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Startwithoneofthe principles of living be- neath your means: Take care of what you have. Next, add one of the most effec- tive ways to reduce stress: Find an activity that gives you a sense of personal satisfaction. And what do you have? Laundry! No, seriously. I'm one of those peo- ple who loves to do laun- dry. From the challenge of getting a stain out to the smell of clean when the clothes come out of the washer, to pulling warm sheets and towels from the dryer — all of it appeals to my love for instant grati- fication. I love the entire process. I even like the folding part. Weird? Maybe, but I've learned that taking pride in textile maintenance does more for me than only keep my husband in clean socks. I love the challenge, but more than that, doing laun- dry helps me to experi- ence moments of joy and satisfaction in the things I have and the people in my life. Out with stains. The ba- sic rules of stain removal: 1. Treat a stain immedi- ately; time is not on your side. 2. Try cold water first. 3. Blot, never rub or scrub, a stain. 4. Pretest a stain prod- uct in an inconspicuous place first. 5. Don't apply heat until the stain is gone. There are lots of stain formulas and remedies. Some you can make your- self; others are commer- cial products. Experiment. Research. But get serious about stain removal and you'll have half the bat- tle won. Laundry pretreatment. In a spray bottle combine cup white vinegar, cup household ammonia, cup Wisk and cup water. Spray on spot and launder as usual. A bar of soap. For many stains, an ordinary bar of soap will do, and there's nothing so effective for prewash spotting than a bar of Fels Naptha. Look for this in the laundry aisle with the stain treat- ments. Wet the stain, rub in the soap and launder. For an old stain, allow the soap to sit on the stain for a few hours before wash- ing. A 5.5 oz. bar lasts al- most forever, and with re- markable results. Liquid bleach alter- native. Liquid chlorine bleach may be cheap and effective, but it has a cou- ple of serious drawbacks: The smell stinks, and it weakens fabric. Cascade automatic dish- washer powder (not gel) is a good liquid bleach alter- native. You can use it to ei- ther bring stained, dingy- gray or yellowed-whites back to sparkling bright or as preventive maintenance to make sure they never get that way. For really dingy, yel- lowed items: Add 1 cup Cascade powder, cup baking soda and cup laundry detergent to the wash cycle. Set washer to "Hot" and start longest cy- cle. Allow the agitation to begin. Turn machine off. With the lid closed, al- low soaking overnight. In the morning, turn the ma- chine on and complete the cycles. To keep whites white, add to cup Cascade powder to the wash cycle along with the regular de- tergent. Dryer sheets. The same dryer sheet will work just fine for two, often three loads of laundry. Or cut a dryer sheet into four pieces, using sheet in- stead of a full sheet, per load. Extend liquid softener. Mix equal portions of reg- ular (not concentrate) liq- uid fabric softener with hot water in a spray bottle. When adding clothes to the dryer, follow with sev- eral spritzes onto a wash- cloth and toss it in the dryer. Works equally well as dryer sheets but for much less money. Soften with vinegar. Add cup white vinegar to the last rinse. Clothes will come out softer with- out liquid or sheet soften- ers because vinegar helps remove all of the deter- gent, which is the culprit that makes clothes stiff and scratchy. Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE The joy of laundry Mary Hunt PAYNES CREEK Tehama County Fire Department has taken delivery of a new tactical water tender, placed at Tehama County Fire Station 21 in Paynes Creek. Water Tender 821 is the first of its kind in Tehama County. It can pump 750 gallons of wa- ter per minute, has pump and roll capabilities and carries 2,000 gallons of water. It will be used for structure fires, vehicle fires and wildland fire suppression. In addition, the truck carries ladders, ventila- tion fans, lighting, med- ical gear and a portable water tank that allows water to be delivered to a fire scene more effi- ciently. Locating the water ten- der in Paynes Creek will give the communities of Paynes Creek, Ponderosa Sky Ranch, Manton and Mineral improved fire protection. Before acquiring the new water tender the eastern portion of the county only had one wa- ter tender located in Man- ton. This addition will help deliver needed water to fire personnel in remote areas of Eastern Tehama County by reducing re- sponse times from water tenders coming from Man- ton or the valley. The truck will be used to support all communities in Tehama County when needed. The department is in need of volunteer fire- fighters. Those inter- ested can call 528-5199 or go to www.tehamacoun- tyfire.org for more infor- mation. PUBLIC SAFETY CountyfirepurchasesnewtruckforPaynesCreek California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. are warn- ing water enthusiasts not to become complacent be- cause of the drought, and to take serious precautions when in or near water this spring and summer. Water is still flowing and even low reservoirs and lakes still have enough water for recreation. Pre- viously deep hazards may be closer to the surface and can create treacher- ous conditions for waders, swimmers, paddlers, boat- ers, anglers and even hik- ers cooling off at the wa- ter's edge. "We ask those enjoying the outdoors to be careful near mountain streams, rivers and reservoirs. Wa- ter flows can fluctuate so always be prepared for a change in conditions," said Randy Livingston, vice president of Power Gener- ation for PG&E. "Low water levels can give a false sense of confi- dence to boaters," said Lisa Mangat, director of Cali- fornia State Parks. "Haz- ards, such as underwater trees, snags, and sandbars, that were previously deep underwater are still hid- den but now are in the di- rect path of boaters. It is critical to not only adjust your boating activities, but to always wear properly-fit- ted life jackets, even if on familiar waters." "The month of May tra- ditionally marks the begin- ning of boating season in California," said Colonel Chris Conlin, acting dep- uty director of DBW. "As we enjoy getting back out on and in the water, it is critical that we exercise extra caution and aware- ness, especially if ventur- ing into unfamiliar water- ways, or areas impacted by the drought. Have fun, but please stay safe." The following are water safety tips: Knowthewater Sudden immersion in cold water can stimulate the "gasp reflex," causing an involuntary inhalation of air or water. It can even trigger cardiac arrest, tem- porary paralysis, hypother- mia and drowning. When faced with swift water, even the strongest swim- mers may be easily over- whelmed. Cold water entering the ear canal can cause vertigo and disorientation. This may confuse swimmers, causing them to venture deeper into the water. Recreating in PG&E ca- nals and flumes is strictly prohibited. Stay out of ca- nals and flumes, which are very dangerous due to slip- pery sides and fast moving water. Lower lakes and rivers can expose hazards like rocks and trees, or make them closer to the surface. Know your limits Swimming in open wa- ter is more difficult than in a swimming pool — people tire more quickly and can get into trouble. Cold water causes im- pairment leading to fatal- ities. It reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same tem- perature. Many unseen obsta- cles can be lurking be- low the water's surface- this is especially the case during ongoing drought conditions. Swift water can make these obstacles even more treacherous. Guided trips for inexperi- enced paddlers are recom- mended. Wear a life jacket Conditions change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills when boat- ing or swimming. Wearing a properly-fitted life jacket can increase survival time. A life jacket can also provide some thermal pro- tection against the onset of hypothermia and keep you afloat until someone else can rescue you. Parental Supervision Actively supervise chil- dren in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided at- tention. Appoint a des- ignated "water watcher," taking turns with other adults. Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swim- ming in a pool: they need to be aware of uneven sur- faces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weather. Know the law Every child under 13 must wear a Coast Guard- approved life jacket when on a moving vessel that is 26 feet or less in length. A Coast Guard-approved life jacket must be carried for each person on board a boat. This includes rigid or inflatable paddlecraft. Every person on board a personal watercraft (popularly known as "jet skis") and any person be- ing towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard- approved life jacket. It is against the law to operate a boat or water ski with a blood alcohol con- centration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. You can be arrested even when your BAC is less than 0.08 percent if conditions are deemed to be unsafe. For more water safety information, visit www. WearItCalifornia.com. MEMORIAL DAY Water safety urged during holiday weekend COURTESYPHOTO Tehama County Fire Department recently purchased a new water tender truck that can pump 750gallons of water per minute. Celebrating40YearsinBusiness! 6186 Churn Creek Rd. • 365-5383 Hours: Mon-Sat 8-5, Sunday 10-4 • Go to www.goldleafnursery.com for map ChoosefromTomatoes,Peppers,Eggplant,Squash, Cucumbers, Cantaloupe, Watermelons and more. Vegetable Plants Buy 1 get 2nd All plants 1 gal. thru25 gal. Shrubs, Trees & Vines All Potting Soil, Soil Booster and Fertimulch Buy 1 get 2nd LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, May 22, 2015 MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5