QUESTION: I am trying to eliminate an unwanted and stubborn sink odour. It is not obnoxious, but it is annoying. It smells very musty and stale. I have tried baking soda, vinegar, organic sink un-clogger and bleach without much enduring success. Can you help please?
-- Jay, Plumas, MB
ANSWER: This problem is annoying especially when company is coming over. The sink dilemma may involve the drain and vent. Begin by pouring vinegar into the drain hole; scrub with an old toothbrush. Also, the trap under the basin may not be holding enough water thus allowing sewer fumes into the room. Make sure that the trap holds water; it could be that the overflow on the basin needs cleaning. If possible, remove the trap and clean it well with vinegar, water and dish soap.
Clean the drain: Pour 1 cup vinegar into drain, chase with 1 cup baking soda. Plug the drain and fill the sink with hot water. Leave overnight and in the morning let drain. It takes a couple of treatments to effectively remedy the odour. Do this once a month to keep the bathroom smelling fresh. If you are only noticing the smell during winter months, chances are that the stack on top of your house is frozen over. If this is the case you may want to pour boiling water into the stack to get rid of ice blocks.
Most bathroom drain slowdowns and blockages start at the popup assembly, not at the trap or in the other drain lines. The culprits are the pivot rod and the stopper, which collect bits of hair and "stuff" over time. This mass grows large until it eventually slows down sink drainage or causes a full-blown blockage. Either remove the stopper or hire a professional to do the task. Clean out all of the mess on the stoppers and the metal rod. While holding a sponge over the hole where the pivot rod was removed, flush the drain with hot water.
QUESTION: I look forward to your column in the newspaper each week. Your solutions are great! Here is my question: How do I get "freezer smell" out of ice cube trays?
-- Liz, Winnipeg
ANSWER: When making ice cubes let's begin with the water supply. If you have hard water, with lots of minerals in it, you're best off to use distilled water. Whether starting with tap water or distilled water, boil the water to get some of the air out of it. If you're pouring the water into plastic trays, let the water cool somewhat before making ice cubes. Chances are that the odour is coming from food that has gotten into the insulation system of your freezer. Put 1 tbsp. vanilla extract on a small plate and set in the freezer, repeat three times. Or purchase activated charcoal from a pet store. Place in freezer to remove smell. Lastly, clean the ice cube trays periodically with a mixture of baking soda and water.
QUESTION: Please tell me what you mean by "HE" detergents for front-end loader washing machines. Thank you.
-- Glyn, St. Andrews
ANSWER: HE stands for high efficiency detergent which is specially made for front-end loading washing machines. HE detergent produces fewer suds and makes good use of water inside the machine. HE detergent is not suited for older washing machines and may become a problem over time. Since HE detergent produces less sudsing, excess detergent residue is less likely to remain in fabrics from one cycle to the next. Typically, HE detergents do not cost more than normal detergents and they are becoming readily available.
Using proper HE detergent for your high-efficiency low water washer will enable your laundry appliance to perform as it should.
QUESTION: I read in your column last year about controlling weeds. I think you mixed vinegar, dish soap, and salt but I misplaced the formula. Also, can I buy your book on your website?
-- Parker, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You are right about the ingredients for controlling weeds. Here are the amounts: 4 cups white vinegar, half cup salt and 2 tbsp. dish soap. Combine in a spray bottle and spray on weeds. Be careful, however, because this recipe will kill anything green. The solution will take effect after a few days, reapply as necessary.
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
* When buying a skillet, even if it has non-stick coating make sure it has a thick bottom. The thicker the bottom, the more control you will have over the pan. A thin pan can't handle high heat and can get hot spots or warp, making it easier for food burn.
* Throw out non-stick pans or baking sheets if the coating begins to come off. Also, cooking with lemon-based foods in non-stick ware may reduce durability and the coating is more likely to peel.
* You don't need to buy "a set" of pots. Collect a 2-quart saucepan, a 4-quart saucepan, 8-quart stockpot and perhaps a non-stick fry pan (that way you can reduce fat quantity).
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national best sellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and the soon-to-be released book Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives available online and in stores across Canada.
www.householdsolutions.org
