QUESTION: We have unfinished cedar chairs. Last summer they became darkened from the drippy stuff that comes off our elm tree. I used soapy water and a scrubbing brush last fall and they are a tiny bit cleaner. Do you have any suggestions for removing the dark stains? Thank you very much, Jacquie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Many people prefer to allow their cedar furniture to "naturally age" outdoors without a stain or finish. Over time, the colourful tones of the wood slowly weather to a handsome silver-grey and the grain of the wood will become slightly raised. Left completely natural this silver-grey colour will eventually be highlighted by darker streaks formed from the reaction between the cedar resin and the zinc hardware. If the dark streaks are not for you, try cleaning the furniture with a 20 per cent solution of household bleach in water with one ounce of detergent per gallon. If the stains remain consider staining or painting the furniture and use a good wood sealer.
Extra tip: If you notice tree sap on wood furniture, rub with mayonnaise and wipe away sap. Next, make a solution of water and dish soap apply to wood and wipe.
QUESTION: When we moved into our house, there had been a lot of renovation work done and unfortunately the individuals who did those renovations failed to properly cover vents and flooring, meaning drywall dust was caked on all the new laminate floors, some of the cupboards, the closets. It's nasty stuff and it is everywhere! We've tried cleaning it off the kitchen floors but nothing seems to cut through it - we still have a dim look to the flooring and it still feels grimy. Any suggestions? As well, do you have any tips on how to keep the floor from marking as soon as we step on it? We can see our footprints, water droplets, anything that touches the flooring, in nice little patterns all over my kitchen. Thanks so much! Alicia, Swan River, MB
ANSWER: Make a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water. Add a few drops of dish soap (or cheap shampoo) to the mix. Wash the floors with a good quality micro fiber mop and dry with a towel. The walls can be washed in the same way. This recipe is wonderful but there are also commercial laminate cleaners that can be purchased from home hardware stores. Keep in mind that some types of laminate flooring mark a lot easier than others. Depending on the texture, finish, colour of laminate and the direction it was installed there may be nothing that you can do to remove water drop stains other than clean them each time they occur.
QUESTION: I tried cleaning my antique furniture with 3 parts linseed oil and 1 part turpentine, it left some parts looking wet and sticky. Any suggestions? Thanks Lois, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You may need to give the oil additional time to dry because linseed oil does take a VERY long time to fully cure. Some people use Tung Oil because it cures faster. The purpose of turpentine is that it thins the oil and allows it to penetrate the wood quicker. Basically you apply the mixture to the whole surface with a cloth and then go back over it with a clean cloth about 10 minutes later. Polish with fine steel wool and wax with furniture paste wax.
Did you test the combination on an inconspicuous piece by rubbing a few drops of linseed oil into the wood? If it absorbs, the wood has an oil finish. If it beads up, the wood has a hard finish. To identify which hard finish, rub acetone over a hidden spot in a gentle, circular motion. Lacquer will dissolve in 30 seconds under gentle, circular rubbing. Varnishes and shellacs will turn to a sticky, gel-like substance after a minute or two, and polyurethane/polyester finishes will shed acetone like water. (Shellac can be distinguished from a varnish because shellacs will dissolve quickly in denatured alcohol; varnish will react more slowly.)
Wash your wood furniture surfaces once a year with a sudsy solution of mild soap and water. Using a clean, soft cloth from which most of the water has been wrung; work on a small area at a time, overlapping areas as you work. Clean with the sudsy solution, then rinse with a soap-free dampened cloth, and dry immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth.
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Fabulous Vinegar Tips of the Week:
Add a few dashes of white or cider vinegar to the water in which you boil ham. It will draw out some of the salty taste and improve the flavour.
Soak fish in vinegar and water before cooking. You'll get a whiter, less "fishy" tasting fish. Use 2 tbsp. of white vinegar per quart of water and let fish fillets soak in it for 20 mins. before cooking.
Add 1 tsp. white vinegar to pie to cut the sugary sweetness and bring out the flavour in desserts such as pecan pie.
If soup or other food is too salty, add 1 tsp. white vinegar and 1 tsp. sugar and reheat.
