QUESTION: I am having trouble getting the smell of cauliflower out of my fridge. I have washed the fridge with vinegar and now have a dish of lemon juice and vinegar inside. I also have two boxes of baking soda on the shelves. Do you have any more suggestions for me to try? I would appreciate any help, as the odour is horrendous.
Thanks — Lois
Answer: All you need is cake and coffee. Well, maybe I’d better explain what I mean. We all know that cauliflower is a healthy veggie — personally I love it served hot with sautéed bread crumbs sprinkled on top.
This yummy winter delight contains a powerful phytonutrient called sulforaphane, which helps the body’s natural defence systems protect against disease.
In the meantime, the same sulphur compounds that are good for us give off an unpleasant smell. This is what you are now battling.
Use the vanilla that you bake cakes with to wipe down the fridge (the first step in freshening the fridge). Next, pour coffee grounds onto an open plate to absorb any lingering odours. The fridge should once again be a welcome part of your home. Other options are to leave a bowl of charcoal briquettes in the fridge or a pan of kitty litter (you will still need to wipe the walls and shelves with vanilla).
Question: The tile backsplash directly behind the stove has grease marks. Any solutions?
— Ben
Answer: There are products on the market designed specifically for cleaning beautiful tile. Here are suggestions in case you do not have access to commercial products:
Begin with a combination of dish soap and water, scrub with a non-scratching abrasive cloth. Next, make a paste of baking soda and three per cent hydrogen-peroxide, scrub with a non-scratching abrasive cloth. Worst-case scenario: clean the area with household ammonia (test on an inconspicuous area first).
Friendly Manitobans Share
â Tackle ChapStick on fabrics by dabbing waterless hand cleaner onto the area. Rub gently and wash as usual. Hang to dry. For ChapStick stains that have gone through the washer and dryer, soak the clothes in hot water and Oxy Clean or soak each garment separately in a half-cup of Arm & Hammer washing soda and enough hot water to cover the clothes for 30 minutes. Wash as usual. Air dry. Repeat until stains are gone.
— Cam
â Speaking of ChapStick. Rub ChapStick on paper cuts to stop the pain immediately and heal the cut.
— Cam
â Keep breading on meat during frying by adding a half-teaspoon of sugar to the batter.
— Angela
â To grab the full benefits of flax seed in recipes, grind the flax in a coffee grinder. Add ground flax to cereals, muffin and cake recipes. Flax is high in alpha-linolenic acid, which is a type of plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid, similar to that found in salmon.
— Mimi
â Bang most cake pans filled with cake batter firmly against the countertop in order to eliminate any large air bubbles that may have formed. Do not do this with angel food cake, sponge cake or cakes with fruit or nuts in them.
— Amy
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.
Have a great suggestion or tip? Please send an email to reena.ca. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups. Check out her website at reena.ca.
