QUESTION: I find the closets in our home always smell stale when we open the doors. I have repeatedly bought reed diffusers only to find they evaporate quickly. I am back to square one. Can you help?
— Lorraine
Answer: Here are a few hints to keep your closets smelling fresh: store open bars of soap in the closet; keep an open box of baking soda inside the closet to absorb odours; tuck fabric-softener sheets inside closets for excellent room fresheners.
Other suggestions? Scented tea bags or potpourri, fresh coffee beans in a sock, a bag of open activated charcoal or unlit fragrant candles can help.
You can also make your own air freshener. Into a spray bottle, add a quarter cup of your favourite scented liquid fabric softener, then fill the remaining portion of the bottle with water, then spray into closets for a fresh scent.
Finally, you can spray all fabrics in the closet with vodka — this will take away all musty scents.
QUESTION: I have a pair of expensive new leather shoes that are too tight around the toes. Other than using a shoe stretcher and distorting the shoes, how can I stretch them?
— Marsha
Answer: Here are effective techniques for shoe stretching. Put on a pair of thick socks and slip into your shoes; then wave a hot hair dryer over the tight area for 30 seconds. Take a break and repeat. As the textile heats, it becomes easier to shape and stretch.
Another option is to use cold instead of heat. Fill a sealable bag with water. Seal the bag and put it inside another sealable bag. Remove the air from the second bag and close it. Insert the water bag into the shoes. Freeze the shoes overnight. Remove the ice bag in the morning.
QUESTION: I regularly purchase asparagus; however, I often leave it too long before cooking it. Do you have any advice for reviving limp asparagus so that I don’t waste any more money?
— Denise
Answer: Reviving asparagus is the same as reviving limp celery. Place veggies in a tall vase with ice water in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Feedback from friendly Manitobans
Re: Ugly stains in toilet
My brother had the same problem of toilet stains in his bathroom. WC Potts in Winnipeg sells a bathroom cleaner called KRC-7. It is amazing. Safe for septic systems and cleans incredibly well. Have a good day.
— E
Re: Ugly stains in toilet
We also live in the country and resolved our toilet stains by purchasing a water softener with an iron filter. No more brown mess.
— Jerrod
Summer tips of the week
• To prevent fish from sticking to your grill, rub the grates with the cut side of half a potato before grilling.
• Keep children’s yard toys organized by storing them in a clean, large plastic garbage can with wheels. This is a great way to store bats, mitts, skipping ropes and more. Plus, it wheels to wherever you are, making cleanup a snap.
• Brush a little clear nail polish on the underside of metal containers to prevent rust marks on countertops.
Sweet ’n’ Sassy BBQ Sauce
Mix a few spoonfuls of jelly into your favourite barbecue sauce. Brush over chicken or ribs toward the last few minutes of grilling. Or add jelly to bottled vinaigrette salad dressing to enhance the flavour.
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 motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca
