Question: I am opening a brand new preschool in my home. Do you have a really good recipe for play dough? Cindy
Answer: Congratulations on the new preschool. Here’s my favorite play dough recipe: Bring to a boil: 2 cups water, 1/2 cup of sea salt and 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. When salt is dissolved, remove the pot from heat. Add food coloring, 2 tbsp. cream of tartar and 2 cups of flour. Stir well and cool. Slip on rubber gloves and knead the dough until pliable. You can dye it with food colouring. Store in a sealed plastic bag.Question: I am wondering if you know how I can remove a dog urine stain off my laminate flooring. My daughter brought her spaniel over to visit my condo and she was so excited that she urinated on the flooring. I threw a towel on it and swirled it around thinking I would wash the floor after they left and of course I forgot. No matter what I try I cannot get the white colored stain out of the panels of flooring. Please advise if you know of any remedies that might help me remove the stains. Thank you, Deborah
Answer: Although I don’t know which cleaners you used on your floor, I am assuming you tried; laminate floor cleaner, water and ammonia or water and vinegar and have had disappointing results. Typically laminate flooring is tough and almost anything can be cleaned with little effort as long as it is done fairly soon after a spill. However, in this case it sounds like the dog’s urine may have slightly bleached the floor finish. Since you probably don’t want to replace the boards and no amount of cleaners is going to clean a bleach stain, you are best off taking a trip to your local hardware store. Bring a piece of laminate with you and color match the floor to a wax stick or touch-up pen.
Question: Is it possible to store crushed garlic so that it is ready-to-use? Shauna
Answer: You can store minced garlic in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. Although the most active sulfur compound diminishes within a few hours, refrigeration will slightly slow the process. Use refrigerated garlic as soon as possible. Some people are tempted to freeze garlic, but this is not recommended because its texture changes, as does its flavor.
Question: Our leather chair has a dark spot where my head rests. Is there a way to clean it? I have heard I should not use saddle soap as it is too strong for leather furniture. Once cleaned, is there a daily ritual I should follow to keep our chair clean? Thanks. Louise
Answer: I agree saddle soap is a little too harsh for regular leather cleaning but once in a while saddle soap is a smart choice. This stain may fade over time if you place a cloth onto the spot. I once removed a grease stain on leather furniture with the following tip: smooth on a dry paste of baking soda and water to soak up the grease mark. Leave for one hour. Remove paste by scraping with a plastic putty knife, brushing, or vacuuming. Repeat until the grease is completely gone. Rinse with water, (do not soak leather) let dry. Alternatively you can purchase leather cleaners where leather furniture is sold. Persistence is the key. As for regular cleaning either vacuum or wipe leather with a damp cloth.
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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