The treatments below are potentially strong enough to damage or discolor your carpet. Always test them on a small, hidden spot of your carpet first. Let them sit for at least 15 minutes, or until dry, then check for damage. Silk and wool carpets are notoriously easy to damage, and you may not even want to risk a corner. Consider hiring a professional instead. Scrape a butter knife across the carpet fibers to remove flecks of dried blood. This gives you a head start on heavy spills, but won't do the trick by itself. This is not recommended for valuable carpets. This chemical breaks down proteins in the blood stain, making it easier to remove. Mix this with an equal amount of cold water, then dab onto the stain. Let sit 1530 minutes, then blot with a clean towel. Rinse off with a drop of liquid detergent mixed into cold water. Avoid flavored meat tenderizer, which can create new stains. This may break down fibers in wool or silk carpets, since these also contain animal protein. Hydrogen peroxide lightens the color of your carpet fibers, hiding the stain. Wet the stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let dry in a well-lit room, and it will break down with no further need for rinsing. This is a risky method for carpets with dark or vivid colors, but much safer than using bleach. Most drugstores sell 3% hydrogen peroxide. If your bottle is more concentrated, dilute some to 3% strength. (For instance, mix one part 9% hydrogen peroxide with two parts cold water.) Ammonia is highly effective, but may discolor the carpet and damage wool or silk. While you can use the ammonia treatment by itself, it is most effective following ordinary detergent: Mix 2 teaspoons (10 mL) shampoo or liquid dishwashing detergent in 1 cup (240 mL) water. Spray on carpet and let sit for five minutes. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) household ammonia in 1 cup (240 mL) room temperature water. Take care not to inhale ammonia fumes. Blot shampoo dry, then spray on ammonia. Let sit five minutes, then blot dry again. Spray on water and blot dry, to rinse. Commercial enzyme cleaners break down the complex chemicals found in blood and other organic stains. Apply according to label instructions, typically by spraying over the stain, letting it sit, then blotting dry. These are often sold as pet urine removers. Some environmentally friendly laundry detergents contain enzyme cleaners, but use these only if you can't find a product designed for carpets. These products may not work as well at cold or very hot temperatures. Do not apply to wool or silk carpets, since the cleaner may break them down along with the blood. Once the stain is removed, set up an electric fan blowing over the wet area, or open the windows and doors to create a breeze. This speeds up drying, which reduces the chance of hidden blood in the backing rising to the surface. Your carpet fiber may feel stiff or crusty once it dries. A quick use of a vacuum or carpet brush should restore it to its original feel.

Summary: Test each treatment on a hidden area first. Brush with a dull knife (optional). Apply unflavored meat tenderizer. Wet the tufts with hydrogen peroxide. Soak in shampoo, then ammonia. Use an enzyme cleaner. Dry the carpet in an area with good air flow. Vacuum or brush the carpet.

There are three types of fountain pens on the market today: cartridge, converter, and piston. The different types refer to the different ink delivery methods, and the method will determine how you refill your pen when the ink runs out. Cartridge pens are the most common today, and they are the easiest to refill. To write with this type of pen, you simply purchase pre-filled ink cartridges, so when one runs out, all you do is replace the cartridge. Converter cartridges are reusable cartridges that get inserted into a cartridge pen. These are great for people who don't mind refilling the ink and don't want to throw away a cartridge every time the ink runs out. Piston pens are similar to converter cartridges, but the pen comes with its own built-in refilling system, so you don't have to replace the reusable cartridge with a separately purchased converter. Remove the cap from the nib, and, if necessary, the cap off the back of the pen that covers the end knob. Twist the knob (most likely in a counter-clockwise direction) to extend the piston toward the front of the pen. When that's done: Dip the entire nib into an ink jar, making sure to cover the hole on the back of the nib. Turn the piston knob in a clockwise direction to draw ink into the chamber. When the chamber is full, pull the pen out of the ink. Turn the piston in a counter-clockwise direction again and let a few drops of ink back into the bottle. This will help remove air bubbles. Clean the nib with a cloth to remove any excess ink. Converters work in one of two ways, either with a piston mechanism or an air-bladder mechanism (also called squeeze converters). To refill an air-bladder pen, dip the nib into the ink bottle and: Slowly press the converter at the back of the pen, and wait for air bubbles to appear in the ink. Slowly release the converter and wait for the ink to be drawn into the chamber. Repeat until the chamber is full.

Summary: Determine what kind of fountain pen you have. Refill ink in a piston pen. Refill the ink in a converter cartridge.

Psychic vampires come in a variety of forms. Relationships that drain our energy can manifest in a variety of personality types. Recognize the various forms psychic vampires can take. Narcissistic psychic vampires have grandiose senses of self importance and entitlement. They tend to lack empathy and become withholding or cold if you don't do things their way. This is because they have little to no capacity for unconditional love. Victim vampires tend to see the world through the lens of "poor me." They believe the world is inherently against them and to blame for their unhappiness. They tend to drain energy by constantly complaining about problems but refusing to try any potential solutions you suggest. Alternatively, they may act as a martyr, claiming that they do things for others but are never appreciated. Controlling energy vampires have a need to control and manipulate your actions. They often invalidate your emotions in order to dominate you or put you down. Constant talking psychic vampires take over conversations by constantly sharing their own feelings and experiences without giving you an opportunity to contribute. They might also invade physical boundaries, moving in so close you can feel their breath on you. Drama queen psychic vampires drain energy by exaggerating small instances. Being late for a meeting is the end of the world, and they convey small matters in a way that over-inflates their own importance, for better or worse. Take a minute to assess your relationship with potential psychic vampires. Question whether or not you feel drained by these people and whether the relationship is mutually beneficial. Are you mentally and physically exhausted after spending time with this person? Psychic vampires will leave you feeling deflated. Are you the type of person who has a strong capacity for empathy? Oftentimes, psychic vampires take advantage of those with a high emotional capacity as they take longer to get fed up. Are you the type of person who's accused of being too nice? Do you frequently find yourself in relationships that feel one-sided? If a relationship seems draining, question whether it's mutually beneficial for both parties. Psychic vampires thrive on one-sided friendships and romances. Think of the last time you were in emotional distress. Was this person there for you? Did he or she strive to listen or make the situation about themselves? If you've encountered a psychic vampire, there are physical and emotional side effects. You might have a relationship with an energy vampire if you display any of the following symptoms: Heavy eyelids and an increased need for sleep Decreasing levels of self-confidence or self-esteem Questioning your choices, feelings, and behaviors Low mood Desire to binge eat carbs and other comfort foods Feelings of anxiety, depression, and negativity You feel put down frequently
Summary: Familiarize yourself with the various types of psychic vampires. Evaluate your relationships. Tune in to your own feelings.