GiGi who is now 88 and lives with us uses the microwave to make tea.

She will make the tea then heat and re-heat the tea as she lets it get cold.
The "tea vapor" has now stained the interior which I seem to be able to
bleach out with lemon juice. Something, the spilled tea or the vapor has
now caused the paint under the rollers to start chipping leaving the bare
metal which is now rusting and is really gross. It also causes the rollers
to "stick".

If I let her know she'd be mortified so I'm just replacing the unit -
they're cheap 1000 watts about $60.00.

Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any interiors
that are plastic? Damn EPA and their paint/fumes/solvent regulations.

Thanks

Dimitri

>"Dimiri"
>
>GiGi who is now 88 and lives with us uses the microwave to make tea.
>
>She will make the tea then heat and re-heat the tea as she lets it get cold.
>The "tea vapor" has now stained the interior which I seem to be able to
>bleach out with lemon juice. Something, the spilled tea or the vapor has
>now caused the paint under the rollers to start chipping leaving the bare
>metal which is now rusting and is really gross. It also causes the rollers
>to "stick".
>
>If I let her know she'd be mortified so I'm just replacing the unit -
>they're cheap 1000 watts about $60.00.
>
>Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any interiors
>that are plastic? Damn EPA and their paint/fumes/solvent regulations.

Simply reheating tea did not damage the oven interior, as only water vapor
(pure water) would evaporate. Most likely the tea is being made to boil
violently which would spatter the oven interior... this would occur regardless
the unit. You need to find some other method for maintaining hot tea...
perhaps one of those cheapo mini cup warmer tray-like thingies... although I
don't think those are very safe either as they don't shut off automatically.
Perhaps she needs an in-home aid... before she has a terible accident. At some
point it becomes gross negligence by abandonment not to have the aged in your
charge properly cared for.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

Dimiri wrote:

> Something, the spilled tea or the vapor has now caused
> the paint under the rollers to start chipping leaving the bare
> metal which is now rusting and is really gross. It also causes
> the rollers to "stick".

What rollers? Are we talking about a microwave oven
or one of those old-fashioned clothes washers with a
wringer?

At many Oriental food stores, if they have a ceramics
section, you can get a tea cup (more like a mug, actually)
with a lid on it. That could handle splashing of tea
caused by boiling, if that's your problem. If not,
you could try teaching her not to re-heat tea in the
clothes washer.

My tea cup has both a lid and a perforated insert
for brewing tea from loose leaves. The insert doesn't
work worth a darn, but I use the lid to hold the hot
vapor in the cup while steeping.

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 15:07:41 GMT, "Dimiri" >
wrote:

>GiGi who is now 88 and lives with us uses the microwave to make tea.
>
>She will make the tea then heat and re-heat the tea as she lets it get cold.
>The "tea vapor" has now stained the interior which I seem to be able to
>bleach out with lemon juice. Something, the spilled tea or the vapor has
>now caused the paint under the rollers to start chipping leaving the bare
>metal which is now rusting and is really gross. It also causes the rollers
>to "stick".
>
>If I let her know she'd be mortified so I'm just replacing the unit -
>they're cheap 1000 watts about $60.00.
>
>Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any interiors
>that are plastic? Damn EPA and their paint/fumes/solvent regulations.
>
>Thanks
>
>Dimitri
>

Many of them have all plastic interiors these days. You will not have
difficulty finding one. Sears, Target, Costco or the like will
generally have a large enough selection that you will be able to find
an inexpensive one that fits your needs.

My only other mention is to be sure that the microwave is placed to be
easily reachable for GiGi, so there is no danger of her spilling hot
liquid on herself. As someone with arthritis that can make even
simple tasks difficult to do, I have come to understand how tricky or
uncomfortable many everyday kitchen actions can be for the elderly. I
just squawk until a work-around is found, but some folks do not want
to feel incapable or a burden and so keep mum. Bravo to you for your
kindly considerations towards her feelings.

Boron

On 12/22/2004 10:07 AM Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these
great (and sometimes not so great) words of knowledge:


> GiGi who is now 88 and lives with us uses the microwave to make tea.
>
> She will make the tea then heat and re-heat the tea as she lets it get cold.
> The "tea vapor" has now stained the interior which I seem to be able to
> bleach out with lemon juice. Something, the spilled tea or the vapor has
> now caused the paint under the rollers to start chipping leaving the bare
> metal which is now rusting and is really gross. It also causes the rollers
> to "stick".
>
> If I let her know she'd be mortified so I'm just replacing the unit -
> they're cheap 1000 watts about $60.00.
>
> Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any interiors
> that are plastic? Damn EPA and their paint/fumes/solvent regulations.
>
> Thanks
>
> Dimitri
>
>

You may also want to investigate a "cup warmer" to keep her tea hot. I
have seen them at Wal-Mart for about $3.00 and, unfortunately, I can not
remember where else, for about $8.00 with an adjustable timer so the
unit shuts off after a specified period of time.

Considering the person's age, the warmer with the timer would probably
be the best bet.

On 2004-12-22, Dimiri > wrote:

> Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any interiors

Have you considered a thermos?

nb

In article >,
"Dimiri" > wrote:

> GiGi who is now 88 and lives with us uses the microwave to make tea.
>
> She will make the tea then heat and re-heat the tea as she lets it get cold.
> The "tea vapor" has now stained the interior which I seem to be able to
> bleach out with lemon juice. Something, the spilled tea or the vapor has
> now caused the paint under the rollers to start chipping leaving the bare
> metal which is now rusting and is really gross. It also causes the rollers
> to "stick".
>
> If I let her know she'd be mortified so I'm just replacing the unit -
> they're cheap 1000 watts about $60.00.
>
> Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any interiors
> that are plastic? Damn EPA and their paint/fumes/solvent regulations.

Why not just cover the tea cup lightly and make sure there's enough room
in the cup for the steam to expand? Alternatively, get one of those
little hot plates that's designed to heat a cup with a hot beverage
instead of nuking the tea in a microwave oven to warm it.

Stan Horwitz wrote:

> Why not just cover the tea cup lightly and make sure there's enough room
> in the cup for the steam to expand? Alternatively, get one of those
> little hot plates that's designed to heat a cup with a hot beverage
> instead of nuking the tea in a microwave oven to warm it.

Try one of those push top dispensers...I see the non-industrial kind at
Asian markets, usually white with some pink flowers on it. Make a thingy
of tea, and then just pump out more into your cup. If your dear old pal
is capable of using microwave, she'll be able to use this. Stays hot
hours.
blacksalt

Stan Horwitz > wrote in
:

> In article >,
> "Dimiri" > wrote:
>
> > GiGi who is now 88 and lives with us uses the microwave to make
> > tea.
> >
> > She will make the tea then heat and re-heat the tea as she lets it
> > get cold. The "tea vapor" has now stained the interior which I
> > seem to be able to bleach out with lemon juice. Something, the
> > spilled tea or the vapor has now caused the paint under the
> > rollers to start chipping leaving the bare metal which is now
> > rusting and is really gross. It also causes the rollers to
> > "stick".
> >
> > If I let her know she'd be mortified so I'm just replacing the
> > unit - they're cheap 1000 watts about $60.00.
> >
> > Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any
> > interiors that are plastic? Damn EPA and their
> > paint/fumes/solvent regulations.
>
> Why not just cover the tea cup lightly and make sure there's enough
> room in the cup for the steam to expand? Alternatively, get one of
> those little hot plates that's designed to heat a cup with a hot
> beverage instead of nuking the tea in a microwave oven to warm it.
>

If GiGi wouldn't be mortified...suggest a double walled thermo plastic
coffee cup of the type availible at better 7-11s world-wide. These come
in varying sizes, with lids and keep liquids warm for fairly long
periods.

--
Starchless in Manitoba.
Type 2 Diabetic 1AC 5.6mmol or 101mg/dl

Stan Horwitz > wrote in
:

> In article >,
> "Dimiri" > wrote:
>
> > GiGi who is now 88 and lives with us uses the microwave to make
> > tea.
> >
> > She will make the tea then heat and re-heat the tea as she lets it
> > get cold. The "tea vapor" has now stained the interior which I
> > seem to be able to bleach out with lemon juice. Something, the
> > spilled tea or the vapor has now caused the paint under the
> > rollers to start chipping leaving the bare metal which is now
> > rusting and is really gross. It also causes the rollers to
> > "stick".
> >
> > If I let her know she'd be mortified so I'm just replacing the
> > unit - they're cheap 1000 watts about $60.00.
> >
> > Similar problems and solutions are very welcome. Are there any
> > interiors that are plastic? Damn EPA and their
> > paint/fumes/solvent regulations.
>
> Why not just cover the tea cup lightly and make sure there's enough
> room in the cup for the steam to expand? Alternatively, get one of
> those little hot plates that's designed to heat a cup with a hot
> beverage instead of nuking the tea in a microwave oven to warm it.
>

If GiGi wouldn't be mortified...suggest a double walled thermo plastic
coffee cup of the type availible at better 7-11s world-wide. These come
in varying sizes, with lids and keep liquids warm for fairly long
periods.

--
Starchless in Manitoba.
Type 2 Diabetic 1AC 5.6mmol or 101mg/dl