As far as I know, Consan is not systemic, so I think that would keep it from being very effective against Puccinia malvacearum. I use the similar product, Physan 20, on my zinnias, primarily as an aid in sterilizing pots and trays. (Some hospitals use it in their mop water.) I also have used it as a drench for germinating seedlings, but its efficacy in that application is unproven. They say that the best defense is a good offense. Following that philosophy, I think we need a systemic fungicide that kills Puccinia malvacearum. There are a few systemic fungicides (I use Tebuconazole on my zinnias) and they have a lot of advantages over surface fungicides like sulfur. The systemics stay inside the plant and are not washed off by rain. Even a heavy dew can wash off some surface fungicides, like the potassium-bicarbonate-based GreenCure (which I still use from time to time, because it is so non-toxic). The systemics also protect new growth, which is completely unprotected by a previous surface sprayed product. The systemics do need to be re-applied on my rapidly growing zinnias, simply because their plant volume increases significantly, which dilutes the existing systemic. I usually reapply systemics on my crucial extra-choice breeder zinnias every two or three weeks to compensate for their continually increasing sap volume. My original tubular-petaled "mutant" zinnia got a biweekly application of Bayer All-In-One Rose & Flower Care throughout its extra-long lifetime, giving it at least double the lifetime of a "normal" zinnia. I don't know if there is a systemic effective against Puccinia malvacearum, but if I were growing hollyhocks, I would be looking for one. ZM

I was beyond distraught when I walked into my bathroom to see that the cap of a bathroom cleaner had been left on the front edge of my copper sink. There was a bright, shiny, copper 1 1/2" circle on my beautiful sink I immediately jumped on the internet to find a solution (it was 2am). Thank goodness for the person who suggested using 1/4 cup of ammonia and one teaspoon of salt mixed together. I applied the mixture with a Q-tip just around the circle. I did this every few hours for 12 hours and you can hardly see the ring!! I'll continue to do it and then put a protected coating on it. Thanks to the person who suggested using home products I had in my house in the middle of the night!!!

My favorite storage place for canned goods in jars is in the pantry space beneath the staircase. It is in the very center of the house and stays pretty dark and pretty cool and not real humid. An interior closet works almost as well, but in our house, that means carrying everything upstairs to use a closet in a spare bedroom. Some years I have used the in-ground tornado shelter, though it works best for stuff you are canning in autumn after the worst of the heat is already over....and you need to use them up before the following summer arrives. I do like the tornado shelter for autumn-harvested winter squash, but then, we do not get very cold down here in winter. I don't know if it would work as well in zone 6 as it does in zone 7b.

You can wax them when you're done cleaning. Carnauba car wax is pretty good on metal and won't hurt anything. (Don't get the type that buffs out scratches.)