QUESTION: I'm having problems getting rid of pantry moths. Any suggestions? -- Lin, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Pantry moths can be found in rice, pasta, cake mixes, rat or mouse bait, breakfast cereals, children's artwork (containing pasta, corn, etc.), herbs, spices any grain, feed, seed, dried vegetables (decorative or edible) or dried fruit.
Vacuum all shelves and wash with vinegar and water. Throw out all grains that may have been infected by larvae. If you bring any grain-based products into the house, immediately put them in the freezer for four days before putting them away in your pantry. This will kill any eggs or larvae that are already inside. Store your food in airtight containers, which are made of hard plastic, glass or metal (no plastic bags). The best way to determine whether a container is really airtight is to fill it up with water and see if it leaks.
If you have frequent moth problems, consider storing all of your grain-based products in the freezer instead of the pantry. Sprinkle lavender chips or cedar chips in cupboards to prevent moths from invading. Most of the moth control products available are moth poisons, moth traps, and mothballs. Mothballs are not a healthy product to keep in the home, especially near food.
QUESTION: How can I get children's paint that was supposed to be washable out of my children's clothing? Some colours (black and blue especially) never really come out. The paints are labelled washable. I can't do much about the choice of paints; they are provided by our daycare. -- Jill, Winnipeg
ANSWER: For best results, paint needs to be treated no longer than six hours post mess. Soak the clothes in heavy-duty detergent and water for a few hours before washing. If that doesn't do it, spray Windex or equal parts turpentine and ammonia onto the stain before washing. Use a stiff brush to scrub the stain and then wash as usual. If the stain still remains, soak in paint thinner for a few hours before washing and scrub. The downside to this is the strong smell; therefore, after using paint thinner, soak the clothes in washing soda and water to get rid of some of the smell. If the stains have already been washed and dried they will be difficult to remove.
QUESTION: I have silver-white hair that yellows in the summer sun. Do you have a solution for me? Wearing a hat is not always an option. -- Marion, Rosenort
ANSWER: The hair discolouration is due largely to contaminates (iron, calcium, chlorine and copper) in the shower water and swimming pool and general pollution. The lack of pigment in white hair easily shows the accumulation of residue, but there is help for this condition unless the problem is caused by a factor that is left unchanged such as smoking or high iron content in your water.
Use a purifying blue shampoo every once in a while to remove buildup. A shampoo with a blue/ash or silver tone will also help to naturalize any yellow tones and enhance the white or grey hairs; this makes sense since they are opposite colours to each other on the colour wheel. Don't use it too often and make sure to evenly distribute shampoo or you will get a patchy result.
Also, Pantene makes a shampoo specially formulated for grey/silver/white hair to help keep it looking its best (Pantene Pro V Silver Expressions). KMS, and Nexxus, Finesse (enhancing), Jhirmack Silver Brightening shampoos also make wonderful shampoos for grey hair to keep it from looking yellow and brassy. Lather up twice, once to clean your hair, the second time leave the shampoo in your hair for about five minutes.
If you want to go one step further, before styling and drying, apply three capfuls of Fanciful temporary colour in White Minx. Keep in mind all these products will look purple (they're supposed to; it's the chemical that brightens grey hair).
You can also check out the Aveda line of shampoos. Most shampoos use sodium laurel sulfate to aid in the sudsy, soapy formula. This chemical really removes a lot of moisture and good oils from the hair. A product with less sodium laurel sulphate is going to be easier on colour-treated hair.
QUESTION: I am trying to remove old labels from new, glossy-covered books. -- Barbara, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Use a hot hair dryer to loosen adhesive, then peel off. Press duct tape on label then pull (being careful not to rip the paper off). Rubbing alcohol, Goo Gone, nail polish remover, WD-40 and Skin So Soft by Avon are also options.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Keep hair from clogging up drains by inserting a hair catcher. This little gadget is inexpensive and easy to pop into drains. Dump the collected debris into your compost. Double duty, I love it.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming!
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.
