Question: A banging sound woke me up at 5 a.m. every day this week; I now realize that a woodpecker is pecking my satellite dish. What can I do to stop him? I can’t sleep (the words BB gun come to mind). Thanks, Alfred
Answer: Although I understand you need your sleep and the sound is annoying (for not only you, but your neighbors as well), please don’t shoot the bird. Yes, he loves hearing the tapping sound he creates, but he will eventually go away on his own. Here are a few suggestions to speed up the result: mount a plastic owl as close as possible to the dish or cover the dish with cloth, mesh or wire in a way that won’t hinder the signal. Or mount a pole near the dish with strips of garbage bags so the strips move with the wind.
Question: Our golden chenille type couch had a stain on the inside of the arm. My husband wiped it off with a damp cloth. Now we can’t get rid of the water stain circle where the old stain was. Help, this is a gorgeous and very expensive couch. What can we do? Elaine
Answer: Take an old rag and dampen it with white vinegar. Wipe the entire couch with the cloth so that it blends together. Air dry, and the stain will soon be a distant memory.
Question: Do you have a solution to stop my carpet from sliding on top of another carpet? Rubber rings just don’t do it. Thanks, A.
Answer: Here are a few options beginning with my least favorite to my favorite: 1) Apply Velcro strips or double sided tape to both the carpet and the area rug to hold it in place. 2) There is an online product called Ruggies (quite inexpensive), these little rubber shapes are designed to suction grip carpet on top of carpet, while preventing corners from curling. 3) Under-rug mats are made for carpets and are available at flooring and home hardware stores (somewhat expensive). 4) Purchase a roll of rubber shelf liner. Cut the liner to fit and place it underneath the rug (cheap).
Question: Even though I always add two or three eggs, whenever I make hamburger patties for barbequing, they fall apart. What am I doing wrong? Kurt
Answer: Is it possible that you are purchasing lean meat such as ground sirloin? If this is the case, try something a little fattier to bind the meat together. Also, eggs are not a necessary ingredient in making hamburger patties, in fact it sounds as though the liquid in the eggs might be another factor in your hamburger horrors.
Added Note: For best patty flavor, grill on medium heat and avoid flipping the burgers often and don’t press them down with the spatula, you will lose the flavor of the juices.
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.
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