Cleaning Tips for the Kitchen

• For more effective dishwashing, add a few tablespoons of vinegar along with the dishwashing detergent when washing dishes. The vinegar cuts the grease and leaves dishes sparkling.

• To clean up spills in your oven, sprinkle the spills immediately with salt. When the oven has cooled, brush away the burnt-on food with a damp sponge.

• To disinfect smelly sponges, wash sponge thoroughly, then microwave it while it is wet, for a short period. When you see steam from the sponge, the bacteria in the sponge will be dead. Remove carefully, it will be hot! Wash the sponge thoroughly before use. **Make sure the sponge has no metal components!**

• To remove hard-water and lime build-up in a teapot or kettle, pour in two cups of vinegar and bring to a boil. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, then rinse well.

• To remove mineral deposits in a tea pot or burnt spots on a coffee pot, put some ice cubes, cut-up lemon, and salt with a tad water and swish around and let sit overnight.

• To whiten an old stained sink , poor a half cup of salt in it and then scrub it with a lemon. Let it stand for a few minutes and rinse.

• To remove skid marks on linoleum rub the spot with toothpaste before washing the floor.

• To keep your plastic containers from getting stained from tomato based foods, rub the inside with vegetable oil before placing the food in the container.

• Kitchen surfaces: Mix in spray bottle, 1 part ammonia to 3 parts water. Or try diluted bleach solution in a spray bottle. It will remove stains AND disinfect.

• Removing kitchen and food odors: Soak pure vanilla on a cotton ball and place in a saucer. Put the saucer in the car or refrigerator to remove odors. Keep cotton ball out of reach of children as it contains some alcohol.

• Odor producing mold and bacteria in garbage cans: sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can.

• Cleaning coffee maker: Pour straight vinegar into it as if you are making the coffee, no filter is need. Turn coffee maker on as if you were making a pot of coffee. Repeat this with a new batch of vinegar until it runs clear of calcium deposits.

Rio de Janeiro Declared World Heritage Site

The landscapes of Rio de Janeiro have been entered onto the World Heritage List, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said.

The decision regarding the Brazilian city was adopted by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in Russia's second-largest city.

Rio de Janeiro, Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea was the only Latin American site aspiring to be included on the list at the current meeting.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said that the UNESCO designation was a "reason for pride for all of Brazil" and an incentive to continue with Rio's "revitalization."

In a communique the head of state added that the designation comes at a time when the city has proven that it has "management competence and capacity to host important national and international events," including the recent U.N. conference on sustainable development.

In addition, she noted that Rio will be one of the sites for the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

The UNESCO panel, which is tasked with ensuring fulfillment of the tenets enshrined in the 1972 World Heritage Convention, is made up of representatives of 21 countries elected by the signatory nations.

At the beginning of the 36th session of the Committee, which will last until July 6, the World Heritage List included 725 sites in 153 countries.

Happy Birthday, America!

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the “land of the free and the home of the brave” so they can begin their American Dream.

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Through the Internet we are learning about and communicating with people of different nations, with different languages and different races throughout the world. Bringing the world closer with understanding and knowledge can only benefit all nations.