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Renovation & Design

Solutions: Fixing stains and wobbly locks

QUESTION -- I have four butter knives from the American Silversmiths Collection, and they have stains on them I can't remove. They look like smudges. Can you help? Janet (Winnipeg)

ANSWER -- You may want to purchase the commercial cleaning product recommended by the company. If not, combine two cups of whole milk and one tablespoon of cream of tartar. Soak for 30 mins. Rinse with water and polish with white vinegar. Or take a pan, line it with crumpled aluminum foil and add one teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of baking soda, half a cup of white vinegar and half a cup of hot water. Place the cutlery onto the foil, making sure every part of the cutlery touches the foil. Wait five mins, then remove and polish.

 

QUESTION -- My door lock wobbles, and although the door is locked, it feels unstable. How can I stop the lock from wobbling? Adolf (Grunthal)

ANSWER -- Try to tighten the set screw just behind the handle. A lock is only as strong as the door it's attached to. If your door is hollow, consider installing a solid or metal door.

 

QUESTION -- Is it true brown eggs are healthier than white eggs? I notice brown eggs cost more, so I want to know if they are worth spending a bit more to be healthy. Myron (Rosenort)

ANSWER -- White eggs are just as healthy as brown eggs. The colour of the egg has nothing to do with health properties. However, if you purchase brown eggs one week and white the next, you will easily be able to tell which were purchased first. This works great for people who have difficulty reading small print.

 

Handy hints of the week:

-- We have "Try on jeans day" in my house, and whatever doesn't go on easily or fit comfortably is donated to charity. That said, zippers can be sticky regardless of the fit, so after nicking a second nail, I pulled out an old crochet needle and voila, problem solved. Charlotte of Charlotte's Place (Winnipeg)

-- Never iron again. Instead of ironing clothing, wet them and throw them into the dryer. Take them out and put them on, wrinkle-free. Hildegard (Morden)

-- Prevent seat cushions from sliding forward by pinning a towel to the base under the cushion. This creates a slip-resistant surface. Tim (Russell)

-- Remove tea stains from teeth by occasionally brushing them with lemon juice. Mona (Winnipeg)

 

I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out Reena.ca.

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