QUESTION: For 30 years I have always put a heavy protector on my oak table whenever I use it. However, a couple of weeks ago I just threw a tablecloth directly onto the table. Now I have a whitish mark several inches wide on the wood. I put a hot casserole on a pot holder on the table.
I'm not sure if it was heat or moisture, but I applied an oily polish which didn't seem to change the mark. Do you have any suggestions for how to restore or disguise or cover up this mark? Theresa, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Smear the area with mayonnaise and wait for one hour. Wipe the area and observe if the stain is gone. If the stain remains, cover the spot with a tea towel and press with a hot iron to draw out excess moisture in the wood. If neither solution is successful, then your best option is to refinish the table. Please note: The mark may disappear on its own after the moisture evaporates.
QUESTION: I have inherited a strand of old cultured pearls and am wondering if they should be cleaned and, if so, how? Thanks, Anonymous.
ANSWER: Your best bet is to place your pearls into a clean leg of pantyhose, tie the opening with a rubber band. Fill your sink with baby shampoo and warm water. Clean pearls under water using a soft cloth. Stay clear of anything containing ammonia or abrasives. Wipe pearls after each wearing; it's also a good idea to restring your pearls when the string starts to look dingy to keep your jewelry looking its very best.
QUESTION: What is the best way to store apples? I store mine in a fruit basket on the counter and if one gets a bruise the rest are rotten within a few days. Lana, Gretna
ANSWER: You are right; contact with one rotten apple will spoil the entire bunch. If you are planning to store apples for an extended period of time, wrap each unwashed apple individually with a piece of newspaper and store inside a box in a cool, dark place such as the basement, refrigerator or your pantry. The newspaper is intended to prevent apples from contacting one another thereby protecting each apple. Bruised apples should not be stored for longer than a few days; either use them right away or make them into apple cider, apple pie filling or applesauce. If the apples are to be eaten within a few days, store them in the fridge away from carrots and potatoes.
QUESTION: I was wondering if you know of a solution that I can use to clean the inside of a stainless steel coffee thermos. It's a small narrow one, so it's difficult to use a brush to scrub it. Thanks very much. Barb, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You shouldn't need to brush the inside of the thermos. Fill the thermos half full with vinegar, add two tablespoons baking soda, a few drops of dish soap and some broken egg shells (optional). The mixture will bubble. After the bubbles have disappeared, add boiling water, close with the lid and leave overnight (denture tablets work in the same way). In the morning shake, dump and rinse with water.
QUESTION: When making egg stir fry, is it best to add the eggs while cooking the noodles/rice. Or should you cook the egg separately and then add them to the rice? Vincent, Little Grand Rapids
ANSWER: Ask 10 different people how to make egg stir fry, and you will probably receive 10 different answers. Restaurants often cook the eggs separately (in a lot of oil) before stir frying all other components of the meal. After the meat, veggies and noodles or rice are fried, the eggs get added back and stirred with soya sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and sugar. For fluffier eggs, add milk when beating the eggs. Make sure that you remove the eggs from the stove before they brown.
Sneaky Tips for Keeping Raccoons at Bay:
-- Position a radio near your garden and attach a timer to it. Raccoons are scared of people and will run at the sound of human voices.
-- You won't see a raccoon trading his mask for a cucumber spa mask. Plant cucumbers around your veggies; raccoons don't like prickles or the smell of cucumber.
-- Enclose your veggie garden with a chicken wire fence. They may be able to climb to the top but their weight will make it difficult to crawl over the fence. Secure the fence in the ground but leave the top floppy.
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.
