QUESTION: The other day I cooked wild rice and was embarrassed when I ran out before everyone at the table had a helping. What is the best measuring tool for wild rice? In other words, how much rice will one cup make? Mata, Garson
ANSWER: Wild rice is a great choice for cooking because it's loaded with Vitamins B and E, calcium and iron. It has about twice the amount of fiber and protein as brown rice. One cup of uncooked wild rice makes about three cups of rice.
Did you know wild rice is actually not rice? It's the seed of an aquatic grass found in North America.
QUESTION: Please help! We have just moved into an apartment. They put down new carpet and the smell of the new carpet is very strong. We have had patio doors and windows open and we still have the smell. Please send me any suggestions. Thank you. Carol, Winnipeg
ANSWER: The mass number of chemicals often used in carpet manufacturing can leave your home with an unpleasant odour and you with buyer's remorse. But the good news is, this odour will fade with time and the more you vacuum the quicker the smell disappears. Reach for your baking soda and sprinkle a very generous amount over the entire carpet. Leave for an hour and vacuum. Or steam clean your new carpet with vinegar and water. This challenge will soon become a distant memory.
QUESTION: I have a build-up on the outside of the metal trim around my shower stall. I think it is mineral deposits from water. It is along the bottom where the caulking is. What will take it off? I would like to remove the old caulking and clean it up to get ready to re-caulk. Murray, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Make a paste by combining; baking soda together with vinegar. Apply the paste and scrub. Next into a spray bottle; combine one part bleach to four parts water and spray the mildew. Scrub gently. If the mildew remains, you will need to acquire a special tool to remove the caulk (available at hardware stores). After the caulk is gone, clean the area once again. Dry and re-caulk. Wipe the area once a week with the baking soda and vinegar paste to avoid ever having to deal with mould growth around your shower.
Drying your shower is also another easy tip for deterring mildew growth because mildew/mould needs moisture to grow.
QUESTION: At your 'Home Sweet Home Workshop' that I attended in Winnipeg, you demonstrated how to remove scratches from wood. I tried it at home and was very pleased with the results. Can you now tell me how to remove watermarks from wood? Rita, Winnipeg
ANSWER: The first and easiest solution is to apply mayonnaise or non-gel, non-bleach toothpaste to the wood. Leave for 30 minutes and wipe. If the stain remains, cover the mark with a white cloth. Using the steam setting on your fabric iron, heat the wood using steam and wave the iron overtop of the cloth making sure that you do not set the iron on one area. With a little patience, the mark will disappear.
Wonderful Feedback from Caring Manitoban:
Dear Reena,
I just read your column in Saturday's Winnipeg Free Press from a lady who was having trouble cleaning her grater after grating lemon and orange peel. I keep a toothbrush in the kitchen for the express purpose of cleaning my grater. It is easy and efficient and seems to get all the little holes clean. Janet, Winnipeg
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
-- When pets are 'free-fed' and their canned foods are left out for periods of time, they can dry out a bit and become less appealing. Try placing an ice cube in the dish. As it melts, it will keep the food moisturized. If you're wanting to 'entice' a pet who's not eating enough, you can use a tuna cube: freeze some of the liquid from a can of tuna in an ice cube tray. But be careful as they may get addicted and 'tuna water' too frequently will be unhealthy. Rekha, Winnipeg
-- Dogs digging in the garden. Bury a balloon underneath the soil where dogs like to dig. When the dog's paw catches the balloon, it will pop and surprise the dog. I did this once and my dog never dug again. Beverly, Brandon
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.
