QUESTION: I'm moving out in a month from my apartment, and I have a very picky landlord. I would like to give him no reason to hold part of my deposit.
-- There are some PVC vertical blinds that were originally beige, and I spray-painted them yellow, orange, green and blue. What is my best move to bring them back to their original colour?
-- From moving in three years ago, some furniture left black marks on the beige walls; can I easily get rid of them without looking for matched paint?
-- On the hardwood floor there is one limited spot where it is scratched with small white lines, can I improve the look of it? I'm afraid to sand just a small spot like that.
-- Leftover from a Halloween decoration, there is a "tape mark" on the ceiling; can I get rid of it? Thanks a lot for all your fabulous tips. Nathalie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Let's see if we can get your entire deposit back with the following solutions. Using a spray paint, lightly spray the blinds to cover the previous paint colours. Several thin coats are better than one big fat thick coat of paint. Purchase good quality paint so that it does not run, and is thick enough to cover up the blue hue.
For wall scuff marks, dampen a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and erase all black lines. Or if you happen to have borax on hand, combine half cup borax with two tablespoons of dish soap and scrub wall. Rinse with water.
To cover up scratches on hardwood floors, you can purchase touch-up kits. However, what I would do instead is reach into your cupboard and pull out a jar of smooth peanut butter. Spread peanut butter onto areas. Let sit for one hour and wipe off all excess. Or colour in with matching crayon or permanent marker.
While you are waiting for the peanut butter on the floor to dry, take the jar and smear some on the ceiling to get rid of adhesive tape (or use WD-40). Wipe with dish soap and water. Or heat area with hair dryer and scrape with a plastic putty knife. Happy moving!
QUESTION: How do you clean a brass mailbox? Thanks. Lovie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You can either clean your mailbox with a product called Brasso, specifically designed for cleaning brass. Or use WD-40, a product that is great for cleaning brass and most people have a can on hand. Scrub with an abrasive cloth. If the mailbox still needs help, colour match spray paint and paint outdoors on a calm day.
Feedback from caring Manitoban:
Dear Reena,
You have some wonderful solutions to household problems. In reply to the lady who had a blue ring around her toilet, I had the same problem when I moved into my home in Russell, Man. My toilets were brand new, and they developed a blue ring, which I could not remove. I simply lived with it for a number of years; but it always bothered me. Finally, one of my friends suggested this solution which works for me; and I have to repeat this procedure every six weeks or so.
I take two long narrow rags, which, when put end to end, will reach around the blue ring on the toilet. First I make the rags wet, then wring them out. Then get rid of the water in the toilet bowl. Now put the rags in place around the blue ring. Then saturate them with Javex. Leave them there for as long as it takes to make the blue ring disappear. For me it's between 20 minutes and a half-hour. Hope this helps Maureen, and anyone else who has this problem.
Fabulous baking soda tips:
Baking soda is a leavening agent used in baked goods like cookies or quick breads but that's not all...
-- This tip was sent to me by a grandmother who found her grandson dumping baking soda all over her bathroom. Forget the expensive cleaners that leave you coughing and gasping for air. Sprinkle baking soda on bathroom sink, counter and in bathtub. Scrub, rinse and smile.
-- Wash your hair with baking soda a few times a month. This leaves hair thoroughly clean and gets rid of product buildup caused by styling products.
-- Flush one cup of baking soda down the toilet once a week to keep the septic tank clear.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
