Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up

Birdie1483 · September 2010

How to remove hard water stains/deposits - and that it's best to tackle it early and stay on top of it before it becomes too much of a problem.

Our hard water has become the biggest PITA that I've ever seen. It's been an on-going process in trying cleaners and scrubs to remove them in our tub. I've even removed some of the finish in certain spots trying to get rid of this stuff. I finally found the winning combination of soaking the sides of the tub in CLR spray and then using a paint scraper to remove them. 3 hours and lots of sweat later, we have a shiny new tub! I know we could install a water softener to alleviate this problem, but that's where FI's stubbornness comes into play.

What is something you have found out about the hard way?

amclausen · September 2010

I've heard that using alka seltzer on hard water deposits works. I'm going to be trying that on my toilets this weekend! (I live an exciting life.)

JenGin74 · September 2010

I had to learn everything the hard way. My parents told me things but I was too stubborn to listen.

Birdie1483 · September 2010

amclausen, the CLR bathroom spray really helped loosen it up if the alka seltzer doesn't work for you!

And I guess I should have titled it "things my parents forgot to tell me" since "mom" might not be the case for everyone.

She probably told me a lot of stuff that I didn't feel like listening, but it was only last week how she told me about her trials and tribulations with hard water deposits and her resorting to using a hammer to get it out of the grout.

xyrius · September 2010

Ugh, I feel your pain. We had hard water + iron in our water (we have a well and septic), so we had orange toilets, showers, sinks after we first bought our house. We had to get a softener and another machine to remove the iron/sulphur installed, I couldn't deal with the rotten egg smell/discolouration anymore.

And yeah, CLR worked magic for us.

louisvillebride21 · September 2010

In the category of things she forgot to tell me...

I had surgery so she came to stay with me for a few days. She's reallllly particular about her house, so I was determined to clean my apartment to 'her' standards. I did. Except for the liquid fabric softner thingy in the washer. I had no idea it came out and it had gotten all gummed up with softner. We tried everything to clean it and finally just gave up and stopped using it. Yeah, she found it and told me all about it.

Wrkn925 · September 2010

I'm left-handed. My Mom had a hard time teaching me how to cut. (Fruits, vegetables, steak, etc.) In her defense, she tried before giving up and just giggling at me.
When I make a salad I feel like a teen going to second base for the first time. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, I don't know what to do with my other hand, and I feel like I should apologize to the tomato.

parker624 · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_things-mom-forgot-tell-growing-up?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:8b3ee5d0-8023-4235-a45c-2c2ae3734ccaPost:599a5654-094e-4a69-b6af-328ef5cac499">Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm left-handed. My Mom had a hard time teaching me how to cut. (Fruits, vegetables, steak, etc.) In her defense, she tried before giving up and just giggling at me. When I make a salad I feel like a teen going to second base for the first time. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, I don't know what to do with my other hand, and I feel like I should apologize to the tomato.
Posted by Wrkn925[/QUOTE]

Wkrn that is a hilarious description! I'm a lefty and have found that its the same cutting fruits and veggies, just backwards. get yourself a good, sharp knife and it should be easy.

squirrly · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_things-mom-forgot-tell-growing-up?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8b3ee5d0-8023-4235-a45c-2c2ae3734ccaPost:599a5654-094e-4a69-b6af-328ef5cac499">Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm left-handed. My Mom had a hard time teaching me how to cut. (Fruits, vegetables, steak, etc.) In her defense, she tried before giving up and just giggling at me. When I make a salad I feel like a teen going to second base for the first time. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, I don't know what to do with my other hand, and I feel like I should apologize to the tomato.
Posted by Wrkn925[/QUOTE]

That's hilarious.

lyndausvi · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_things-mom-forgot-tell-growing-up?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8b3ee5d0-8023-4235-a45c-2c2ae3734ccaPost:599a5654-094e-4a69-b6af-328ef5cac499">Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm left-handed. My Mom had a hard time teaching me how to cut. (Fruits, vegetables, steak, etc.) In her defense, she tried before giving up and just giggling at me. When I make a salad I feel like a teen going to second base for the first time. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, I don't know what to do with my other hand, and I feel like I should apologize to the tomato.
Posted by Wrkn925[/QUOTE]

fellow lefty here. I'm the same way. I agree that having a great set of sharp knives really helps.

MISSCOURTNEY20 · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_things-mom-forgot-tell-growing-up?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:8b3ee5d0-8023-4235-a45c-2c2ae3734ccaPost:3517b5c1-1e20-4aac-bed4-fdf135ab75a4">Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up : fellow lefty here. I'm the same way. I agree that having a great set of sharp knives really helps.
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

Yes it does. My FH is a lefty and he is a pro at cutting anything! Knives were one of the first things he purchased when he moved in. LOL!!

lyndausvi · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_things-mom-forgot-tell-growing-up?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8b3ee5d0-8023-4235-a45c-2c2ae3734ccaPost:bb255915-d9c3-4330-8c40-d162971a526e">Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up</a>:
[QUOTE]Ok, so it's possible I just suck in the kitchen and blame my Mom and my dominate hand.... you just blew my cover.
Posted by Wrkn925[/QUOTE]

Nah... it's just harder for us. Most things are made for righties, then add a righty teacher and well it's harder for us.

I felt like an idiot the first time I had to use a manual cap opener.

Wrkn925 · September 2010

On that note, my office bought me a pair of left-handed scissors like six months ago. I'm still giddy. Only people who have spent twenty plus years using scissors that are molded for the wrong hand could understand how amazing they are.

I try to explain it to coworkers by having them use my scissors to cut with their right hand, that usually shuts em up.

zippityb · September 2010

My parents' water softener killed my guppies.

lyndausvi · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_things-mom-forgot-tell-growing-up?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8b3ee5d0-8023-4235-a45c-2c2ae3734ccaPost:ef4309de-b593-41dd-a60d-29097fba6eeb">Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up</a>:
[QUOTE]On that note, my office bought me a pair of left-handed scissors like six months ago. I'm still giddy. Only people who have spent twenty plus years using scissors that are molded for the wrong hand could understand how amazing they are. I try to explain it to coworkers by having them use my scissors to cut with their right hand, that usually shuts em up.
Posted by Wrkn925[/QUOTE]

So agree with that. My mom could never understand how I could not use scissors. I still do not think she gets it.

Wrkn925 · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_things-mom-forgot-tell-growing-up?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:8b3ee5d0-8023-4235-a45c-2c2ae3734ccaPost:035c7147-df9f-436a-803c-12afdf716d85">Re: Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up</a>:
[QUOTE]My parents' water softener killed my guppies.
Posted by zippityb[/QUOTE]

Please explain...

thesuninherhead · September 2010

Hard water? Deposits? I am so confused. I guess my mother forgot to tell me about that, too!

Meagan78 · September 2010

My Dad never taught me to check/change my oil or tire pressure and then was surprised when my car stalled out and he said "dont you check the oil every time you go to get gas?" I was like "check it for what?" Haha. I was 19 and had a very old car. Obviously not necessary for a newer one. Still, funny the things you THINK you have told your kids that you have not.

My mother and I had a very uncomfortable/unpleasant talk about sex when I was 30. Yes, 30. And divorced with a 6 year-old and dating. I won't get into the details but basically my response was "don't you think a more appropriate time to chastise me would have been when I was 20 and had my then-boyfriend (soon after first husband) sleeping over in the basement? Too little, too late, Mom!"

Things my mom forgot to tell me while growing up

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