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Saturday, May 30, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jamie Hancock Garden Column – Simple household chemicals can remove worst stains – Filling your home with the Mulvane Art Fair – Carpet your world with wool –

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2 | Saturday, May 30, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Mulching spring planting saves water June 1 is typically a good deadline for having finished all of the spring planting. That is, if the rain and mud haven’t kept you from getting everything in the ground. Certainly planting can continue into June, but plants generally need to be larger (and therefore more expensive) to be prepared to handle our summer heat and dry time. Once planting is finished, it is a good idea to mulch trees and shrubs and the flower and vegetable gardens.

Mulching is the placement of a protective covering (generally organic matter) over the soil primarily to modify the effects of the local climate. Organic mulches have an insulating characteristic that can reduce warming in the spring and slow the start up of many plants and bulbs.

By June, most soils have warmed sufficiently, making this a good time to cover your

Columnist

JAMIE HANCOCK

jamiehan@k-state.edu

gardens.

Mulching actually pays for itself by conserving moisture in the soil, thus reducing water bills. It inhibits weed growth, saving time and labor. It helps lessen infections on fruits and vegetables by preventing soilborne pathogens from splashing onto plants. Mulching keeps soil from becoming compacted, which prevents oxygen from reaching plant roots.

Soil temperature is regulated, protecting plants from the heat of summer. Soil erosion can be

reduced.

Mulching also helps preserve the life of newly planted trees and shrubs by creating a wide berth around the base of the plants. This effectively becomes a mowing and weed trimming barrier. No more nicks in tender bark. “Trunk damage at best limits growth. At worst, it can stunt or even kill a tree,” says Charles Barden, forester at Kansas State University.

Mulching under trees where the shade is too dense for good grass growth also cuts down on the amount of mowing and watering needed in your yard.

Create paths and walkways with a thick layer of mulch.

This permits easy access to any part of the landscape, even after heavy rain. Mulch also reduces dust during dry periods.

Mulching can provide a finishing touch to the landscape.

You have dug, planted, weeded, watered, edged, and now it’s

time to mulch. I always like the look of my yard just after mulching. There are no weeds (yet) and everything looks pristine. It’s a very satisfying feeling.

Application

Information from K-State University publication, MF-2133, Using Wood Chips for Mulch Yard Care and the Environment: n For best results, remove as many existing weeds and grasses as possible. n If using coarse materials like bark chips apply to a depth of 3-5 inches. If using finer mulch like peat moss, 1” is sufficient. Cypress mulch should be about 2” deep. NOTE: A 12 inch pile of mulch around a sapling can literally suffocate a young tree. n Keep the mulch 2-3 inches

HANCOCK continues on 4A

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, May 30, 2015 | 3

Simple household chemicals can remove worst stains

By Linda A. Ditch Special to The Capital-Journal

Life gives us both big and small aggravations.

One little issue that can cause major frustration is getting a stain on clothing, carpeting, and upholstery.

That delicious red sauce drips from the spaghetti just before reaching your mouth. Somehow you get an ink mark on your shirt at work. The kids track in mud from the backyard, and the dog decides to find relief on your favorite recliner. What do you do?

The biggest mistake you can make is to rub a fresh stain. You may damage the fabric and actually make the stain worse.

Blot the stain with a white cloth or paper towel, and work from the outside of the stain inward to keep it from growing bigger.

The sooner you deal with a stain, the easier it will be to remove. Once the spot dries, your job just got a little harder. So, if at all possible, get right after that stain when it happens, blotting up as much of the spill as possible with paper towels, napkins, or a clean, white cloth.

If there is one go-to

STOCK PHOTOs/METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

The biggest mistake you can make is to rub a fresh stain.

Blot it with cloth, starting from the outside. stain remover, it would be club soda. For reasons still being debated, this bubbly liquid works wonders on a variety of stains.

Start by blotting the spot to get up as much as you can first.

On clothing, dab the area with the club soda, let set for a minute, and then dab with a clean cloth until the stain is removed (or lightened enough that a run through the laundry takes care of the rest.)

For carpet or upholstery, again blot up as much of the spill as you can, then pour on just enough club soda to see the bubbles.

Let set for a minute, and then blot with paper towels until all of the stain is

gone, repeating if needed.

Some research recommends adding salt to the stain with the club soda.

If the soda alone doesn’t work, then try again, this time also sprinkling salt over the area first. Once you blot up the liquid just vacuum up the remaining salt.

Here are some other suggestions for dealing with life’s most common fabric stains: n Tomato sauce/ketchup: Rinse with cold water, and then rub in dishwashing soap or laundry detergent. Let stand for a few minutes, and then rinse.

Then flush the stain with white vinegar, and rinse. n Grass: Scrub the

stain with plain white toothpaste (not gel) and a toothbrush. Rinse and then launder. Pre-treating with an enzyme cleaner (Oxiclean, Biz, Wisk, to name a few) also should work. Just follow the instructions on the packaging. n Blood: Spray a solution of dishwashing soap and water onto the stain.

After a few moments, rinse with cool water. Another method is to soak the stain with three-percent hydrogen peroxide.

Rinse with more peroxide and then launder as usual.

One more solution is to wet the stained area with water, and then sprinkle with salt. Rub the salt into the stain and then laun-

der. n Sweat: Soak in a solution of 1/2 cup warm water and 2 crushed aspirins for two hours, and then launder as usual.

Or mix one part dishwashing soap with two parts hydrogen peroxide.

Scrub the stain with the solution and then let sit for an hour before laundering.

Another fix is to pour white vinegar onto the stain, rub it in, and then wash. n Grease and Oil: Sprinkle cornstarch onto the stain. Let sit for 30 minutes so it can soak up the grease, and then brush it off. If some of the stain remains, rub the spot with dishwashing soap, and then rinse with hot water.

n Red wine: The Food Network suggests flushing the red wine stain with white wine. Blot the area dry, and then flush the area by alternating club soda with white vinegar. n Ink: Soak the stain with rubbing alcohol, and then blot with a clean, white cloth to remove. n Coffee and Tea: Rinse the area with a mixture of one part white vinegar and two parts water.

Repeat until stain is removed.

Finally, be sure to check any stained clothing when removing from the washing machine. If the stain is still there, do not put it into the dryer. The heat will set the stain, making it even harder to remove.

Try flushing a red wine stain with white wine, or, after blotting it dry, flush the area by alternating club soda with white vinegar.

4 | Saturday, May 30, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Hancock: Leave some space around plant bases to protect them Continued from 2A from the base of plants. Apply mulch in a 3- to 6-foot diameter under newly planted trees. A 1-foot band around larger trees is sufficient for a mowing barrier. n Apply beyond the spread of shrubs to allow for growth without lawn mower interference. n Cover the soil to the drip line under fruit trees for optimum growth. n Avoid covering the growing point or crown on perennial plants.

Creating “volcanoes” around tree and plant bases is a no-no. The mulch can cause

Amount of Organic Material to Cover 100 Square Feet In. of Material 4 3 2 1

Organic Material Needed 35 cubic feet 27 cubic feet 18 cubic feet 9 cubic feet

deterioration of the plant leaving it vulnerable for disease and eventual death. Instead, create a “doughnut” by leaving a couple inches of space between the plant and the mulch.

Keep mulch a couple of inches away

from the foundation of your home. While generally mulch is free of termites, the spacing allows you to monitor any mud tunnel development that may be climbing up your foundation walls. A study from Iowa State University Extension found no more termite activity in bare soil than in mulched soil. And, actually, “sustained activity (of termites) over time was significantly higher beneath gravel mulch.”

Organic mulching materials include compost, old hay, shredded newspapers, sawdust, straw, leaves, cotton hulls, peat moss, wood chips, and grass clippings. Dried or composted materials are best. Fresh materi-

als can generate heat, form molds or slime, smell bad, and repel water. Make sure they don’t contain weed seeds. Over time, the organic materials will improve the soil. Till them into the garden in the fall and add a new layer the next spring.

Don’t forget to mulch your containers and baskets. They will love you for it.

Jamie Hancock is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

Note: The Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners will present “Shade Gardening” at the Topeka/Shawnee Public Library at 7 p.m. June 11. You will learn what to plant in those shady areas and what to avoid. Join us for a “shady” good time.

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, May 30, 2015 | 5

Filling your home with the Mulvane Art Fair

By Shanna Sloyer Special to The Capital-Journal

The 23rd annual Mulvane Art Fair is scheduled for June 6 and 7 on the Washburn University campus. More than 90 artists from 17 states will display artwork that includes paintings, drawings, prints, photography, jewelry, and works in fiber, glass, wood, bronze, steel, ceramics and textiles. Patrons will have the opportunity to purchase artwork during the fair, which is organized by the Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum (FOMAM).

“Fair-goers can easily spend the entire day at the art fair,” said Jeanie Schuler, FOMAM board president. “In addition to an expanded food court, this year’s fair will feature a beer garden near the music stage.

The Topeka Blues Society will present this year’s entertainment, which will include two national touring acts. As always, families can enjoy hands-on art activities in the children’s tent. All proceeds benefit such Mulvane Art Museum children’s programs as Art Lab and many other education programs.”

Wichita-based arts appraiser, consultant and curator Stephen Gleissner and Marin

This fused-glass landscape sculpture on a slab of limestone, created

by Rachel Fademacher, was purchased last year at the fair. photos by rex wolf/special to the capital-journal

A painting of a hummingbird on a repurposed washing machine lid by Meg Harper was purchased at the Mulvane Art Fair.

Abell, a visiting artist and professor at Washburn University, served as this year’s art fair jurors. They reviewed more than 150 applications before selecting the artists who will participate.

Local art collectors Mark and Sharon Boranyak have a history of involvement

with the Mulvane Art Fair. Sharon serves on the art fair publicity committee, while Mark has served as a chairman, as well as holding the title of past board chairman for FOMAM. The Boranyaks began building their art collection two decades ago when they attended a number of art fairs in the St. Louis area. Their first purchase was a piece of pottery that they bought in Clayton, Mo. For first-time art buyers or those interested in expanding their art collection, the Bo-

ranyaks recommend choosing pieces that you are naturally drawn to. Sharon points out that if a piece draws your attention at an art fair, it is usually because buyers tend to navigate toward similar colors and designs, and there is a high likelihood the piece will work with the colors and designs you have chosen for your home décor.

“Art is jewelry for the home. Buy what you like,” said Mark.

ART continues on 7A

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Carpet your world with wool

By Todd Epp Special to The Capital-Journal

Add wool carpets to your wool stocking cap and wool sweater.

Only instead of keeping your noggin and body warm, wool carpeting will repel stains and deflect wear, even in the most trafficked of areas. It might even clean your air.

If it’s good enough for hotels and casinos, notes John Dorsey, general manager of Abbey Flooring Headquarters in the Furniture Mall of Kansas in Topeka, wool carpeting will withstand your dogs, kids, dirt and more.

Plus, it cleans up without harsh chemicals.

“Wool resists absorption of liquids by beading up liquids, giving a person extra time to take a rag and wipe up the spill before it is absorbed into the carpet,” Dorsey said. “Clean wool easily with gentle and natural products like vinegar and water, club soda and plain water.”

Besides defending against typical household attacks from kids and critters, it also acts as a sort of filtering system for your home.

“Wool fibers purify indoor air by absorbing air pollutants and gasses,” Dorsey said.

“Wool absorbs common contaminants in indoor air like formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide while not releasing volatile organic compounds.”

submitted/furniture mall of kansas

Wool carpets repel stains and deflect wear, even in heavily trafficked areas.

According to the U.S. Consumer Protection Commission, these contaminants come from a gamut of sources: oil, gasoline, tobacco, building materials, cleaning products, heating, cooling and humidification devices and a host of other places.

Then, these toxins can be compounded with inadequate ventilation and a lack of fresh air coming into your home or building.

Plus, like your favorite woolen sweater or coat, wool carpeting will last for years and seldom need cleaning, Dorsey said.

As a natural material, Dorsey said, wool carpets are hypoallergenic, which makes them a good choice for people with allergies.

Sounds great. But doesn’t wool or woolblend carpeting cost more? Indeed.

Dorsey says price points start at just under $3 per square foot for nylon carpets, wool blends start at $4 per square foot and wools start in the $7 per square foot range.

So, how is wool able to be such a “wonder” fiber? It’s all in the microscopic composition of the fibers, according to Dorsey.

“The jagged edges of the fibers hold the dirt up and it doesn’t get into the backing,” Dorsey explained. “That’s not so with man-made fibers.”

Thus, in wool carpets, the dirt sits closer to the top and is not ground into the backing, making normal vacuuming easier and more efficient.

Plus, wool is strong. Really strong.

According to RugChick.com, it takes more than 10,000 bends to break a wool fiber, compared to 2,400 for silk and only 70 for rayon/viscose.

Wool carpets also provide a palette of colors not always available to man-made fibers, as wool readily accepts dyes, according to RugChick.com. Dorsey adds

that their carpets are made of New Zealand wools — the whitest of wools — and that makes them the best wool for dyeing.

Another carpeting innovation that hasn’t quite made it to the Topeka area, according to Dorsey, is impermeable carpet backings. This is a backing that doesn’t allow liquids to get into the padding below the carpeting. This is especially important for pet accidents, where the dog or cat urine soaks not just the carpeting and the padding but even into the wood flooring below and becomes difficult to remove.

Dorsey says impermeable carpeting padding has been around for a while, but impermeable carpet backing is new to the area. He said his store hopes to carry the new product in the next few months.

“There’s no history to it yet,” Dorsey said about the track record of the impermeable backing product. Nonetheless, he thinks it will also be effective against mold developing under carpeting.

When impermeably backed carpeting comes to Topeka, will you be able to combine the natural power of wool with the best of better living through chemicals?

Alas, not yet, according to Dorsey. The impermeable backed carpeting only comes on nylon carpets — not wool — so far.

For a primer on the different types of carpeting, the pros and cons of each type and how to care for them, go to “What To Know Before Buying Carpeting” at MarthaStewart.com.

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, May 30, 2015 | 7

Art: Couple’s home displays works by many Mulvane Art Fair artists 23rd ANNUAL MULVANE ART FAIR

Dates: June 6-7, 2015 Times: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday Location: Washburn University campus Admission: $10 at the gate; children 12 and under free. Free admission for Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum (FOMAM) members. Purchase FOMAM membership at the gate and enter free.

ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, June 6 The 800s Biscuit Miller & The Mix Rachelle Coba Sunday, June 7 Rachelle Coba Biscuit Miller & The Mix

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. noon-2 p.m.

2:30 p.m.-4 p.m.

Sponsors: Capitol Federal, Brewster Place, CoreFirst Bank & Trust, Cassidy Orthodontics, Wells Fargo, Community Bank, Bartlett & West, Security Benefit, The Topeka Capital-Journal, Home Leasing Topeka, Quest Credit Union, US Bank, Design Concepts, Educational Credit Union, Topeka Blues Society, WIBW For more information and a complete list of participating artists, visit MulvaneArtFair.org.

James Pringle-Cook took his first art class at the Mulvane Art Museum when he was just a child. Originally from Eskridge, PringleCook went on to study art at Emporia and Wichita State universities before becoming an internationally acclaimed artist.

“The arts enhance people’s lives,” Sharon said. “It’s good for the community and gives it character. It differentiates our community from others, and art improves the quality of life.”

Continued from 5A Mark and Sharon own and display art in their home from more than 20 Mulvane Art Fair artists, many of whom will return to share new art at this year’s event. Some of the pieces in their collection include a painting by Arizona artist Meg Harper, designed on a repurposed washing machine lid, and jewelry pieces by Kristen Haug, of Silver Lake, and Pam Somerville, of Topeka.

A painting by Topeka artist Cally Krallman hangs in the home’s hearth room, while glass orbs designed by Douglas Sheafor, of Topeka, are displayed in the dining table centerpiece. The Boranyaks commissioned a cherry wood pedestal from Emporia artist Conrad Wempe, who was chosen Best in Show at last year’s art fair. The pedestal sits in the dining room to display another piece of artwork.

“Art generates economic activity,” said Mark. “Art is good for the economy, and it’s good for business.”

“The nice thing about the Mulvane Art Fair is that you can get a variety of art at different price points,” Sharon said.

The proceeds from admission to the Mulvane Art Fair benefit FOMAM, which

rex wolf/special to THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

This wood fountain created by Rod Furgason was purchased at the Mulvane Art Fair.

is responsible for art education and outreach efforts in the community. In addition to the Art Lab located in the lower level of the Mulvane Art Museum, FOMAM funds visits to local school districts throughout the year. Providing learning experiences for local youth is central to the museum’s mission, and some well-known artists got their start through the training they received there.

According to Sharon Boranyak, artist

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