QUESTION: Before I have my walls painted I would like to know: How do I find the exact same spot where I hung my pictures without marking my walls? Can you help me please? Mary, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You can either insert a small nail or pin into the hole (before painting) so you are able to see the hole. Or measure the exact spot of the hole on the wall using a measuring tape and then record the location of the hole onto a paper for future reference.
QUESTION: Can you please tell me how to remove rust stains from Corelle dishes? I know two other people who are tackling the same issue. I have tried Corelle cleaner and a baking soda and water paste but the stains remain. Please help. Marlene, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Reena's Corelleabunga Recipe: In a large pot, combine 3 cups (750 mL) vinegar, 4 cups (1 L) water and 2 tbsp. (30 mL) citric acid; bring to a boil. Set Corelle dish in the boiling mixture for five minutes. (the water must cover the dish). Remove dish with tongs and scrub rust area with an S.O.S pad. Rinse.
QUESTION: I hope you can help me. I spilt hair dye on our bathroom floor; it looks like little dots. We phoned the number on the back of the box but the company was unable to help. Leah, Winnipeg
ANSWER: This stain may be permanent but, before throwing in the towel, consider the following suggestions. If the floor is white, use RIT dye remover. According to the RIT website: "RIT can be used to dye many different types of materials including; wood, paper, plastic, feathers, and even canvas shoes!" So why not the floor?
Test the product on an inconspicuous area to be certain the floor will not discolour. Soak the area with hot water and RIT dye remover, pour the contents onto the affected area and note the difference. Worst-case scenario, replace a small section of the floor.
Other suggestions: Scrub the area with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) on a clean cloth. Or rub stain with mineral spirits or turpentine on a clean cloth. Or fingernail polish remover with acetone can be used, but apply carefully and sparingly. Clean area with vinyl floor manufacturer's recommended floor stripper and/or cleaner and a clean, nonabrasive scrub pad. Repeat as necessary.
QUESTION: I really enjoy your column and purchased several gift packs for family members at Christmas. I hope you have a simple solution for my problem. We have a farm home in which the living room and kitchen share the same stippled ceiling. All of our ceilings have already been spray-painted with a coat of paint. Unfortunately, cooking grease continues to find its way to the ceiling and dust particles attach themselves to the tiny grease droplets. After a while, you see little dust stalactites suspended from the ceiling.
Vacuuming the ceiling has helped some but, since the rest of our ceiling is still in good shape, I wonder whether there is a grease-dissolving solution that can be applied gently to solve this problem. Thanks! Barbara, Snow Lake, Man.
ANSWER: If the stipple was painted with an oil-based paint, you can paint over the oil with latex or oil. For general everyday cleaning, spray the ceiling with the following all-purpose cleaner recipe: 2 cups rubbing alcohol, half-cup household ammonia, 1 tsp. Dawn dish soap and enough water to fill the bottle. Spray, wipe and rinse. If stains remain, hide them by using shellac before repainting. The shellac will seal the stain and prevent it from bleeding through. Or paint with an oil-based stipple paint.
Lastly, touching up stipple on ceilings can be difficult to colour-match. Often, the entire surface must be repainted. Other options for touching up stipple are to sponge on colour-matched grout or stipple fix, which comes in a small container and is available at hardware stores.
QUESTION: I need your help before my family arrives for 10 days over Christmas. Last year, we bought a new glass-top stove and self-clean, hidden bottom-element oven. I hate my oven. Every time I cook, I smoke up the whole house. If anything goes over (no matter how small) the oven smokes up. I have to open every window in the house and smoke alarms are constantly going off. I've put food in oversized pots but one splash and that's it. Why is this oven so sensitive? I'm stressed out over this oven. What am I doing wrong? Karen, Winnipeg
ANSWER: In my opinion, you are the victim, not the cause. The fact the oven is almost one year old means you have no time to lose. Contact the manufacturer and explain the problem. You need a repairperson to come out and have a look before company arrives at your home. Secondly, by contacting the manufacturer you may be informed the stove was recalled. Act fast before the warranty runs out.
Fabulous Tip of the Week:
I recently had an incident with fresh gum on an airline seatbelt. I could not remove it but I came across a suggestion: heat up vinegar and apply it to the area and rub it off with a microfibre cloth. Linda, Winnipeg
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.
