QUESTION: I have two problems that I cannot seem to solve. One is a dark green leather chair arm that is often leaned on and has lost some of its colour and is slightly worn. I would like to restore it if possible, I'm a big user of permanent markers to repair scratches, chips, and Whiteout to repair nicks on the woodwork, but I don't want to use any of these on a perfectly usable and still-acceptable appearing piece of furniture.
My other question has to do with a dark brown steel front door that I find impossible to clean without leaving lint, streaks. It is a painted surface that has been baked on, presumably, at time of manufacture. Thanks, Val (Gladstone, MB)
ANSWER: The colour of the leather furniture can be successfully restored with a topically applied leather finish that has been mixed to match your original colour. When done correctly, the leather will appear to be like new. You need to either contact a professional leather restorer or purchase a leather dye kit, which is a little more risky because colour matching needs to be perfect. Check out the yellow pages under the heading "Leather Goods Repairing". In the meantime, you may also want to shine the leather by buffing it with olive oil or cold cream and a soft cloth.
In terms of the painted door, why don't you once again reach for the olive oil? It does not have a tendency to attract lint, it does not tend to leave streaks and it is a product that many people have on hand. You can also try the following cleaner, which is great to use on windows and does not streak. RECIPE: In a 16-ounce spray bottle combine, 1 tbsp. rubbing alcohol, half cup ammonia (or vinegar), 1 tsp. Dawn dish soap and enough water to fill the bottle. Spray on and wipe with a micro fiber cloth or crumpled up newspaper. Do this on a cloudy day or in the morning.
QUESTION: Do you have a foolproof way for killing weeds? Is there any solution to killing the weeds but not the cedars? We have tried a few different suggestions from people, but no success. We have a good sized yard and many spots with landscaping mulch or bark or rocks and we constantly have weeds coming up especially the area next to our back fence (along the alley). We also have landscaping fabric in some of these spots and the weeds are poking through the fabric. We really don't want to spend our life weeding, I thought these landscaping materials were supposed to minimize or eliminate weeds? What are we doing wrong? Tracy (Carberry, MB)
ANSWER: In terms of weeds, constant upkeep is part of life and something that we cannot get away from all together. The secret? Attack early. Getting weeds out of the garden at the start of the season, when they're most vulnerable, is a smart strategy for two reasons: It keeps annual weeds from forming seed heads and it keeps perennial weeds from developing deeper roots. Remember, the root should be completely removed, even to its root depth. If the roots are 6 inches deep, make sure you dig the roots up from that depth as well. This can be accomplished by loosening the soil around the weed roots and slowly removing the weed back and forth from the soil. If the ground is too hard, try soaking it a little to ease the root removal process. Some people will even use hot-water from a kettle to poor on shallow rooted weeds (like spurge) to help loosen-up the soil or even kill the weeds on the spot!
Landscape fabric used must be high quality and overlap so that no weeds or seeds can sneak in between layers. Also, make sure that no weeds sit on top of the fabric when laying it down so that they don't plant themselves. To kill weeds spray 100 per cent vinegar onto weeds. Keep in mind that vinegar will kill all greenery that it touches. Garden stores now sell vinegar with a higher concentration of acetic acid which kills weeds faster than typical vinegar sold in grocery stores.
Make sure to bag and throw away your clippings when you dig up weeds. This helps prevent the seeds from spreading. Excellent fertilization is a good defensive step to take against weeds. Using the right type of fertilizer that possesses the best combination of nitrogen and other important compounds four times a year will go a long way in improving the health of your yard. But don't be surprised if some stubborn weeds still persist in growing; that's the time when other more aggressive steps must be taken to achieve effective weed control. Let's talk mulch; the particle size of the mulch will determine the depth of the application. Apply coarse-textured mulches, such as bark and wood chips, four inches deep for weed control. Apply fine-textured mulches, such as shredded leaves or dry grass clippings, about two inches deep. Keep all mulches several inches away from the stems of plants or the trunks of trees and shrubs to prevent disease.
QUESTION: What could one do to stop cats from scratching and pulling away pieces of rug? I've tried the cat posts, and various smells. For the dogs I use capsaicin (it is a strong chilli ingredient) diluted with water as it burns.
Also, I have a couple of good remedies that I can share with you from growing up in Israel. Best regards, Jenny, Winnipeg
ANSWER: I would love it if you shared tips from Israel! I can share them with others and everyone will benefit from your knowledge.
In terms of the scratching cats, with every cat comes its own unique personality: here are a few suggestions that might work for your furry friends. Purchase a spray at the pet store to deter scratching on the couch, one such spray is Aerosol Pheromone by Feliway. Also, keep a scratching post nearby and rub catnip onto it, cats need to scratch. Keep your cat's nails groomed and one other item that you may want to purchase are sticky strips that are applied to the rug. Also use a spray bottle and a firm no whenever they go near the couch. If the stores in your area do not carry tape for pets there are several ways to order it on-line. One website to visit is petplanet.co.uk and ask for a product called Sticky Paws. Since cats hate the feeling of stickiness on their paws, you may also want to consider applying double sided tape to certain areas. The biggest advantage to a product such as Sticky Paws is that it is made to be easily removed without leaving marks.
Just one other comment, be careful with capsaicin. While it does work well for some animals, it is sometimes too irritating for another animal to the point that it could put their health in danger.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Check out my website www.householdsolutions.org
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national best sellers, "Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions", "Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets" and "Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives" available on-line and in stores across Canada.
