Question: We hired my niece to paint the basement steps while we were away on vacation. She did a great job on the steps, but left the paintbrushes out and they dried up. Is there any way to soften the bristles so that the brushes can be used once again?
— Robert
Answer: Dip the paintbrushes in turpentine oil and let them stand for 15 to 20 minutes.
Rub the brushes against a clean piece of cloth to test if the paint is coming off (re-immerse if needed).
Or bring a pan of white vinegar to a boil on your stove and allow your paintbrushes to simmer for five minutes (in an old pot no longer used for cooking). Remove from the pan and wash in hot soapy water.
Soaking paintbrushes in hair conditioner, paint thinner or linseed oil are also options.
Question: Can you tell me how to get cat urine out of the wood in a chesterfield? I got it out of the material okay.
— Grace
Answer: Consider generously spraying and wiping the wood with one of the following solutions: 50/50 vinegar and three-per-cent hydrogen peroxide or 50/50 Listerine Mouthwash and white vinegar or vodka (a wonderful odour absorber).
You can also combine 20 drops of tea tree oil with one cup water into a spray bottle and spray the wood. Essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender, cinnamon, rose, etc. are available at health food stores as well as many grocery stores in the pharmacy department.
(Test all solutions on an inconspicuous area first).
Question: After I bake meatloaf and take it out of the oven, I slice it and it always falls apart. What can I do to prevent this? Thanks.
— Sara
Answer: After removing meatloaf from the oven, allow it to cool down. Once cool, drain the fat and then place the pan of meatloaf into the freezer for about an hour. Remove the meatloaf from the pan, slice and reheat. The meatloaf should stay together much better.
Tips for Foodies
My daughter was recently married and, after the reception, we were left with piles of baked potatoes. I spent a few hours shaving the potatoes into slices, and then I froze them on a baking sheet and put them into sealable bags. What a blessing it is to be able to take potatoes out of the freezer and add them to hash brown casserole and soups.
— Ladee
Using fresh herbs whenever possible is a good idea. Use 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried.
Keep in mind that as dried herbs get older, they begin to lose their flavour. If you’ve been adding more than the recipe calls for to make up for that loss of flavour, you might accidentally add too much of the fresh herb. So, use the substitution suggestion as a guide when you add fresh herbs, and adjust the amount to taste.
— Laurin
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca
