QUESTION: I marked my white cardigan with a blue permanent marker. You said once before to use bug repellent to remove marker but I had already used a stain remover and then rinsed in cold water. Is it too late to try bug repellent? Should I hang the cardigan in the sun, would that help? Betty (Blumenort, Man.)
ANSWER: Sunlight will not help such a prominent and permanent stain. Spray the area with bug repellent and blot with water until marker is gone. A nurse recently told me she uses waterless hand cleaner to get permanent marker out of fabric. Other possible solutions: Mr. Clean original cleaner, hairspray, rubbing alcohol, WD-40, Sunlight laundry bar soap or soak the stain overnight in paint thinner and wash. Repeat as necessary.
QUESTION: We bought an old camper. The previous owners used mothballs inside. As a result, all of the foam mattresses smell like mothballs. I washed everything and have left the windows open and placed a raw onion inside. I washed the camper with Mr. Clean and Comet. What can I do to get rid of the mothball smell in the mattresses? I've had them outside for about two weeks. Thanks for your help. Jean (Lac du Bonnet, Man.)
ANSWER: When you're desperate, you're desperate and mothballs are one of those odours that can linger for years. Instead of temporarily covering the smell with air freshener sprays, you need to kill it. Vodka neutralizes most odours on contact and then evaporates. Pour vodka into a spray bottle and proceed to spray the smelly areas within the mattress. If you do not want to use vodka, make a solution of 50/50 ammonia and water. Spray the mattress liberally. Air dry. After the mattress is dry, sprinkle with baking soda. Leave for a day and vacuum.
QUESTION: What is liquid smoke used for? Mannie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You may have seen recipes that call for liquid smoke. The purpose of it is to impart barbeque or smoky flavour into food. This product is sometimes used by people who do not have a charcoal grill but enjoy smoky flavour. Many liquid smokes are all natural and they can be used safely. Some people use it in sauces such as barbeque sauce, stews and marinades. Other people find it has a chemical flavour and prefer not to use it.
Feedback from Manitoba readers:
I read your column, as I do every week, and noticed the question form Ingrid in Minnesota. The black goo that fell on her carpet is 'oil' from the faulty ballast. Old ballasts used to contain PCBs and that is why nobody will touch it. She will probably have to remove the carpet or call a hazardous waste company. Her electrician should have known better and should have prepared the work area to prevent the spill from getting on the floor.
From the US EPA website...
Do my fluorescent light ballasts contain PCBs?
-- Ballasts manufactured through 1979 may contain PCBs.
-- Ballasts manufactured between 1979 and 1998 that do not contain PCBs should be labelled "No PCBs." If a ballast is not labelled "No PCBs," it is best to assume it contains PCBs.
Hope it works out for her. Keep up the good work. Kevin, Winnipeg
Hey Reena,
After reading the subject article in Saturday's Free Press, I have a couple of comments that may help:
1. "It sounds as though all of the glass was cleaned up." There is no mention of broken glass in Ingrid's question.
2. The "electrician" Ingrid called was most likely not a licensed electrician, as any journeyman electrician has most likely changed a lot of ballasts from the time they were a new apprentice. They are also skilled at changing ballasts without dropping the goop onto the floor or anywhere else.
3. The "Black Goop" is tar insulation that almost all ballasts have inside. The reason ballasts need to be replaced is they leak and stop functioning.
4. Get a qualified carpet cleaner, tell them it is tar based, and they will be able to remove most of the stain.
Hope this helps. Glockenfeather Nosetweak, a.k.a. Big Bird
Fantastic Tip of the Week:
Looking for a healthy snack? Try homemade salsa. Salsa does not need to be cooked, however uncooked salsa has more of a bite. If you choose not to cook salsa, you may want to caramelize the onions before adding them to your salsa.
In a blender combine: 4 chopped Roma tomatoes, 1 small onion, 3 sprigs of cilantro, 2 Jalape±o peppers, 2 garlic cloves, juice of 2 limes and half tsp. salt. Blend until the desired texture is reached. If you choose to cook salsa, allow it to simmer for 15-30 minutes until the thickness is appealing to you.
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.
