
QUESTION: How can I clean stainless steel pots that have boiled dry? I managed to remove some stains with baking soda and S.O.S pads.
Dawn, Portage La Prairie
ANSWER: Baking soda will do a good job but washing soda is stronger and does a great job at cleaning stainless steel pots. Boil one-quarter cup washing soda and enough water to fill the bottom of the pot. Let boil for five minutes. Cool and wipe out with vinegar. Or boil straight vinegar for five minutes and rinse. Or boil rhubarb leaves and water in the pot. Let boil for 10 minutes. Leave to cool and rinse.
QUESTION: I cleaned my self-clean oven and when it was done I noticed a huge yellow stain at the top of the oven door. Please advise me on how to get rid of it.
ANSWER: This is a challenge that needs to be taken up with the manufacturer. A minimal amount of discolouration is normal over time but a huge yellow stain is out of the ordinary. Perhaps the oven is not sealed properly. Contact the manufacturer or email the manufacturer's information to me and I will contact the company.
QUESTION: I enjoy your household solutions that appear in the Winnipeg Free Press. I want to know how to clean melted plastic stuff that has turned the bottom of our Teflon iron black and brown.
Elena, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Your best bet is to spray WD-40 onto a cloth. Wipe onto the unplugged iron and leave for 10 minutes. Scrub with an abrasive pad. Rinse well with dish soap and water.
QUESTION: I've just moved into a new home with bamboo floors. I'm told not to use water. Any safe floor-cleaning suggestions would be appreciated.
Heidi, Wampum
ANSWER: Bamboo is becoming all the rage! Installing bamboo flooring is great for families with asthma, allergies or other respiratory ailments. Treat your gorgeous bamboo flooring much as you would hardwood (although bamboo is not a wood but really a grass).
With the seasonal changes in Canada, our humidity levels can affect a bamboo floor. In the summer, when humidity is higher, the floor will expand; in the winter, when humidity is lower, the floor will contract. It is important to maintain a humidity level that is at least 45% throughout the year, with the help of a dehumidifier/humidifier.
Bamboo is sensitive to moisture so you want to limit the use of excessive water to clean the floor. Also like wood, bamboo can be purchased unfinished or finished with a urethane or acrylic finish.
To care for a bamboo floor, use a dry, untreated dust mop or micro-fibre flat mop daily. Or vacuum the floor with a brush head attachment. Spot-clean bamboo floors with a moist towel, a micro-fibre cloth or micro-fibre flat mop. Do not use any wood polish, wax or solvent cleaners or finishes on the floor, as they can damage or dull the surface. Do not wet-strip the floor. To restore the floor, use a screen disk or drum sand, or call in a professional. As well there are bamboo cleaners on the market or make a solution of 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water but remember not to over-wet. Enjoy!
QUESTION: I'm wondering how to clean a cream-coloured wool carpet on which I've tried cleaning off tea and wine stains with a damp white cloth and dish soap and have now got watermarks?
Bill, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You are right; you do need to use extra caution when dealing with wool carpets! You may want to have the carpets professionally cleaned. Or here is a solution similar to the "Fantastic Carpet Stain" recipe from Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions but great for wool carpets: Mix half a tsp. dish soap, 1 tsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. baking soda and 1 cup water and beat until frothy (test on an inconspicuous area first). Cover the stain with the foam and blot with paper towels, cover with plastic wrap. Pile heavy books on top and leave for 12 hours. I like this solution because it does not use water on a fibre that should not be wet. Let me know what you think!
QUESTION: I bought a bunch of wicker baskets. As I was driving home from the store I noticed a very distinct wicker smell and am afraid when I put clothes in them, the clothes will take on that smell. Is there a way to eliminate that smell? Can I spray-paint them the get rid of the smell?
Reg, Winnipeg
ANSWER: There are two different types of wicker; man-made and natural. If the wicker is man-made, clean the baskets by creating a paste of baking soda and water. Wipe and rinse. For natural wicker use a damp stiff brush dipped in salt and blow the salt off with a hairdryer. If the smell remains you can try stuffing the baskets with three-day-old or older newspaper. The next step if necessary is to clear-coat shellac the baskets or paint them with an oil base indoor/outdoor primer and paint.
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
Immediate relief for a wasp or bee sting can be attained by applying a paste made of meat tenderizer and a little water. Leave this on for at least a half hour to take away pain and itch.
When part of the stinger remains in the skin, apply a poultice to safely draw the stinger out, such as stale bread wetted with milk or a wet tea bag. Repeat if necessary. Look out for a rash or swelling that gets worse instead of better. If this happens, contact a doctor.
Another effective option for bee and wasps stings; dampen yarrow with water and gently press it onto affected area.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Check out my web site! www.householdsolutions.org
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national best sellers Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and the BRAND NEW Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives, available online and in stores across Canada.