Question: It is almost time to bring my plants in from outside for the winter and I would like a homemade spray for aphids, spider mites and white flies which I usually fight every winter. Do you have something I can drench the soil with to help kill/deter these insects? Thanks, Lee, Winnipeg
ANSWER: In a one gallon milk jug, combine two tablespoons of dish soap, one tablespoon rubbing alcohol, dash of Tabasco sauce, one tbsp. canola oil and enough water to fill the jug. Pour the mixture into spray bottle and apply as needed (double recipe as needed). Another option is to steep cigarette tobacco in water. Leave for two days and spray plants.
QUESTION: My daughter is expecting a baby any day. She wants to use a sweater that I saved from when my two daughters were babies. After 34 years, the sweater actually looks very white, but next to the white dress she was going to pair it with, it doesn't look as white. Maybe the knit sweater will never look the same white as the dress. She won't use the sweater for a few weeks, but I want to try to do something beforehand. Could you give me some suggestions of what to use? Thanks, Karen, Steinbach
ANSWER: The clothes may never appear as the same white hue because there are actually many shades of white. There are a few products that you can use to whiten the little knit sweater, however, since I don't know the fiber content; just be sure to check the product box before using it on the sweater. Soak the item in eight cups of water and either a half cup washing soda or borax. If the item is washable you can put it into a stainless steel pot and boil it in the solution to whiten it. Or purchase Rit Dye Whitener to dye the sweater to a bright white.
QUESTION: Our house was built in 1949 and still has the original waxed wood finish on the floors. I used to be able to clean and wax them at the same time with Johnson's Beautifloor, a paste wax you pour, but can no longer find it. My mum used to use solvent (mineral spirits) and water, and then paste wax, but when I tried this I felt immediately sick from the fumes. There must be thousands of homes in Winnipeg with these lovely old floors. What are we supposed to do? Can you help, please? Thanks! Annie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: There are multiple products on the market designed specifically for cleaning waxed and un-waxed hardwood floors. Either way your intention is to clean the wood finish and not the wood itself. To determine if the floors are waxed, drop a small amount of water onto the boards. If a noticeable spot remains, the floor is likely waxed. If that is the case, check out cleaners for old waxed hardwood floor such as Renovator by Dura Seal -- you may need to purchase this online -- there are also many other options in stores. If your floor has a varnish finish, purchase polyurethane cleaner and then polyurethane sealer. If you prefer not to buy cleaner, you can clean the floor using a very small amount of water combined with equal parts white or apple cider vinegar. Clean with the use of a microfibre mop and dry as you clean. Some people prefer to add a few drops of Murphy's Oil Soap to the water to give the floor added luster.
Excellent household hints:
-- I keep a mug filled with fresh coffee grounds inside my fridge to absorb fridge odors. Ella
-- A piece of chewed gum found its way into my dryer and so I wiped the inside of the dryer with Goo Gone. Without much effort, the gum came off and then I cleaned the dryer with dish soap and water. Jack
-- After many years of making apple sauce I have figured out an easier way. Instead of peeling the apples first, I halve and core the apples. Next I put them in my double boiler and steam them for five minutes, the peel practically falls off. Mary
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a Corporate Presenter on the topic: Harness the Power of Words? Check out my website Reena.ca.
