QUESTION — How can I get rid of a fishy smell coming from the inside of my dishwasher? — Jean
ANSWER — Old food stuck in the filter of the dishwasher is a common reason for the unit to carry a fishy odor. Scrub the filter and the inside of the dishwasher with an old toothbrush and: one-quarter cup bleach, 2-cups hot water and ½ tsp. dish soap and water. Large pieces of food stuck to the inside of the appliance is another reason for common fishy smells, this can also be removed with a good cleaning.
QUESTION — I like to cook my steaks on a skillet on the stove top. I use a splatter screen, but the grease comes through and makes a terrible mess on the stove. I bet you have a solution.
— Kattie
ANSWER — While the splatter screen is the best solution for reducing grease spray while cooking steaks, here is an addition that will help reduce clean-up efforts. Sprinkle salt onto the grill before cooking, this holds grease in its place, and prevents mess.
QUESTION — How do you keep strawberries from spoiling? Please tell me what I need to do before this year’s picking season.
— Jordan
ANSWER — Do not wash berries until ready to use. Using a large baking sheet, wet a tea towel and lay it on the sheet. Spread berries onto the baking sheet so they do not touch each other. Wet another tea towel and cover the berries before putting the pan inside the fridge. Berries will be beautiful, even after five days.
Extra Tip: You can take this one step further by soaking the strawberries in 50/50 vinegar and water before laying them onto the baking sheet, that way they are already clean and ready for eating throughout the week.
Feedback from Friendly Manitobans:
Re: Peeling Boiled Eggs Quickly
The best tip I’m using is steaming the eggs in a vegetable steamer for 20 minutes. The shells fall off. — Claude
The absolutely best way to peel an egg, doesn’t matter whether they are hot or cold, shake the eggs a few times in a jar with the lid on. The peel just pops off, I couldn’t believe how easy this is. — Tamara
Re: Drying Basil
My husband and I love basil so when I read your article in the Winnipeg Free Press regarding how to store, freeze and dry basil, I tried drying it out as per your instructions. I set the oven for 180 F and checked the basil after less than 30 minutes. All the leaves were completely dry; they were perfect. — Thank you, Jaclyn
Re: Cold Sores
I used to get cold sores on a regular basis, and nothing worked including the expensive over the counter medications as well as prescription drugs costing quite a bit of money. I accidentally found that using liquid soap, especially the commercial grade soap available in the workplace washroom, greatly reduced my frequency of cold sores. For example, as soon as I felt the "tingling" sensation of a cold sore about to appear, I would wash the area with liquid soap and warm water for less than a minute around 2 - 3 times a day. Just before bedtime, I would apply a dab of liquid soap onto the affected area and allow to dry overnight. Within a day or two, I found the cold sore would go away or be limited in scope. — Anonymous
Re: Poison Ivy
One time I was pulling "weeds" in our large suburban backyard that turned out to be poison ivy. Before I broke out in a huge rash, I washed the area with liquid soap, gently toweled off the area with a paper towel, and after I was dry, I applied an over the counter overnight acne cream that prevented the spread of poison ivy. It made sense because overnight acne medication is designed to dry out the oils causing an acne outbreak. — Regards, Anonymous
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 at: info@reena.ca. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca.
