Question: I regularly purchase asparagus, however, I often leave it too long before cooking. Do you have any advice for reviving limp asparagus so I don’t end up wasting any more money? Debart
Answer: Reviving asparagus is exactly the same as reviving limp celery. Place the veggies in a tall vase with ice water in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or more.
Question: Is it necessary to trim my barberry bushes, or can I just let them grow all spring without worry? Ted
Answer: The benefit to pruning most plants is to control their shape and to encourage a thick base. Barberry plants that do not lose their leaves need pruning after they flower, or in late winter or early spring. Deciduous barberry needs to be trimmed in late summer months.
Question: With my occupation, I am constantly the victim of wood splinters. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can remove splinters without passing out? Mark
Answer: For minor splinters, apply antibiotic cream with painkiller onto the area. Cover with a bandage and leave. Continue this process until the splinter is at the surface and easy to remove. Another option is to apply very sticky tape, i.e. duct tape, onto the splinter. Press the tape down and then pull to remove the splinter. Or apply a few drops of white craft glue over the splinter. Let dry and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the glue when you peel it off!
Question: I bought some cutlery quite recently. I usually wash it in the dishwasher and am wondering if I have a problem with the dishwasher as the ends of all of the cutlery pieces have lost their shine, there is a film, and I have to wash and clean the film off by hand. Do you have any suggestions for me, please? Thank you, Julia
Answer: Contact the cutlery manufacturer for advice on their particular product line. If that is not an option, line a baking sheet with crumpled-up aluminum foil. Add one quarter-cup washing soda (found in the laundry department of most grocery stores). Add enough hot water to cover the bottom of the pan. Let the cutlery soak for five minutes. Using gloves, remove cutlery and polish. If you cannot find washing soda, use a liberal amount of salt in the same way.
Question: We live next door to a children’s playground. Many years ago, our community raised funds to purchase an expensive ‘wave’ slide. It has been a great addition and has been used a lot. We are noticing now that the ‘shine’ is gone, and it is not very slippery anymore. I assume it was made of stainless steel. We placed it facing south to take advantage of early-spring and late-fall sunshine. It is still structurally sound (and immoveable). What can you suggest to get the ‘slip’ back in our slide? We have heard that scouring with vinegar will help, but I haven’t tried it yet. I have tried dish soap and water with no luck, and I also tried Windex. The finish seems to be intact (not rusty or anything), so I’m not sure what it needs. Hope you can help as the little ones are having trouble getting to the bottom of the slide without an extra push! Thank you, Jan
P.S. It is approx. 30 years old and still very sturdy. We thought $700 was a huge amount to pay for it at the time!
Answer: As much as we love it, King Vinegar will not solve this case. What you need instead is WD-40. Test it on an inconspicuous area first. If everything goes well, you will soon be sliding down at lightning speed! Another option is to cover the slide with wax used for cross-country skis.
Fabulous Tips of the Week!
• Make your own glue. Mix three packages of unflavoured gelatin with 1 tablespoon cold water and 3 tbsp. boiling water. Stir until dissolved. Add half-teaspoon peppermint oil. Store in a small covered container. It will congeal. To use it, microwave for 10 seconds on high.
• For bad odours in cars, sprinkle new ground-up coffee beans onto area; leave for a couple days and vacuum.
• Make a banana hanger for your fruit. Buy a long utility hook and screw it underneath one of your kitchen cabinets. Hang bananas on the hook.
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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