QUESTION: How can I clean oven racks by soaking them in borax and water? I tried once and it worked fantastically but I have misplaced the information and don't know how much borax to use. Cathy (Killarney, MB)
ANSWER: An easy way to clean a non-self-cleaning oven is to sprinkle the bottom of the oven with baking soda. Pour white vinegar over the baking soda, let bubble and soak for 30 minutes. Wipe and rinse with water.
In the meantime, put an old towel on the bottom of your bathtub, fill it with hot water and one cup of washing soda (if you cannot find washing soda, borax is an alternative). Let oven racks soak overnight and in the morning (while wearing gloves) rinse the racks and wipe with vinegar. Caution: Never leave water in a bathtub overnight if young children are accessible.
You can also use borax to make an all-purpose cleaner for countertops, walls, backsplashes etc. In a spray bottle, combine 2 tsp. borax with four cups hot water. Add 1 tsp. dish soap and 4 tbsp. white vinegar. Shake, spray and wipe.
QUESTION: We have a two-storey, slab, on-grade home. The main living area is on the first floor where we have an open fireplace. On the ground floor we have a wood-burning stove. Both fires are served by a single exterior masonry chimney with a separate flue for each unit.
The problem is that in cool damp weather the flue for the wood-burner backdrafts and we end up with an acrid smell in the house. We have tried putting in a new stove, stuffing paper in the door and latching it ,and even tried putting bowls of kitty litter in the stove without success. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks. Anne and Dick, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Cozy up in front of a woodstove on a frigid day and you won't want to leave your home, but sometimes the unwelcome smell of a woodstove can send you running. You were smart to replace the older wood stove with an airtight model that will reduce harmful emissions because even if you wisely and thoroughly clean the stove box often, any traces of ashes will fill the room with odour.
Here are a few additional solutions to try: Close the damper whenever not in use. Add a top sealing damper and a tight fitting glass fireplace screen. Pouring vinegar into the box of the screen will not be strong enough to combat the odor which is coming from the pipe and sides and top of the box, proper sealing is your best solution.
QUESTION: I have a blue shirt that leaves my body blue. I've soaked it in vinegar and also a salt solution. I really love the shirt but hate having to shower every time I wear it. It was an expensive shirt and purchased in an airport so I can't return it. Michelle, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Sometimes textiles are not completely colorfast and soaking them in vinegar or salt helps. However, it sounds as though the dye used to make your shirt is faulty.
Check the manufacturer's label on the shirt and contact the company to explain the situation. Many companies will send you an offer to reimburse at least part of your cost. Another option is to head to a store that usually carries fabric dye because they often also sell dye treatments that set textile dye. If you cannot find a color set product, purchase dye remover and then re-dye the fabric.
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