QUESTION: I hope that you can help. A loaf of bread was left in our bread cupboard and became very mouldy. I have not been able to get rid of the smell and cannot use the cupboard now because of this. Do you have any ideas that could help get rid of it? Thankyou in advance. Barb, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Begin by washing the cupboards out with Murphy's Oil Soap. Next, make your very own "Coffee in a Sock" air freshener. Take a clean sock and place it inside a cup. Fold the sock opening to the outside of the cup/glass to create an opening. Pour fresh coffee grounds into the sock. Close the sock with a rubber band. Store the sock inside the cupboard. Coffee is a wonderful odour absorber!
QUESTION: I am having a problem removing rust stains from a white T-shirt. They appeared after washing, so I am assuming the stains came from the washer tub. Can anything be done? I appreciate your help. Donna, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Before tackling your fabrics, find out what is causing rust on your clothing. Check the machine or your water pipes or your bleach dispenser to see if any rust is gathering. Are there any leaks in the washing machine? Read your troubleshooting guide in your manufacturer's manual. If you determine where the rust is coming from and solve the problem, your laundry will be a lot more fun to handle. If you want to clean your machine and remove rust buildup, consider using a product called Iron Out, available at hardware stores. Use it according to directions and ventilate. This removes rust in washing machines, as well as dishwashers.
For fabrics: Your best bet is to pour either lemon juice or three per cent hydrogen peroxide onto the area. Sprinkle the stain with cream of tartar. Leave the white shirt in the sun for a day and wash. Sun is a wonderful mild bleaching agent and so is hydrogen peroxide. However, be sure to test on an inconspicuous area first. Repeat until the stain is gone. If the stain remains, you can use Rit dye remover to zap rust stains. Be sure to ventilate.
QUESTION: We have a 7x10 living room wool rug that is approximately five years old. Last summer, we had the rug dry cleaned, but last fall we noticed a few tiny moths on the rug. We have never had moths in our house. When we questioned the dry cleaner, we were advised they never had any sort of problem with moths. We vacuumed the rug thoroughly and a patch approximately two to three inches in circumference developed in the rug. We put the rug in the garage during winter to kill any moths, etc. We thought we had them licked. However, a few tiny moths reappeared, along with larva. As far as the rug goes, we feel it's toast for the living room. However, is there anything we can do to salvage it and use it elsewhere in the house? Can we somehow treat the rug to get rid of these little critters? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Maureen, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Begin by sprinkling the rug with borax or boric acid or crushed bay leaves. Do this only if you don't have pets or small children, as it is poisonous. Leave for a day and vacuum (often) with an industrial-strength vacuum, being sure to change the vacuum bag. If moths continue to be a problem, call in a professional fumigator.
Feedback from Caring Manitoban:
Hi Reena,
In terms of what can be done with used plastic grocery bags, thought I would let you know that you can recycle plastic grocery bags at Safeway stores. There is a much too small mossy green bin in the entrance area of the store where they store the carts. It is usually quite full, so often a struggle to jam the bags in. Linda
Fabulous tips of the week
-- Spread peat moss over newly planted grass seed as opposed to covering the seed with straw. Peat moss absorbs and holds water similar to straw, but has the benefit of disappearing quickly into the soil after the grass begins growing. It also helps aerate the soil and gives the grass a better environment to begin its growth cycle.
-- Coconut fibre is now being harvested as a good substitute for peat moss. It carries many of the same qualities as peat moss but is apparently more environmentally friendly. Coconut fibre is sourced from the husk fibres of coconuts and is a good use for what is often looked at as a waste product.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., R0A 0C0.
