QUESTION: Do you have any wonderful solutions for removing outdoor carpeting from cement steps? The carpet on the steps at my front door is in tatters and I need to remove it, and then replace it. Thank you, I love the information that you're putting out there. Gail, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You can either pour hot water onto the area and scrape it, or pour Diet Pepsi over the carpet, making sure the seams are soaked, then peel the carpet off the cement. Either way, time and elbow grease are required.
QUESTION: My oak dining-room table has two large white marks, which I believe were made when someone either placed a hot pizza carton on the table or spilled a glass of water. This happened during a reception after my wife's funeral and I did not notice it until the next day. Do you have any suggestions on how to remove the spots? Thanks. Peter, Winnipeg
ANSWER: I am sorry, very sorry to hear about your wife. The first solution I would try is to smear the area with mayonnaise and wait for an hour. Wipe the area and check if the stain is gone. If the stain remains, cover the spot with a tea towel and press it with a hot iron to draw out excess moisture in the wood. If neither solution is successful, you'll have to refinish the table. Warmest wishes.
Update from Peter: Thank-you ever so much for your sage advice on removing the white stains from the oak dining-room table. As you suggested, I applied mayonnaise (with olive oil) and left it on the stains for an hour, then wiped it off. Better, but the stains were still visible. So I followed your second tip and laid a tea towel over the spots and ironed (no steam). Voila -- the spots disappeared like magic. Thanks for helping me become a better housekeeper.
QUESTION: I really enjoy reading your column and your very practical solutions to seemingly impossible situations. We have one that I have not seen in your column. We noticed some spruce gum on our outdoor furniture fabric. We were wondering if you have a solution for removing it. We have tried laundry soap and spot remover. Neither one seemed to do the trick. If you have any solutions for this it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Ron, Winnipeg
ANSWER: There are a number of solutions for removing spruce gum from patio furniture fabric; be sure to test each substance on an inconspicuous area first. Try one of the following: Paint thinner, turpentine, mayonnaise, nail-polish remover, Goo Gone or WD-40. After removing the spruce gum, apply dish soap and water to the area so that no stain remains.
Feedback from Caring Manitoban:
I enjoy your column and often use your ideas, so I thought I would contribute an update for your column in the Winnipeg Free Press on Saturday, July 9.
I learned from an Egg Marketing Board source that eggs should not be boiled -- boiling may toughen them. The preferred method is to cover the eggs with cold water, cover the pot, and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 15 minutes. Then put the pot in the sink, pour out most of the hot water and refill with cold water, letting the cold water run until the pot is no longer hot to the touch. The eggs can sit in the cold water for a little while, then remove them from the water, use or refrigerate for later. Perfect!
I've modified this to make soft-cooked eggs by letting the eggs stand in the just-boiled water for between two and three minutes. I hope you don't mind my intrusion! Jeanie, Winnipeg
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
-- Hi Reena, I thought everyone knew about tearless onion chopping, but in case some are still weeping: when a large onion needs to be cut up or chopped, don't cut off the root end of the onion. Just slice and dice the onion from the top until you hit the root end. No tears -- guaranteed. Pat
-- Wrap a rag or cloth around the end of a pencil eraser to clean window corners.
-- Use a lint roller brush to remove dust, dirt and lint from wire screens.
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.
