QUESTION: I spilt coffee on my carpet, but did not notice it for several months. I have tried club soda, water and various spot removers. But I cannot get it out. It is certainly better than when I first saw it, but there is definitely a brown stain on the grey carpet. I am moving soon, so if you know of anything that will remove this stain, please let me know. Thanks. Rosemary, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Here is one of my favourite formulas from my first book and it was given to me by my aunt. I have changed the amounts somewhat and used this formula many times for pet, food and plant stains. In my experience no damage has ever occurred and the results have surpassed any of the commercial cleaning agents. However, use at your own risk. You may want to test a small area of carpet before applying the recipe. Some stains are impossible to remove, but coffee is not one of them. Best wishes.
Step 1: Mix together half a teaspoon of clear dish soap and one cup of warm water. Blot (do not scrub) onto stain and leave for five minutes. Pat area dry using a white towel.
Step 2: Mix together one-half cup hydrogen peroxide and two tablespoons of ammonia. Dip white towel in solution and blot onto stain. Cover the stain with clear plastic wrap and weigh down with heavy books. Make sure the books are not touching the carpet because if the book gets wet, the dye from the paper can seep onto the carpet. Leave for 12 hours.
Step 3: Blot dry.
Step 4: Blot with warm water and dry two-three times.
Step 5: Air dry.
Step 6: When dry, blot with white vinegar and leave.
The area should be a little wetter than damp, which means you may need to double the recipe if the stain is large.
QUESTION: My son was doing a project for school using play dough and modelling clay. On my kitchen counter he used the rolling pin to flatten everything out. Now I have a stain on the counter that I can't remove. It's almost like the finish is gone. I've tried rubbing alcohol and I've tried vinegar. Any suggestions? Lori (Gimli, Man.)
ANSWER: Not being sure of your countertop material, I will assume you are dealing with a laminate counter (common name brands, Arborite and Formica). Begin by mixing a paste of baking soda and water, leave for one hour and wipe. If the stain remains, purchase a commercial product specifically designed to renew laminate countertops. These are readily available at home hardware stores.
QUESTION: Could you please tell me if there is any way to restore the gold finish on several pieces of a silverware set that was accidentally placed into a bleach solution? At a wedding the community ladies were catering, a few pieces accidentally ended up in the bleach rinse solution. The bride told us the set was about 20 years old. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Barb, Winnipeg
ANSWER: This sounds like surface damage only. Using non-bleach, non-gel toothpaste, gently scrub the cutlery to polish. Or wipe each piece with lemon juice and cream of tartar or jewelry cleaner. Or take the cutlery to a professional jeweller to clean.
Wonderful feedback from a caring Manitoban:
Hi Reena,
I have been following your column for years and have found it very helpful; however, I question your recent Fabulous Tips of the Week.
-- Using used facial tissue as extra stuffing for pillows, to me, is unsanitary.
-- Washing toothpicks and reusing them up to eight times, sounds gross to me. Why would you do that? Toothpicks are cheap.
-- Attaching clothes to the bottom of your slippers to polish your floors as you walk, on my floors would be dangerous as they are slippery enough as it is.
-- Sharing the family cleaning is a great idea, as kids should have their own jobs contributing to the family unit. I'm all for using household products for cleaning and using fewer chemicals. Cathy, Winnipeg
Please note that the tips under the heading Fabulous Tips of the Week were not meant to be taken seriously, just a little holiday humour.
Electrifying Tips of the Week:
-- Do not overload electrical outlets.
-- Check all extension cords to make sure that they are in great condition. If the chords feel warm after a period of use, replace chords with an approved Canadian Standards Association (CSA) product.
-- Use indoor lights for indoor use and outdoor lights for outdoor use.
-- Turn off lights when not at home or when sleeping.
-- Avoid overloading electrical outlets.
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.
