QUESTION: I love your column and your solutions, sure hope you can help me. I have a built-in kitchen soap dispenser by my sink and it takes 40 pumps (yes 40) to get the soap to come out. My handyman suggested that the soap is too thick and should be watered down. I tried that and it works. But by the next time I go to use it, the soap has gone back down the tube and again takes 40 pumps to retrieve it. Do you have any solutions? The faucet and pump are only three years old. Thanks so much. Sue, Winnipeg
ANSWER: It sounds as though either the dispenser or the straw has a crack in it. If the dispenser is drawing air instead of soap it will take a long time for soap to dispense. Remove all parts of the dispenser and soak them overnight in hot water to clean the entire unit. Experiment with the soap dispenser by pumping plain water through the system. If everything works properly, add soap. If you find that the soap needs thinning, pour in glycerine rather than water, as water will make the substance too watery. Also consider dish soap in the dispenser rather than hand soap. If the unit continues to malfunction, consider ordering a replacement part as you may have a faulty soap pump on your hands.
QUESTION: I bought a self-cleaning oven and lay aluminum foil on the bottom of the stove which I wasn't supposed to do. The aluminum has stuck to the bottom and I don't know what I can use to remove the stuck on foil. Please help me. Can I still use the self-cleaning cycle to clean my oven? Thanks, Brenda the Sad Housewife
ANSWER: No need to be sad Brenda, we've all been there in one way or another. You found out the hard way that foil should never be placed onto the bottom of a self-clean oven. In my opinion the best solution for you is to do very little because there isn't any safe way to quickly remove the foil without damaging the porcelain finish of the oven. You can use a plastic scrub pad, some liquid dish soap and a plastic scraper to remove loose pieces; this is best done when the oven is warm (be careful not to burn yourself). When you are wiping out the oven periodically, use a plastic scrub pad and each time more will come off. The great news is that the self-cleaning oven feature will eventually remove the foil; but it may take several cleaning cycles and a bunch of patience.
QUESTION: I read your column in the Free Press every Saturday and I have picked up many useful tips. The lower part of my white shower curtain (fabric not plastic) is covered with mould stains. I washed it in hot water first, then in water with bleach and finally rubbed it with vinegar and soda. The stains are still there. What else can I do? Thank you for your help. Lise, Winnipeg
ANSWER: I agree with you that your first step is baking soda and vinegar. Remove the shower curtain from the rings and lay the curtain into the bathtub. Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over mould. Next pour vinegar onto stain and let sit. After 20 minutes brush away stains with an old toothbrush. If the stains remain, drop the shower curtain into a large stainless steel pot and fill with water. Add 1 cup washing soda. Heat the water on the stove until it boils. Boil for 5 mins. Cool, and then wash the shower curtain in the washing machine as usual. Hang to dry. If the stains remain; pour three per cent hydrogen peroxide and salt onto stains and leave in sun for a day. Wash as usual. Repeat until clean.
