QUESTION: I am overweight and have had both my knees replaced. The problem is the shoelaces on my shoes are round instead of flat.
The laces constantly come undone. How can I prevent this? I also have another pet peeve about new winter coats. Manufacturers only provide one extra button.
What am I supposed to do if that one button gets lost? Julie, Winnipeg
Answer: Aside from the obvious suggestion of double knotting your laces, here are a few other suggestions to try: 1) Lace your shoes from the bottom to the top so the bow is at the top. 2) After tying shoes, tuck the aglets inside of the shoes. 3) Make a loop with one hand and wrap the other lace around the loop, just like normal. Wrap the same lace around the loop again to make untying difficult. Finish normally. 4) If all else fails, superglue your laces and slip your foot in and out of the shoe without ever untying the laces.
After purchasing a new coat, take a few moments to sew the extra button to the inside of the coat with a few stiches. Doing this prevents the button from getting lost; if you need the button cut the threads. For extra buttons, check out second hand stores; they often sell bags or big jars of assorted buttons.
Question: I want to share with you a handy tip to remove orange coloured stains from the toilet bowl, due to iron in well water. Drop a couple of denture tablets in the bowl in the evening and by morning the bowl should be clean. Repeat if needed. Also, do you have a home remedy for cleaning an oven? Ray, Winnipeg
Answer: For people who do not own a selfcleaning oven, the oven mess does not have to become a dreaded chore. The world’s easiest way to clean an oven is to sprinkle the bottom with baking soda. Pour white vinegar over the baking soda, let bubble and soak for 30 minutes. Wipe and rinse with water. In the meantime put an old towel on the bottom of your bathtub, fill it with hot water and one cup of washing soda. Let oven racks soak overnight and in the morning (while wearing gloves) rinse the racks and wipe with vinegar. Clean as a whistle. Do not leave water in the tub if small children live in the home.
Question: My wife has round hairbrushes that she wanted me to clean. In the past I used a one thin pick type tool. This time I used a fork from the kitchen drawer. It took me less than 40 seconds to put the fork underneath the hair and lift up the hair and clean the entire brush. Also, what can a person do to remove red hair dye from regular carpet? Terry, Winnipeg
Answer: Thank-you for the hairbrush cleaning tip. The trick to removing hair dye from carpet is to clean the carpet with dish soap and water, as soon as the dye spills. If you wait more than six hours, the fibres take on the dye solution and the mark may be permanent. The challenge with red hair dye is that even if you budge the stain, you might end up getting some of it out but a pink circle sometimes remains. Consider calling a professional to assist you with this challenge.
Some people had good results by pouring one cup of water onto the stain. Blot with a white towel.
Pour half a cup of white vinegar onto the stain.
Blot with a white towel. Pour half a cup of rubbing alcohol onto the stain, and blot with a wet white towel.
Handy Tip of the Week
I make my own bread and to make it extra healthy I knead it in bran instead of flour. No one in my family has ever noticed the difference.
— Ruth
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.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming.
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