QUESTION: We have four light tan leather chairs and the sun has yellowed parts of them that were not shaded by a table. What can we do to restore them so they look uniform? George, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Discolouration is most prevalent on dark colours. Leather-repair kits are available online or in stores, although matching the colour is difficult and can often accent the area instead of hiding it. Leather recolouring balm is a great option because you don't need an exact colour match. Rub balm onto the surface, the leather becomes softer and all colours blend together well. Leather protective products help prevent this from occurring.
QUESTION: I find your hints helpful. I am especially interested in the details on boiling perogies as I am planning to make a first-time batch with a friend's help. Where can I buy netted gem potatoes? My friend told me to buy that kind and I didn't want to let her know I didn't know what they were. Also, what size cutter should I use to cut the perogy dough? If I want to put bacon in the potatoes, do I cook it first? She also said she could teach me how to make holubtsi and I would like to know how to pick the right kind of cabbage? Are small ones better? Thanks for your help. Heidy, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Netted gem is just another name for russet potatoes. Roll dough so it is one-quarter inch thick and use a 3-inch round cutter to cut the dough. Cook the bacon until crisp before adding it to the dough; chop finely. Regarding Ukrainian stuffed cabbage rolls known as holubtsi or little pigeons; use thin, loose green-leafed cabbage. The size depends on how many cabbage rolls you wish to make.
FUN FACT: Next to the potato, cabbage is the second most popularly consumed vegetable in the world.
Feedback from caring Manitobans
Re: Looking for unscented dish-soap solution
Hi Reena,
Recently, I was shopping at Bulk Barn and saw a soap display by the The Soap Works. They had some plain soaps with no perfume and some were vegetable-based. I've had lots of trouble with soap sensitivity so first I tried the cucumber and calendula with great results. I then went to their website and found some rave reviews on some other soap including their vegetable-based glycerin. I think that Donna might find it just the thing to make her dish soap from. They also have a laundry bar, laundry powder and safe bleach -- these and other bar soaps can be checked out at http://puresoapworks.com/ Some of the items are more pricey but the soaps are very affordable, starting at about $1.99. Barb
Hello Reena,
I read your suggestion for the woman who has asthma that she use leftover soap slivers to make dish soap. While this will work, it is not the best solution because soap that's been sitting around in a damp soap dish is often laden with germs. Allowing it to dissolve in water would likely promote further germ growth. I also have asthma, and have found a commercial product that works for me -- Seventh Generation Free and Clear, available at London Drugs (and maybe other stores). You have to be careful not to select one of Seventh Generation's scented varieties, but the Free and Clear product has no scent and doesn't make my eczema worse. For laundry detergent, Tide also makes an unscented product. Joanne
Common household dangers
-- Old wiring: Consider hiring an electrician to update wiring in homes built before 1940. While this may be expensive, it could save you thousands in the long run.
-- Plants: Before choosing both indoor and outdoor plants, do your research. Some plant species such as Castor Bean are poisonous when consumed by humans, insects and/or pets.
-- Standing water: A small child can drown in water with a depth of one inch or more. Often forgotten dangers include: Outside buckets under downspout, toilet, sink, mop bucket, diaper pail and garden ornaments.
-- Poisonous gases: Radon and carbon-monoxide detectors are inexpensive units and make thoughtful birthday gifts. Radon is a colourless and odourless gas that seeps up from the soil through cracks in the foundation. Radon levels are highest in basements and crawl spaces because of poor ventilation. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odorless gas that can overcome you without warning.
I enjoy your questions and tips, so keep them coming. Check out: Reena.ca.
