QUESTION: I have a problem with squirrels. They dig up bulbs in my garden faster than I can replace them. Is there any solution? Eugenia (Warren, Man.)
ANSWER: What works for one squirrel will not necessarily work for all squirrels, but here are some effective solutions to try. Begin by distracting your furry friends with a bowl of store-bought food made specifically for them. Place the bowl far enough away from the pots but close enough that they will see their food. Wrap chicken wire over plant pots and make holes for the plants. They are unable to chew through wire. Or secure large rocks over the soil, making sure the squirrels cannot lift the rocks. Human hair, blood meal, dog fur and fox urine are options, but seem to lose their effectiveness after a few weeks. Here is one of my all-time favourite solutions for squirrels who like to dig. Push the handle of several plastic forks straight down into the soil; squirrels don't like the feeling of plastic fork tines on their cute little feet.
QUESTION: We have two Corning Ware casserole dishes that were bought used. They are stained and I am wondering if you have a suggestion as to how these stains might be removed. Thanks. Barb, Winnipeg
ANSWER: In a large pot, combine 3 cups (750 ml) vinegar, 4 cups (1 L) water and 2 tbsp. (30 mL) citric acid; bring to a boil. Set one Corning Ware dish into the boiling mixture for five minutes (the water must cover the dish). If necessary, scrub wet Corning Ware with an S.O.S pad. Once dry, your dishes will look new. If black marks are scratched into the glass, the marks are permanent.
QUESTION: A metal kitchen light fixture is caked with years of cooking grease and dust. I tried Windex and WD-40 without any luck. What do you suggest? Debbie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: I am assuming you are referring to the fixture alone (no electrical wires). An easy solution to really clean fixtures is to place them on the top rack of the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergents are formulated as grease cutters and amazing at cleaning grime. In the same way, the metal exhaust fan ceiling cover also benefits from dishwasher cleaning.
QUESTION: My daughter snuck out of the house and returned late at night. She pushed the key into the lock and when she turned the key, it broke inside the lock -- BUSTED!!! Now half of her key is jammed inside the lock. What can she use to remove the broken piece? Jimmy, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Put a little Super Glue onto the broken key in her hand. Push that piece into the lock and hold for a few seconds so that both pieces attach together. Turn and pull.
QUESTION: I have a large plastic bucket I fill with water to wash the car. The problem is I can't fill the bucket under the tap because as soon as the bucket is full of water, I can't pull it out of the sink without spilling water everywhere. Any suggestions?
Bev (Morden, Man.)
ANSWER: Instead of placing the bucket inside the sink, position it on the edge of the counter. Hold a dustpan under the tap. The water will flos into the dustpan and inside the bucket without having to place the bucket inside the sink.
Add guesswork to cake mix:
Homemade baking tastes the best, but not everyone has time to bake from scratch. Here are a few tricks to help a packaged cake mix taste homemade.
-- Add one instant pudding mix to the cake mix to moisten the cake and upgrade the flavour. Submitted by Jessica
-- Substitute milk for water in cake mixes. Also, to give cake mixes more homemade flavour, add an extra egg. Submitted by Jordyn
-- Add one cup sour cream and one extra tsp. real vanilla to the mix. This really gives the cake a moist texture. Submitted ny Helena
Note: Users assume 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.
