QUESTION: We recently installed new hardwood flooring in the dining room. The protective felt pads on the dining room chairs occasionally slide off and smear sticky glue backing onto the hardwood floor. What process or product would best remove the glue without damaging the finish on the hardwood? Duane, Winnipeg
ANSWER: To tackle this problem, use smooth peanut butter. Smear it onto the wood, leave it for a few minutes and wipe the adhesion away with a plastic putty knife.
QUESTION: My son always begs me to put non-permanent tattoos on his arm. After awhile they look like blobs of dirt. Can you suggest an easy and safe way to clean his arm? Donalda (Emerson, Man.)
ANSWER: Wipe your son's arm with rubbing alcohol, it cleans up in a snap!
QUESTION: My car is old and carries a stale odour. Can you give me an idea of how I can make a non-toxic air freshener that will last a long time and smell great? Wesley (Otterburne, Man.)
ANSWER: Cut a sponge to fit inside of a plastic container. Into the container pour 4 tbsp. cooking oil plus the following essential oils: 8 drops rosewood, 8 drops grapefruit, 8 drops peppermint and 5 drops cinnamon. Essential oils are about $10 per bottle but they last for years and years. You can purchase essential oils at health food stores as well as some grocery stores. Next, puncture holes into the lid and secure it tightly so that no oil spills. As months go by and the smell begins to fade make the holes of the lid larger so that additional fragrance is expelled.
QUESTION: On a recent cruise to Alaska, my friend and I both purchased black jackets. Upon wearing them, our husbands proclaimed "You smell like diesel fuel"! We have both washed the jackets (three times) and kept them out in the fresh air but to no avail. They are made of polyester (Chinese polyester). Needless to say, we cannot take them back to Skagway! Any ideas on reducing the smell? Thanks, Sheila, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Sounds like the smell is coming from the dye of the jacket, in which case not much can be done. Soak the jackets for a few hours in vinegar and water and then borax and water. Wash the jackets as usual and hang them outside to dry. If the smell persists, your best bet is to wait and hope that the odour fades over time.
QUESTION: My daughter-in-law's cat peed on my son's hockey bag while on the basement floor. He has washed all the equipment but the smell still lingers in that room. We have washed the concrete three times now with a bleach/water mixture. Any suggestions on getting rid of the odour? It certainly isn't as bad as it was but definitely is still there. Thank you so much. Billee, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Purchase several bottles of lemon juice and soak the entire area, and add to that an entire box of baking soda. Let the concoction foam up and sit for at least one hour. Wipe and rinse. Or saturate the concrete with an enzymatic cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle. Enzyme cleaners are effective because they break down molecules and eliminate odours.
Fabulous tips to flush down the drain:
* Use empty toilet paper rolls to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll which appliance it belongs to.
* If your cat enjoys unravelling toilet paper, use a long rubber band and wrap it around the ends of the holder. The cat will soon lose interest.
* The next time you buy toilet rolls, slip a few over the handle of your toilet brush. That way you will always have a roll nearby.
* Before you take your RV on the road, squish the toilet paper roll so that it does not unravel while you drive. Or hang the roll so that the toilet paper is under the roll instead of over (stays on the roll better).
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.
