The simplest and easiest way to remove a tough stain is to apply cold water to the tainted area. Blot the stain with a dry towel first to avoid rubbing the stain deeper into the carpet. Dampen a clean white towel and gently work the towel into the stain and then blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat these steps until the stain is gone. Never scrub your Berber carpet. You will damage the fibers and cause fuzziness and snags. Blot from the outer edge of the stain toward the center of the stain. This prevents you from spreading the stain and making it larger. If water is not working, try a cleaning solution. You can purchase a cleaning solution that is formulated for cleaning carpets or you can make your own using vinegar and water. Mix white vinegar and water using a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water. For example, mix 1 tablespoon (15ml) of vinegar with 5 tablespoons (74ml) of water. Test whatever cleaner you use in a small area before you apply it to the rest of the carpet. Try it out in an area that is not visible such as under a piece of furniture or a rug. If it causes damage to your carpet, you can cover it up. Do not use any cleaners that contain detergent or soap. This will result in a soapy residue that you will not be able to remove from the carpet. This residue may also attract dirt. Follow the same steps you used when treating the stain with water only. Baking soda can be used to get rid of the moisture you created while removing the stain. If the liquid has not penetrated your carpet and caused a stain, you can skip the previous steps and only use baking soda to clean up the spill. Cover the spill with baking soda. The baking soda should ball up as it absorbs the liquid. Wait for at least 20 seconds and then vacuum up the baking soda. Repeat this process until the baking soda no longer balls up. You can also blot the area with a clean dry towel. Don't let the baking soda sit for too long so the stain doesn't absorb into the carpet. Berber is tightly woven and retains more moisture than other types of carpet so it will take it longer to dry. Follow-up any stain treatment with a good dry vacuuming. Vacuuming will remove any excess dampness. Berber carpet's varying depth and intricacies make it easy for water to settle and possibly lead to unhealthy mold accumulating in your carpet. Vacuuming up any dampness is a sure way to prevent this from happening. Vacuuming will also speed up the drying time. Use slow, steady movements as you vacuum the carpet. Rough vacuuming may damage the carpet fibers. If you notice that the stain has reappeared after you vacuum, treat the stain again with water or cleaning solution.

Summary: Try water first. Use a cleaning solution. Pour baking soda to absorb the liquid. Vacuum immediately after treating the stain.

Kidney stones are generally very small and can occur without any symptoms. The symptoms start when the stone gets large enough to block the kidneys, block the ureter (tube leading from the kidneys), or if they have caused an infection. The main symptoms is pain, which is generally: Severe but usually intermittent Sharp or stabbing Localized in your back, usually along the edges of your back, in your lower abdomen, or in your groin. The pain placement will depend on where the stone is sitting in your urinary tract. Although pain is the most common and consistent symptom, there are other symptoms that you may experience with kidney stones. This will depend on how large the stone is and how it is affecting you. If you experience any of the following, contact your doctor immediately: Nausea Vomiting Sweating Bloody, cloudy, or foul-smelling urine Fever Pain while urinating Extreme pain in your back or lower abdomen that won't go away Kidney stones are a very common condition that can affect anyone at any time. This condition affects around 5% of the population at some point in their lifetime, though this number is on the rise. You are most at risk for kidney stones if you are a white male between the ages of 40 and 70 and white women from age 50 to 70. Despite this high risk, the number of cases of kidney stones in young adult patients has doubled in the last 25 years. Though no clear cause has been discovered, researchers believe this has been caused by obesity, weight issues, or the increase in the consumption of soft drinks. Other risk factors include a history of kidney stones in your family, your diet, some medications, taking more than 2 g of vitamin C a day, history of kidney disease, and your ethnic background. White males are three times more likely to get kidney stones than African-American men. Once you go to the doctor, she will ask you for a history of your symptoms, check you for current symptoms, and take a urine sample. This sample will undergo laboratory analysis to check the levels of minerals and other substances in your urine. Before proceeding with treatment, your doctor will need to confirm that you are suffering from kidney stones and not something else. Your doctor may also order some imaging techniques, such as x-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans.

Summary: Recognize the pain of kidney stones. Notice severe symptoms. Know the risks. Diagnose kidney stones.

Fill a bucket with warm water, and add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of liquid dish soap. Swish the soap around in the water to make suds. Dip a stiff-bristled brush into the soapy water and scrub the moldy surface with the brush. Re-dip the brush regularly and scrub until the area is saturated with suds. Rinse the area with water. Pre-scrubbing the mold will help break up the surface so that you can penetrate to the roots with your cleaner and kill the mold. There are a number of cleaning solutions and products you can use to clean mold. The most effective will be a commercial biocide or antimicrobial cleaner, which is specifically designed to kill mold. There are other cleaning solutions you can try that have proven effective, including: Equal parts ammonia and water 1 cup (235 ml) of bleach mixed with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water Pure distilled vinegar 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of tea tree oil and 1 cup (235 ml) of water Equal parts baking soda and water, mixed into a paste in a bowl One part hydrogen peroxide mixed with two parts water 1 cup (409 g) of borax dissolved in 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water cup (102 g) of borax dissolved in cup (118 ml) of vinegar and 4 cups (940 ml) of warm water For liquid solutions, spray generous amounts of cleaner on the moldy surface that you pre-scrubbed. For pastes, apply the paste to the affected area with a knife, brush, or old tooth brush. Let the cleaner stand for about 15 minutes. This will give it time to penetrate the mold and kill it all the way to the roots, which will prevent it from growing back. When the cleaner has had time to soak in, scrub the surface with a stiff-bristled brush. This will help dislodge the mold and work the cleaner in even farther. You can use an non-abrasive scrubbing pad to scrub the area as well. To remove any leftover mold and cleaner, rinse the area with clean water. When the mold and cleaner are gone, wipe the area dry with a towel or a squeegee. This will remove excess moisture and prevent the mold from growing back. Mold can start growing on a damp surface within 24 hours, which is why it's important to keep the area dry after cleaning. Mold can be notoriously difficult to clean, especially in hard to reach places and on certain materials, such as dry wall and other porous materials. There are times when it's best to call a mold removal professional, including if: Your cleaning effort wasn't effective The affected area is larger than 10 square feet (3 square meters) You suspect there's mold in your heating, cooling, or ventilation system You have any health concerns about the mold The mold problem was caused by contaminated water or sewage
Summary: Scrub the affected area with soapy water. Mix your cleaning solution. Apply cleaner and let it soak. Scrub porous materials. Rinse and dry the area. Know when to call a professional.