QUESTION: Help! My blond hair has turned green from the chlorine in my sister's indoor swimming pool. -- Jessica, Boissevain, Man.
ANSWER: When you combine high levels of copper in pool water with chlorine bleach, you'll leave Oscar the Grouch begging to be friends. Solution? Wash your hair in ketchup or a jar of tomato sauce and bring it back to its original blond. Shampoo and condition as usual.
QUESTION: I have had problems lately with two different types of spray bottles -- they no longer spray out the ingredients in the bottle.
One type is the No Name Windex-type spray bottle -- large plastic bottle with fairly large trigger gun handle. I have tried running the trigger under warm water; no results. Is there a solution for reactivating the trigger? I can easily remove the contents since the top does unscrew.
The second bottle is a small glass bottle with a small, round button spray (typical for a perfume bottle). I cannot remove the top to empty the contents into another bottle and because it is glass, I am not sure how to safely remove the top without breaking the glass and spilling the ingredients (air freshener). Is there a particular solution I could soak it in? I would love any ideas of how to get both sprayers to work. -- Shelley, faithful reader from Winnipeg
ANSWER: You are right: Certain spray bottles have a high tendency to clog and not work properly. If the top is not made for removal, you are best off not to force the issue. Hold the nozzle under warm running water, then remove the residue with a toothpick. Gently scrape away any debris that is lodged in the hole. Soak the sprayer in vinegar for a few hours. Poke a hole with a pin or toothpick once again. You can also try blowing air through the hole or scrub the spray-nozzle hole with dish soap and an old toothbrush. NOTE: Be careful when refilling bottles; some chemicals, such as bleach and ammonia, should not mix together, even in small quantities!
QUESTION: We are having a debate about veggies: Which are better -- frozen or fresh? I thought frozen and fresh was the same. You have a great column and website. Thank you so much. -- Jerry, Komarno, Man.
ANSWER: In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed that frozen fruits and vegetables provide the same essential nutrients and health benefits as fresh. Frozen fruits and vegetables are fresh fruits and vegetables that have been blanched and frozen within hours of being picked. Furthermore, frozen fruits and vegetables are processed at their peak in times of freshness and nutrition.
Feedback from Manitoban
Your recent column had a letter from "Jo" about her problem with the broadloom at her entrance door curling up and not laying properly. We had the same problem with the carpet at our front door, so we went to Office Depot and bought a 45" x 60" vinyl (clear plastic) office mat that is used under office chairs. We were able to cut this to fit (it has "pokey" things on the bottom to hold it in place). This helps us over summer, but for winter months we went to Staples and bought a 34" x 46" brown (they also come in black) rubber-backed mat for on top of the vinyl. What a difference it has made. These are both thin enough not to affect the door opening, but if the door drags, the bottom can be trimmed off a bit. Hope you can let "Jo" know there is hope. -- Barb
Fabulous tip of the week
To store rolls of gift wrap, use an empty wine box. The dividers help hold the rolls upright in a relatively small space. You can store the box in the guest-room closet or basement.
Reena Nerbas is a Manitoba based professional speaker and author of the national best selling series Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets, and Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives. I enjoy your questions and tips; keep them coming! Check out my website:
www.householdsolutions.org
