A slow cooker can help with a time crunch.
Question: I am hosting a business turkey dinner at my house this year and I am in charge of cooking the turkey and gravy. The problem is that I work until 4 p.m. and don’t have time to finish the turkey and gravy. — Ben
Answer: What I would do in this predicament is cook the turkey the day before and cut it so that it is ready for serving. On the day of the gathering, put the turkey pieces into a slow cooker and pour broth over the top so that it doesn’t dry off. Leave it on the low setting until serving time. The gravy can also be made ahead of time and left on low, or you can keep warm in a separate slow cooker.
Question: Whenever I type on my computer keyboard (which is a lot), the keys stick. The computer is only a year old and it’s driving me crazy because my entire job is computerized.
— Pat
Answer: With the computer off, wipe the keyboard with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. Make sure you pour the alcohol onto the cloth, not onto the keyboard. You only need a little bit and make sure to wipe between the keys with a cotton swab because a lot of grime gets in there.
Question: Our dear granddaughter came to get flowers and old canning jars. The problem is, her old car decided to drop some large oil drops on our good concrete driveway. Any suggestions before we tackle it ourselves?
— Eldon
Answer: If the stain is fresh, sprinkle the area with a liberal amount of kitty litter to absorb grease and then brush away kitty litter. For older stains, apply a solution of one cup washing soda and one-quarter cup of trisodium phosphate per gallon of water. Then, scrub or pressure wash the stain. As a last resort, combat tough spills with muriatic acid and a pressure washer. Apply the acid following the manufacturer’s directions and let it soak for several seconds.
Keep in mind that muriatic acid is a dangerous product: if you use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing, and never wash it down storm drains.
Test all solutions on an inconspicuous area first.
Question: I put bleach on a wool sweater. Since doing some research, I realize I made a mistake. Is there anything I can do to remove the yellow stain?
I’ve tried rinsing in cool water and soaping it with shampoo.
— Allison
Answer: To remove yellow on fabrics caused by bleach, use a stainless-steel pot and soak the fabric in washing soda (found at most grocery stores or online) and water for a few hours. This will bring the colour back to its original hue.
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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