MIKE HOLMES: Is your house making you sick?

High amounts of radon, other toxins in homes can be health risks

The air inside your home plays a huge role in the way you and the rest of your family feel on a day-to-day basis. Most of us worry about the air quality outside. There are smog advisories, air-quality alerts, and it . . .

Posted: 2013-11-30

From sewing machine to steampunk cat

Unique ideas can breathe new life into antiques

It makes me shudder to think of how many beautiful old antiques, and some not so beautiful, have gone to the dump because people just didn’t see a use for them anymore. The focus of today’s column is to encourage you . . .

Posted: 2018-11-03

Got buttermilk? It's the secret to making delicious corn bread

Question: I made cornbread and it was very crumbly. What did I do wrong? I used one egg; should I use two next time? Carolyn Answer: Here are a few hints for making delicious cornbread: the first is to use buttermilk . . .

Posted: 2021-05-29

Clean duct systems to avoid mould, fires

Question: What is air duct cleaning and how often should it be done in my home? — Myron Answer: Dust, dirt, mould, pet hair and other contaminates collect in duct systems. Duct cleaning is the cleaning of heating and cooling parts of forced . . .

Posted: 2017-09-09

SOLUTIONS: Double boil distilled water for clear ice

QUESTION: I am having a dinner party next week and would like to serve cocktails. Can you tell me how to make perfectly clear ice cubes instead of white or foggy cubes? Charissa (Portage la Prairie, Man.) ANSWER: The trick is . . .

Posted: 2012-08-25

Pet fur a magnet? There is help for tops

QUESTION: I love my polar fleece tops and jackets, but they are such magnets for hair and pet fur. The hair/fur stays on the garments even after laundering. Can you suggest some kind of laundry product or method to solve . . .

Posted: 2011-12-05

REENA NERBAS: Dozens of ways to make rice

There are many stories about how and where rice came from. Most believe the roots of rice are in 3, 000 BC India, where natives discovered the plant growing in the wild and began to experiment with it. Rice is . . .

Posted: 2011-04-09

Don't let a mouse live in your house

A lot of homeowners might be starting to notice some unwanted guests. No, not the in-laws. I'm talking about pests, and mice in particular.Cold weather drives most animals and insects to find warmth, which could lead them straight to your . . .

Posted: 2013-01-12

Store tea in a dry, dark spot for optimum freshness

Question: How long does tea stay fresh before it goes bad? Should I refrigerate tea? AsimeAnswer: Although tea will gradually lose flavour over time, if properly stored away from air, light and moisture it will not go bad and has . . .

Posted: 2016-06-11

CONNIE OLIVER: Refresh your bathroom without any nightmares

Dated bathrooms are a common and bothersome home-décor problem. A complete overhaul can be expensive and inconvenient, so homeowners often put off doing any changes at all, keeping their bathrooms in the design Dark Ages. Gutting a bathroom isn't always necessary . . .

Posted: 2012-09-08