QUESTION: I have a problem with a cloudy stain or film on the inside glass of my shower stall. I've tried: Windex, vinegar and water, vinegar straight, razor blade scraper, CLR, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and none have had any effect at all. It's just on the lower part of the glass doors and other glass parts, so it's quite noticeable. If I run my hand over it, I can't detect a difference in texture from the cloudy part to the clear part of the glass. Do you have any ideas of other things I can try? Arnie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Unfortunately, it sounds as though the etching on your shower stall is permanent. If purchasing a new stall is not an option at this time, here is a cover-up solution that will only cost you a few dollars. Hop over to your nearest craft store and buy: glass frost/etching acid, painter's tape and the stencil of your choice i.e. wavy lines, flowers, birds etc. Adhere the tape along the edges of the glass pane horizontally and vertically overlapping them to make yourself a grid. Etch on the designs of your choice to cover up the noticeable etching.
With a little hard work and patience, your shower stall will look fantastic. You can even check out some YouTube videos for help on etching designs onto glass.
QUESTION: I would like to know if you have any solutions to whiten up the plastic trim pieces on kitchen appliances. All of my appliances are completely white. However, over time the white plastic parts are turning yellowish. Thanks. Lori, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Pour 500 mL three per cent hydrogen peroxide into an ice cream bucket (a stronger concentration of hydrogen peroxide i.e. 10-15 per cent would be even more effective but test on an inconspicuous area first). Add 1 tsp. Oxy laundry booster. Sponge the solution onto the appliance and scrub. Rinse with dish soap and water. If the yellow remains, try a product called, Retr0bright which is a gel made for whitening plastics.
QUESTION: How can I reduce the fat in the ground beef I buy without buying the expensive lean and extra lean cuts? Dominic, La Salle, Man.
ANSWER: The answer is a snap! Cook your beef until crumbly and brown. Pour it into a strainer in the sink and rinse with hot water. Blot with paper towels or a clean cooking rag and move onto the next step of your recipe.
Say... Why are hamburgers called hamburgers when they do not contain any ham? Answer: Because Hamburg, Germany made the first hamburgers.
Feedback from Manitoban Who Cares:
With regards to Val seeking advice on cleaning her laminate floors: I use a product called Squeaky Concentrate commercial floor cleaner which I buy from Flatlanders Flooring on Kenaston Boulevard. It not only cleans but also leaves a beautiful shine on our laminate flooring. Plus I have a Rubbermaid Reveal mop from Superstore which has a sprayer attached. Simply spray and mop. From Jan
Fantastic Tips of the Week:
-- You would not believe how often people come up to me at the end of one of my shows and share the following tip that they learned from their grandmother. When someone in your home is sick, cut an onion in half and put it on a plate beside their bed. The onion is said to draw out the bad germs in the room and actually turns black within a short period of time. If you can stand the smell of onions, why not give it a shot?
-- When choosing healthy bread in the store, reach for whole grain not whole wheat. Whole wheat flour is put through a refining process that removes some of the nutritional value of the end product but whole grain flour does NOT go through that refining process and therefore has oodles more nutrition (how's that for a run-on sentence?).
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., ROA 0C0.
