however this product is an irritant so you should wear rubber gloves if your hands are at all sensitive. Indeed, you shouldn't really need to handle it. The pack contains details of how to prepare a strong, regular or mild solution. Using a mild solution on a maintenance basis would probably have stopped the build up of detritus which caused our blockage.
Before use, I would advise that you carefully read the information on the pack. You should avoid using this on aluminium, varnished and lacquered surfaces.
For those with septic tanks, this product is safe to use. It is also biodegradable and contains no petrochemicals.
After using harsh chemical cleaning products for years I stumbled across soda crystals when my drains became blocked. The alternative commercial product I was going to buy was so expensive and being a hard up student, I thought I'd give the 90p soda crystals a try! I just follwed the instructions on the packet - pour it down the plug hole and sluice down some hot water, and it did the job no problem!
I still half a bag left that I just shoved at the back of the cupboard and forgot about, until I was moving out and clearing everything. Being a student house, we hadn't exactly kept the place spotless, and the kitchen was a typical student kitchen - greasy, dirty and pretty gross! So I went to the back of the packet again and it said if I made a solution with it, it would clean most surfaces in the kitchen. I gave it a go, and I was suprised what a great job it did of the surfaces and even the floor! I was pretty chuffed I'd found something that actually worked and that I could afford!
Without a doubt I think soda crystals are the most versatile cleaning products on the market. I always have at least one i packet in my cleaning cupboard at all times now. Looking on the internet there are so many uses for them, I've even used them to kill the moss off our driveway - you sprinkle them all over the moss, then wet them and within a few days the moss goes brown and you can just scrape it off dead easy.
In a way I feel like they're a bit of a secret that only I discovered, but I think I might be being a bit silly! I'd highly recommend soda crystals to anyone!
Soda Crystals could possibly be the best item you keep in your cleaning cupboard as they have an astonishing array of uses and are both environmentally friendly and cheap!
So having got your attention with the word cheap! I will endeavour to explain why you should get a pack of these at maximum £ 1.00 for a 1kg bag these are the most economical cleaning product around:
Soda crystals can be used to remove stains and they will shift really stubborn stains such as grease to use you add half a cup to your washing machine drum and then add half the normal amount of washing powder. I can confirm they really work I always add to my whites even if they do not seem to have any stains and I really have got whites!
. I recommend for really stubborn stains a pre-soak in the bath is worthwhile plus you have cleaned the bath at the same time!
Soda Crystals are a must in the kitchen from the sink to the floor and everything in between you can use them from burnt on food to cleaning your glasses then it's no job for the crystals.
I have already mentioned that you can use the crystals in the bath plus of course you can clean the tiles and work surfaces. You can also ensure that the waste pipe is clean by adding two cups and then sluice with hot water.
Yes not content with being an indoor wonder the crystals are prepared to tackle the outside you can
Prevent drain blockages
Clean the BBQ
Kill moss from the patio
Green Bit
I mentioned at the beginning that Soda Crystals were environmentally friendly and the reason for this is that they contain no phosphates, enzymes or bleach. So they are also a lot better for people with allergies.
I have told you a variety of uses for Soda Crystals but for more look on any of the green websites. I would defiantly recommend Soda Crystals as not only are they are cheap but they are also incredibly effective and as they have been in use for the last 150 years they have a proven track record.
SO having told you that they are maximum £1 a bag which lasts about a month and that they are environmentally friendly and really work and you can get them in most local shops and supermarkets what are you waiting for?
I have used Soda Crystals for many years and they are very good for some cleaning chores around the home and are very good value and are usually priced at around £1 for a 1 kg bag and have many uses that work in my opinion.
They come in a plastic bag and they are very fine crystals, more like a washing powder and they are tiny grains and white in colour, they do not have a lot of fragrance but what fragrance there is, it is a nice pleasant one and I use it sometimes in a washing load to remove stains such as tea, blood, ink or coffee, when they are a little stubborn to remove with any washing powder and I pre soak some garments in a solution of this and then I wash them in the usual way and the stains are removed perfectly in my opinion.
I also use it to soak saucepans if I have burned something and I use hot water and leave them for a couple of hours or overnight and then the stuck on food etc is easily rinsed away.
For my worktops I sometimes use a warmer water solution to remove grease etc if I am doing a spring clean and I use it on the tiles too and anywhere I would normally want to clean in the kitchen or bathroom.
I have also used it on the BBQ as it brings it nice and clean for the next time I need to use it as it can be very greasy and hard work cleaning it and these crystals cut into the grease and bring it nice and clean again.
Towards the end of the summer season I clean my patio furniture in a warm solution and then they are nice and clean for the next summer time.
For laundry cleaning reduce the amount of washing detergent powder and add 25 - 50 g of the crystals directly into the compartment drawer and but always check the colour fastness before washing and follow the instructions on the labels.
It is recommended not to use the crystals directly onto aluminium and always use a solution and also avoid varnished and lacquered surfaces too.
It is very good for blocked drains and I usually add half the packet to the drain and sluice it down with hot water and it usually does the trick.
I use it a couple of times a year and I highly recommend it for anyone to give it a try as I think it is a very good quality product to have handy in the cupboards.
I give it 5 stars.
Thank you for reading my review.
I first heard about soda crystals when my sister recommended them to me after my washing machine stopped taking the fabric conditioner. There was nothing else wrong with my washing machine and it didn't seem serious enough to buy a new washing machine so I thought I would give them a try. Soda crystals soften the water so it means your clothes come out softer without the need for fabric conditioner.
Soda crystals are made by Dri pak and come in a green packet weighing 1kg. These have been around for years and before the introduction of modern cleaning products these were a staple cleaning agent in many households. I found a packet in Wilkinsons for 74p. I have been using soda crystals in my laundry for some months now and I have been pleased with the results.
There are several advantages of using soda crystals in your laundry. For starters they have stain removing qualities and when you use them in your white wash you notice your whites appear whiter after washing. You also find that you will not need to use as much washing powder as before as soda crystals help boost the cleaning power of your washing powder and as everyone knows it does not mean that the more washing powder you use the better cleaning you will get. Soda crystals also help to prevent the build up of limescale in your pipes so you preserve the life of your washing machine and also by keeping the pipes clearer you use less energy therefore bringing down your electricity bill.
I have found that to get softer clothes I do need to put about 3 teaspoons of this in with my powder. It is great stuff as it seems to last a long time and as I've said earlier I have been using this for some time now and am still on the first packet. Soda crystals do not have any distinctive smell so you don't notice them on your clothes
I also discovered that there are other uses for soda crystals. You can make a cleaning solution by using two teaspoons of this and adding hot water. You can then clean your kitchen with it and it does appear to be quite good at cleaning. I also clean out drains by pouring a few teaspoons of this down the drain and following it with boiling water. This keeps my sinks smelling fresher.
I have used this to clean tea/coffee stains from mugs. I put half a teaspoon of this in each mug and then pour boiling water into them. After the water has cooled I clean each mug out with washing up liquid and they come out like new. I bit of elbow grease is needed but it does shift those tea/coffee stains!
I don't use soda crystals for much else but there are plenty of other uses for them. If you fancy making up your own washing powder you need to include these together with some soap flakes and borax.
Overall these are great to use for cleaning and I highly recommend them.
Recently I'd been hearing 'glug glug' noises for a while after using the bathroom sink, and so I decided to give it a good clean. For some reason I decided to scrape a cotton bud down the side of the drain, and was disgusted at all the gunk that I got out. My house was rented out to students last year and doesn't have the best drain system in the world anyway, so I'm not too surprised it was in that state! After I'd scraped for a bit, I noticed a distinct eggy smell and decided something else had to be done!
My first stop was (of course) dooyoo to check out the best drain cleaning solution. Though the ones I found such as Domestos and Buster had great reviews, I noticed a few comments on the sides of some of them saying 'I just use soda crystals and water!'. I thought it would be hassle trying to find them though, and went off to Asda to get a good, strong (expensive) drain cleaner.
Surprisingly, Asda had very little in the way of drain cleaners, although the couple I found were nearer £3 than the £5 suggested on dooyoo. Funnily enough, the packets of soda crystals caught my eye, and at only 70p for a kilo, seemed a much better deal than a one-use £3 bottle.
I was also impressed by the number of uses soda crystals have, not knowing anything about them. According to the packet you can use them with your washing to soften clothes, clean surfaces, clean dirty pans and similar. I figured that the crystals were a much more natural solution than the other cleaners I looked at if they can be used on clothes and cooking tools. There's no mention on the packaging of wearing gloves or being careful (unless you have sensitive skin) unlike the strong chemical cleaners.
The biggest advantage in my opinion was that the instructions for drain cleaning say to pour half a packet into the drain and sluice down with hot water. All of the other cleaners I came across required leaving the solution for anything from 15 minutes to overnight - a big hassle in my house with only one bathroom and three people generally operating in different time zones!
So I boiled the kettle, left it for a few minutes once boiled, and then poured the soda crystals down the drain. I only used about a third of the packet, especially as they seemed to sit in the sink for a while even after pouring half a litre of hot water down after them (I should probably have used more water). There were some little lumps, but they quickly dissolved.
A few minutes later, I rinsed the sink out and peered down the drain. Already the drain looked cleaner and I could see no remains of the bits of toothpaste and mouthwash (eww). I did the cotton bud test again - and though it didn't come out cleaner, it was far, far cleaner than before. I think they did an excellent job, and if I'd used half a packet, I bet the results would have been even better. The smell's gone, and so has the gurgle, which makes me feel reassured that the drain is now clear.
Okay, my drain wasn't thoroughly blocked in the first place, but it's peace of mind and avoiding potential plumbing costs. The packet advises to use once every two weeks or so, but at 35p a fortnight, it's far more affordable than the alternatives.
The only negative is that the packet has to be cut open and has no reseal option. But a clip or sandwich bag over the top soon sorts this out if you're bothered.
Overall, an excellent product and I'm going to stock up on packets in case I can't find them again.
I first started using soda crystals 4 years ago because my neighbour who is 87 swears by them, apparently his washing machine broke down one day about 10 years ago and the washing machine engineer told him to use two spoonfulls in every wash as it takes away limescale. His machine hasn't broke since. I started using them in all my washes as well and it is a lot cheaper than the limescale tablets that you buy.
It costs under a £1 and lasts at least a couple of months and i do lots of washes.
In addition to taking away the limescale, it also means you need to use less washing powder as it also cleans, and your whites come out very nice. Having said that, i also use it with my coloured washes and it hasn't faded the colours.
I would recommend it to everyone including my mother.
Around a week ago I noticed a rather unpleasant cabbage smell eminating from my washing machine every time I opened or closed the door - it got steadily more pungent until a couple of days ago when I took my "clean" washing out and noticed the cabbage smell was now transfering itself onto the clothes. I quickly pegged them out and was thankful it was a good dry day but knew this problem needed resolving.
After spending a while googling various ideas it became apparent there was an underlying theme - soda crystals.
I purchased these from tesco costing £0.64 for 1kg - it was the bag I bought for this job not the spray.
It comes exactly as shown above and claims to unblock grease from sinks and drains, shift heavy stains in washing and soften hard water and cut through the grease on cookers, pans and surfaces. For the purposes of this review I was trying it out to stop the foul aroma coming from my washing machine.
What did I do
I opened the packet with scissors and poured a large cupfull into the detergant drawer of my washing machine ( I had cleaned this area thoroughly before hand). It is a soft white powdery consistency with no aroma to it, then I set my washing machine to 90 degrees as recomended on the various sites I googled, I set it off with nothing else in it and waited for the cycle to finish.
Did it work
once finished I opened the door and was a little disappointed to still detect a slight cabbage smell, however I decided to pop in a wash load and wash as normal to see if it had worked at all. Upon opening the door after a normal 30 degree wash I was immediately greeted with a nice fresh smell, I could easily detect my detergant and softener smell and there was not even a hint of the cabbage aroma. I have done 4 loads of washing since then and the cabbage has definately been eliminated!
After speaking to my mum she advised it is a good idea to do this once a month - called a maintaince wash - to give your machine a thorough internal clean - apparently consistently low temperatures and the use of gels / liquid mean detergant can build up in unseen areas and this is the cause of the smell.
In my eternal quest to try and save money, and allow me to spend more on the finer things in life (nice holidays etc), I've reading up a lot on different ways to shop and save. My latest discovery is Soda Crystals and for this I need to thank Kim and Aggie and my other half being late home, causing me to watch their programme on BBCAmerica (Their show is on 4 times a day in America, can you believe it?).
My shopping bill seems to get bigger and bigger and I often find new products I want to try out, or 'need' as they claim to 'better than the rest'. My biggest expense always seem to come from cleaning products, be it limescale removers, washing powder, fabric softener, bleaches and creams, window cleaners, sink and drain cleaners...you get the idea. Then whilst watching the domestic goddesses (Kim and Aggie) they started using this strange looking, salt like stuff, called Soda Crystals (sometimes known as 'washing soda'). I had heard of them before but didn't really know what they did.
It turns out they have been around for over 200 years as a recognised cleaning product. Not only are they a traditional cleaning product, but they are highly versatile, cheap and most importantly, environmentally friendly. They are biodegradable and don't contain any phosphates, enzymes or bleach. Two of the key things they do is clean (due to their mild abrasive quality) and soften water. They are produced and sold by the company 'Dri-Pak' that also manufacture other 'natural' cleaning products, such as borax, soap flakes, white vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda.
In greater description, they are white granules, that looks rather like washing powder or ground salt. If you want to buy a 1kg bag of Soda Crystals, Tesco sell it for a mere 50p. Thanks to the bigger supermarkets they are available pretty much everywhere.
So how does it help me?
Well, I don't really know where to start. The helpfulness of these clever granules seems to be endless. Firstly the laundry...I don't know about you, but I think the prices of detergents is pretty ridiculous. You can pay up to £4 for a box of 40 tablets, that only last just over a month or so. Then there's the fabric softener, if it isn't already included, which can be at least another £3 or so. So, the washing can cost in the region of £7 a month. But I started substituting some of the powder with Soda Crystals and it makes my laundry tablets last twice as long. Ok, ok, ok, I could do better, for the purists you can use ¼ soda crystals, ¼ borax and ½ parts soap flakes and use a splash of White Vinegar for softener (although I'm not entirely convinced of the White Vinegar working as well as I would like) and you have created a laundry product that will only cost around £2 for the lot and probably last a lot longer. Bargain!
But it doesn't stop there, you can mix the crystals with water to make a solution that will also clean as effectively as any commercial and over priced cleaning product. In my bathroom, I have one of those heated towel/radiators, but over the summer, the humidity of the shower and lack of heating and windows made little spots of rust settle in the corners of the metallic towel rack (urgh). A mixture of Soda Crystals and water, and a mild scrubbing action from my good self shifted the spots fine. Around the bathroom and kitchen, the stuff is bloody phenomenal. It helps shifts limescale, helps clean burnt on food (when soaked in it), will remove grease and clean floors. The solution can also help shift moss on patios and clean up barbeques (I've never actually tried this, but their website informs me so). I've also used it to clean and refresh drains...for this, all you have to do is chug a load of it down your sink, then 'sluice' (nice word) it down with warm water. This has worked a treat for my numerous times, it also works for outdoor drains.
The only 'do nots' with it, is don't clean anything aluminium based, as the aluminium won't thank you for it. This also goes for varnished or laquered surfaces. Also, it's best to use rubber gloves if handling it as a solution...I once didn't and it dried up my hands and made them crack and go bleedy and sore (sorry for that appauling grammar, I've just finished a 9 hour work day, with ½ hour for lunch, all my choice, but hey)...not nice. Although it will soften water for cleaning, you can't use it to soften drinking water, that would be silly! It needs to be stored in a cool dry place too. So don't keep it in your saunas! Oh, and I should mention...don't confuse it with sugar or salt and eat it...you will die (but at least your insides will be clean).
If you need a helping hand going green, I would whole heartedly recommend to try using these granules of wonderment. Once my washing powder tablets have run out, I'm going to start using the Soda Crystals with borax and soap flakes...I'm also going to try using them with soapnuts (but that's a whole other review). Hopefully in a few months time, I'll be helping the environment more by not using bleach and commercial nonsense...and also saving a few bob at the same time, to add into my 'fun fund'.
If you want to find out more about them and their uses, check out their website: www.soda-crystals.co.uk
Thanks for reading :)
© MarcoG 2009
I always make sure I have Soda Crystals, manufactured by Dri Pak Ltd of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, in my kitchen and bathroom cupboards. For a product that costs around 69p for 1kg this represents excellent value for money and the uses are endless.
A spoonful added to the drum of a washing machine enables you to use less soap powder yet still ensures great results and will even take out grease and stains like coffee and blood. It also helps to keep the machine clean and in good running order; you can even hand wash clothes with Soda Crystals (test an inconspicuous area first but I have never had a problem with any fabric).
Soda Crystals can be used to clean pots and pans and, left soaking for around 20 minutes in a solution of crystals and hot water, even the greasiest oven shelf or barbecue rack will come up clean.
The crystals are also a cheap but effective way of keeping drains and plugholes free of grease and fresh-smelling - just pour a couple of cups down and rinse with hot water.
Use the crystals in a hot solution for cleaning paths and patios outside; it even keeps the moss at bay.
In the bathroom, a mild solution will clean sinks and baths and, as with the kitchen, will keep drains and plugholes clean.
The instructions warn that the crystals cannot be used on aluminium.
As this is an organic product it is perfectly safe for use in homes with septic tanks.
All in all, excellent results for very little financial outlay.
I have been using soda crystals for about two to three years now, after a recommendation from my Nana to use them in the washing machine, to help reduce limescale. They can be used in the drawer of the machine - about half a cup - to help to reduce the amount of washing detergent used, as well as keeping the drum free from limescale buildup. As I live in a hardwater and am trying to save money, this has been a really good thing to do. The soda crystals are made by Dri-Pak in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and cost 44p for a 1kg bag in Tesco's. This price has recently come down a little from about 51p, making them even more of a bargain, as they have so many uses around the home, apart from doing the washing.
Soda crystals can be used for unblocking sinks and drains, for cleaning burnt-on food from pans and dishes, work surfaces and floor tiles. They can also be used for gardens and patios, to remove moss and to degrease barbecues. They are a very traditional cleaning product, and are environmentally friendly, as they are biodegradable. It is important to keep them out of the reach of children, as they are an irritant, and it is a good idea to wear gloves when in contact with the crystals, especially if you have sensitive skin, as I do.The packaging currently being used is green and white, so it looks a little different to the blue and white packaging shown in the picture above. To summarise, soda crystals are a great product, at a fantastic price, and they have a wide variety of uses.
Soda Crystals or Washing Soda; have been used for generations as a way to clean; loosen dirt; dissolve grease and soften water. They are free of bleach; enzymes and phosphates.