Question: Strawberries are my family’s favourite fruit, but they are so expensive! How can I choose the best-tasting strawberries?
Answer: Choose medium-size strawberries; large strawberries might look delicious but usually have less flavour. Strawberries should appear bright red; avoid choosing berries with white shoulders as they will not turn red over time. Open the package and turn over the strawberries to check for mould and juice, this is bad. Lastly, smell the fruit, and you will know if you’ve got a winner!
Question: My furry husband has the most annoying habit of shaving his face and leaving little hairs all over the counter and sink. Any tips for avoiding this daily mess? Shaula
Answer: Some people line the sink and counter with a towel (or newspaper page). After shaving, simply put the towel in the laundry or toss away the newspaper.
Question: My grandmother made me a lovely quilt. It has white and red squares with a red band. After washing it in cold water the first time, the red bled into the white. How much bleach do you think would be safe to use to try and get the white, white again without bleaching the entire blanket? Terri-Lynn
Answer: The thought of using bleach does not sound safe to me on such a precious item. Based off of other people who shared their experiences, Biz Stain Fighter was the most successful product to use (may be purchased at Walmart or online). Use a liberal amount of Biz and let the quilt soak for several hours. Other people shared that bleeding disappeared over time through regular washing.
Question: Last week, I fried some cod fillets on the stove. Since then the odour of fish seems to permeate our house especially when you enter the house from outside. I have tried washing the floors and counters with vinegar and water as well as left the doors and windows opened for long periods of time. I have even purchased some sort of sponge container from our local store that is supposed to remove smell. Nothing seems to help. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have cooked fish before but never had this result. Leslie
Answer: Overpower the fish scent by boiling a pot of water and squeeze in the juice from three lemons, tossing in the rinds as well. Boil for 30 minutes or until your fish smell is completely gone. You can also toss cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg into your brew and boil those as well.
Question: With my arthritic fingers I can never remove plastic wrap from the roll without tearing it, I’m so frustrated. Is there a trick for removing plastic wrap with ease? Lorraine
Answer: Yes! Store plastic wrap in the fridge or the freezer and it will practically fall off of the roll. Extra tip: Help plastic wrap stick securely onto a glass bowl or plate by wetting the edge of the dish before placing plastic wrap into position.
Tips:
I use copper wire to repel slugs by winding the wire around each plant without allowing the wire to touch the plants.
— Cindy
Best remedy I have ever found to relieve mosquito bites is to rub each itch with toothpaste.
— Julia
My dog was eating his food much too fast and so I placed a tennis ball inside his big bowl. He now eats at a pace that doesn’t make him sick because it takes him longer to scoop the food into his mouth.
— Larry and Rex
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Need a Presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
