QUESTION: I am going through items stored for several years in unheated conditions. Some of the linens I would love to keep but they smell so musty... mildew etc. Can I wash them with Detol or bleach or something to get the smell out? Someone also suggested putting them in a closed tub with carbon filters. What is the easiest or most efficient solution that you can suggest? Thank you so much in advance. Lesley, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Place linens into a hot bath of water and four cups of washing soda (available in laundry departments of grocery stores). Let soak for two hours. Rinse with hot water and hang outside for a few hours. If the temperature outside is below freezing you will have an even better chance of success. Bring fabrics inside to dry.
QUESTION: How can I get milk stains off of my kitchen ceiling? So far we've tried soap and water, vinegar and water; I don't know why they won't come off. I can see them as soon as I walk into the kitchen-family room area. Will they ever come off? Yours truly, Angie (East St. Paul)
ANSWER: Sometimes using certain types of soap will actually set stains making them impossible to remove. Attempt to terminate the stain with the following recipe: Into a spray bottle combine a solution of: 1 tsp. Dawn dish soap, one quarter cup rubbing alcohol, half-cup 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide and fill the remainder of the bottle with water. Spray the solution onto the ceiling and blot the area. Let dry. Don't rub; doing so may cause the paint to peel. Administer three applications. If the stain remains, paint the area with flat white paint. Use remainder of spray bottle solution to clean your windows before winter officially arrives.
QUESTION: I can't find the answer to my quandary in any of your books. What size Christmas tree skirt should I purchase; my tree is about six feet tall? Thanks, Samson (Kleefeld)
ANSWER: The size is a matter of personal preference. Tree skirts were originally intended to catch falling needles; therefore skirts would need to be at least as wide as the tree. However, with artificial trees these days, tree skirts are mainly decorative and serve to cover the tree stand. Instead of a purchasing a tree skirt you can make your own: drape a large piece of chiffon around the base or cut out felt fabric and decorate it with sequins and ribbon to encircle the base of the tree. Another option is to sew a long-lasting, heavy-duty, washable tree skirt by patching together denim squares.
QUESTION: I burnt a neck warmer in my microwave. Now it smells. How do I get rid of the smell? Donna (Rosenort)
ANSWER: Here are a few tricks to tackle this quandary: You can either: heat lemon juice or vinegar in the microwave until it boils over and then wipe out the interior. Or combine into a bowl; vanilla and water and heat until it boils over or another option is to combine lemon slices, vinegar, vanilla, dish soap and water in a bowl and heat. Alternatively combine and heat baking soda and water. If the odour persists, store coffee grounds in a bowl in the microwave to absorb lingering smells. All the best!
Feedback from Readers:
Dear Reena,
There was a huge hornet on the ceiling of my family room; I didn't know what to do. Then I remembered in one of your books you said to use hairspray to spray their wings because it freezes them, I did it and it worked! I managed to capture him and send him down the toilet without injury (to me) so I was very relieved! Anonymous
Fabulous Tip of the Week:
Table Centrepiece/Christmas Candle Cookies:
If you don't have time to bake but still want to present an interesting holiday table centrepiece, here is a hot idea. Purchase the following: large flat gingerbread cookies, smaller cookies that have a hole in the centre, rolled wafer cookies. Make a simple icing by stirring together 1 teaspoon water and 5 tablespoons confectioners' sugar. Use dots of icing to attach the smaller cookie with the centre hole onto the larger cookie. Dab icing on one end of a rolled wafer cookie and press it into the center of the small cookie. For the candle flame, halve a mini marshmallow diagonally, dip the sticky side of one half into orange coloured sugar, and attach the "candle flame" with icing to the rolled wafer cookie. Spoon a few wax drips of icing down the candle's sides and use red decorating gel to embellish the base.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming!
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.
