Question: How do I clean coffee stains from ceramic and glass cups? Ivan, Winnipeg
Answer: Denture tablets are fantastic at cleaning coffee-stained mugs. Drop one tablet into the ceramic and/or glass cups, fill with hot water, leave overnight and wipe with a non-scratching abrasive pad. The combination of one teaspoon baking soda and one cup vinegar is also effective at cleaning coffee stains.
Extra Tip: Effervescent denture tablets are a good cleaner for fingers or fingernails yellowed by smoking. Soak fingers in a dish with one denture tablet dissolved in 250 millilitres of water. Denture tablets also clean combs and jewelry, whiten linens and remove clothing stains.
Question: I have a framed picture of my granddaughter and for Christmas I received a new photo of her. I want to put the new photo in the same frame. However, I found the cleaning lady must have inadvertently got some water on the picture and now the photo is stuck to the glass. I cannot get them apart. I hope you have a solution for me. Bob, Winnipeg
Answer: Unfortunately, the success rate of removing a photo stuck to glass is not great. Some people have shared that heating the photo with a hair dryer is pretty effective at loosening the glue. Others had success submersing the image in water to release the glue, but the paper quality is compromised. Dental floss is another option used by professional photo restorers to gently lift the photo off the glass. You would be wise to use your phone, camera or scanner to take a new copy of the photo stuck on the frame. That way if the photo tears, you will still have the image in your possession.
Question: Any idea how to clean off the strands of glue that have attached themselves to the glue gun itself? Thanks. Lorrie, Winnipeg
Answer: Glue guns have one enemy: water. Wipe the gun with a wet cloth and the glue gun strands will release.
Question: My husband got Krazy Glue on his brand-new dark denim jeans. We tried using acetone-based nail polish remover, but it didn't work. Can you suggest anything else? The jeans were expensive enough that we are willing to go to a dry cleaner. Thank you in advance. Jennifer, Winnipeg
Answer: The bad news is Krazy Glue is difficult and usually impossible to remove from clothing. You were absolutely smart about using acetone; if that didn't work you may literally be stuck with the mess. Soak the jeans in water overnight; in the morning pour nail polish with acetone on the glue. Use a plastic putty knife to lift the glue. This is risky because it may damage the jeans. However, if you can't wear the jeans, you probably have nothing to lose. The good news: your husband may have denim shorts for the summer of 2016.
Feedback from Manitobans:
Re: Perfect Pizza
Dear Reena, I had to respond to the advice you gave about proper pizza preparation. I preheat my pizza stone, then take it out of the oven and add my crust to the stone. I leave it on the stone about 30 seconds and build the pizza on it. I put the pizza on the stone into the 500 F (260 C) oven and cook on the lowest rack for up to 10 minutes -- a full 30 minutes less than your advice. Anonymous
Re: Slicing Pizza
A recent edition asked if you had any ideas about how to cut pizza without damaging the pan. Forty-plus years ago my sister-in-law told me to use kitchen scissors to cut pizza. I am very surprised many do not know of this marvellous trick.
Thank you, Leslie
Handy Tip of the Week
To clean a coffee grinder, drop a handful of uncooked rice into the grinder and grind for a few seconds.
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
