QUESTION: I was at a Valentine party. To begin the evening, we (ladies only) were given a peel-and-stick red heart. I peeled mine and pressed it on the lapel of my black, finely ribbed pantsuit. To make sure it stuck, I gave it an extra pat. Later, when we tore the heart off, we saw another heart -- an unwanted one!
Some ladies were smarter and just peeled the hearts off, but several women were left with an unwanted heart. Some tried rubbing it with an ice cube. No dice! I haven't touched mine. Please help! Grace, Winnipeg
ANSWER: In order to zap the residue left on your suit, wipe the area with either mayonnaise or rubbing alcohol. Leave it for five minutes and wipe away. Next (if you chose mayonnaise), gently wipe the spot with dish soap and water so no greasy residue is left on the fabric. Test on an inconspicuous area first.
QUESTION: I would like to know if and where I can recycle aluminum? I saw a pan in a store that said "Made from recycled aluminum." John, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You can recycle aluminum cans because they are easily compacted and resold back to drink companies. However, aluminum foil and any aluminum cookware is non-recyclable. According to the local expert I spoke to, "aluminum should be discarded with the trash." Rather than trash items, consider giving aluminum products to self-help. Many people use them for gardening purposes. Note: Plastic bags are no longer acceptable for recycling.
QUESTION: My colleagues hold you in high regard and directed me to you to find out how to remove the smell of varnish that is permeating through my house. We are currently under house renovations and our contractor has lacquered the doors and baseboards in the basement. It's been a week and we still cannot seem to get rid of the smell.
I've got bowls of cat litter, baking soda and water in various positions of the house. We're lighting candles and turning on fans when possible. None of these seem to be working. Do you have any solutions? Please advise. Geraldine, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Open the windows, because outside air is the best way to rid your house of smells. Next, get some fresh coffee grounds and put a nice scoop or three in filters and leave them in each room. You can even fill socks with unused coffee, tie them with an elastic band and toss them into any room that smells. Or place big bags of charcoal in rooms to absorb odours. The more coffee socks, the better.
Worst-case scenario: Coat the baseboards with good-quality shellac.
QUESTION: We have a problem with rough, hard towels, bath towels and hand towels. Even new towels get rough and abrasive after a few washes. We have a front-loading, four-year-old clothes washer that requires HE soap. Cheers, Lorne, Winnipeg
ANSWER: In many cases, limestone buildup in your water will cause fabrics to feel rough. Add vinegar to each load of laundry. By doing this, the limestone breaks down and helps fabrics to soften. Whether you use detergent or fabric softener in the wash, you may also notice differences in texture if you use too much or too little detergent. Check out the instructions on the bottle and measure according to directions.
Feedback from a caring Manitoban
Dear Reena:
I had a pot badly burnt with dried apples. I put a good handful of baking soda on the bottom and covered it with vinegar. Left overnight, it came off easily without elbow grease! Always enjoy your handy tips. Signed, Regular Reader
Fabulous tips of the week
-- Peel garlic with ease. Use a large vegetable knife and cut off both ends of the garlic. Place the knife horizontally on top of the clove. Using your fist, bang down on the knife so the garlic is crushed.
-- Deodorize and remove stains on wooden bowls by soaking them in a baking soda and water solution.
-- Keep fresh corn yellow when cooking by adding one teaspoon of lemon juice to the cooking water a minute before you remove it from the stove.
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.
