Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Dye may be only solution for pesky stain removal
Question: Recently, I purchased a bouquet of flowers from a market. The clerk wrapped them in heavy, black poster-type paper. The stems were quite wet and seeped through the paper, resulting in stains on my white denim jacket. As soon as I got home I washed it with plain water. I have also tried hair shampoo and quite a few commercial stain removers, including one containing hydrogen peroxide. I air-dried them outside in the sun. The stains faded quite a lot but are still visible as a faint charcoal colour. I’m not sure what I should try next; any advice would be welcome. Thanks, Shirley
Answer: Often, running hot water through tough fabrics such as denim will cause organic stains to disappear. Unfortunately, sometimes trying several commercial products on a stain will set the stain. The good news is you haven’t put the jacket in the dryer and the stain has lightened. Make a paste of water and one of the following: Head and Shoulders dandruff shampoo, glycerin, Sunlight detergent bar soap, washing soda or Borax. Leave for a few hours and wash as usual, being careful not to put the jacket into the dryer until you are sure the stain is gone. Worst-case scenario: purchase Rit dye remover or white Rit dye and use it according to the directions on the box. Places such as Michaels carry this product.
Question: Without constantly tossing dish cloths into the washing machine, how can I keep them smelling fresh? Alex
Answer: Boil them with a little dish soap and water in a pot for up to five minutes. Rinse, and if time permits, hang in the sun. Two extra tips: 1) If a family member has a skin condition, boil their facecloth. 2) If any fabric wash items smell, wash them with hot water and hang the items outside.
Household success
I bought a lovely rayon dress. I washed it in cold water and hung it to dry. It shrank to a shirt length, but I learnt I could fix it by putting it in cold water with hair conditioner. As it dried I stretched it, and it worked the dress is back to its original length!
— Rysa
The pasta I make tastes much better since adding this tasty tip to my kitchen routine. I cook pasta for one minute less than called for. I then heat up the sauce and toss the pasta in the sauce for one minute. Lots of flavour in every bite.
— Mario
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. Need a presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or the Power of Words? Check out reena.ca.
Renovation & Design
Tips to keep that Wascally Wabbit out of your garden
Question: Do you have any solutions to control rabbits from destroying my raspberry plants? I’ve thought about chicken wire but wondered if you might suggest something else. Mary
Answer: The best way to repel rabbits from chewing your shrubs is with a one metre (or higher) fence, but if that isn’t an option, perhaps you can wrap at least the trunk of the shrub with chicken wire.
When it comes to the garden, here are a few other hints to try. Surround the garden with milk jugs lined with sand. The idea is that the rabbits chew on the jugs instead of your plants. As well, suspend pairs of aluminum pie plates around plants, as the plates bang together the sound scares rabbits (this may become less effective over time).
Or sprinkle one of the following around plants or shrubs: bags of human hair (from a hair salon), bone meal, shaved pieces of Irish Spring bar soap or add turkey or cat manure in with the soil.
Homemade Rabbit Repellent: Mix 1 tbsp baby shampoo and 1 tbsp household ammonia and one quart water in a spray bottle. Spray plants every three days. Or soak corn cobs in vinegar for five minutes and then place them throughout the garden or under shrubs. Re-soak the corn cobs in vinegar after two weeks.
When planting your flower beds, mix thyme, spearmint, daffodils and/or eucalyptus in with your flowers — rabbits don’t like the smell and often won’t pass by to get to your yummy plants. Some people have had success by burying fabric softener sheets around plants. Or bury a collar cut out of a milk carton or jug around new individual plants or vegetables, to protect them. Lastly, spray plants with No Bite Tree & Plant Protector.
Question: What is the fastest way to remove permanent marker from skin? Brigette
Answer: Some people advise washing skin with shaving cream and others are convinced that drawing highlighter over the permanent marker is the answer. But in my experience the fastest fix for removing permanent marker is to wet the skin with soap and water and gently scrub with a pumice stone.
Question: Can smell be removed from a new fabric suitcase? Caryl
Answer: The smell is likely from the polymers and glue used in manufacturing the suitcase. Leave the luggage open and outside for a few days if possible. Next store the bag with lots of crumpled up newspaper and one of the following: a few drops of essential oils on a cotton ball such as tea tree oil, vanilla, lemon, etc. Or dryer sheets or fresh coffee grounds inside of a sock closed with an elastic band. Even without treatment, the smell may disappear over time.
2016 Gardening Hacks
After I heard that many garden pests don’t like the smell of lemons I used the information to my advantage. In the spring I cut lemons in half and scoop out the insides. I then plant seedlings inside of each lemon half. I plant the lemons directly into the ground. Extra tip: use the lemon pulp to make lemonade.
— Maurice
I always store my gardening tools in a bucket of sand. This prevents rust from forming on the metal.
— Len
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. Need a Presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
Question: Do you have any solutions to control rabbits from destroying my raspberry plants? I’ve thought about chicken wire but wondered if you might suggest something else. Mary
Answer: The best way to repel rabbits from chewing your shrubs is with a one metre (or higher) fence, but if that isn’t an option, perhaps you can wrap at least the trunk of the shrub with chicken wire.
When it comes to the garden, here are a few other hints to try. Surround the garden with milk jugs lined with sand. The idea is that the rabbits chew on the jugs instead of your plants. As well, suspend pairs of aluminum pie plates around plants, as the plates bang together the sound scares rabbits (this may become less effective over time).
Or sprinkle one of the following around plants or shrubs: bags of human hair (from a hair salon), bone meal, shaved pieces of Irish Spring bar soap or add turkey or cat manure in with the soil.
Homemade Rabbit Repellent: Mix 1 tbsp baby shampoo and 1 tbsp household ammonia and one quart water in a spray bottle. Spray plants every three days. Or soak corn cobs in vinegar for five minutes and then place them throughout the garden or under shrubs. Re-soak the corn cobs in vinegar after two weeks.
When planting your flower beds, mix thyme, spearmint, daffodils and/or eucalyptus in with your flowers — rabbits don’t like the smell and often won’t pass by to get to your yummy plants. Some people have had success by burying fabric softener sheets around plants. Or bury a collar cut out of a milk carton or jug around new individual plants or vegetables, to protect them. Lastly, spray plants with No Bite Tree & Plant Protector.
Question: What is the fastest way to remove permanent marker from skin? Brigette
Answer: Some people advise washing skin with shaving cream and others are convinced that drawing highlighter over the permanent marker is the answer. But in my experience the fastest fix for removing permanent marker is to wet the skin with soap and water and gently scrub with a pumice stone.
Question: Can smell be removed from a new fabric suitcase? Caryl
Answer: The smell is likely from the polymers and glue used in manufacturing the suitcase. Leave the luggage open and outside for a few days if possible. Next store the bag with lots of crumpled up newspaper and one of the following: a few drops of essential oils on a cotton ball such as tea tree oil, vanilla, lemon, etc. Or dryer sheets or fresh coffee grounds inside of a sock closed with an elastic band. Even without treatment, the smell may disappear over time.
2016 Gardening Hacks
After I heard that many garden pests don’t like the smell of lemons I used the information to my advantage. In the spring I cut lemons in half and scoop out the insides. I then plant seedlings inside of each lemon half. I plant the lemons directly into the ground. Extra tip: use the lemon pulp to make lemonade.
— Maurice
I always store my gardening tools in a bucket of sand. This prevents rust from forming on the metal.
— Len
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. Need a Presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
Question: Do you have any solutions to control rabbits from destroying my raspberry plants? I’ve thought about chicken wire but wondered if you might suggest something else. Mary
Answer: The best way to repel rabbits from chewing your shrubs is with a one metre (or higher) fence, but if that isn’t an option, perhaps you can wrap at least the trunk of the shrub with chicken wire.
When it comes to the garden, here are a few other hints to try. Surround the garden with milk jugs lined with sand. The idea is that the rabbits chew on the jugs instead of your plants. As well, suspend pairs of aluminum pie plates around plants, as the plates bang together the sound scares rabbits (this may become less effective over time).
Or sprinkle one of the following around plants or shrubs: bags of human hair (from a hair salon), bone meal, shaved pieces of Irish Spring bar soap or add turkey or cat manure in with the soil.
Homemade Rabbit Repellent: Mix 1 tbsp baby shampoo and 1 tbsp household ammonia and one quart water in a spray bottle. Spray plants every three days. Or soak corn cobs in vinegar for five minutes and then place them throughout the garden or under shrubs. Re-soak the corn cobs in vinegar after two weeks.
When planting your flower beds, mix thyme, spearmint, daffodils and/or eucalyptus in with your flowers — rabbits don’t like the smell and often won’t pass by to get to your yummy plants. Some people have had success by burying fabric softener sheets around plants. Or bury a collar cut out of a milk carton or jug around new individual plants or vegetables, to protect them. Lastly, spray plants with No Bite Tree & Plant Protector.
Question: What is the fastest way to remove permanent marker from skin? Brigette
Answer: Some people advise washing skin with shaving cream and others are convinced that drawing highlighter over the permanent marker is the answer. But in my experience the fastest fix for removing permanent marker is to wet the skin with soap and water and gently scrub with a pumice stone.
Question: Can smell be removed from a new fabric suitcase? Caryl
Answer: The smell is likely from the polymers and glue used in manufacturing the suitcase. Leave the luggage open and outside for a few days if possible. Next store the bag with lots of crumpled up newspaper and one of the following: a few drops of essential oils on a cotton ball such as tea tree oil, vanilla, lemon, etc. Or dryer sheets or fresh coffee grounds inside of a sock closed with an elastic band. Even without treatment, the smell may disappear over time.
2016 Gardening Hacks
After I heard that many garden pests don’t like the smell of lemons I used the information to my advantage. In the spring I cut lemons in half and scoop out the insides. I then plant seedlings inside of each lemon half. I plant the lemons directly into the ground. Extra tip: use the lemon pulp to make lemonade.
— Maurice
I always store my gardening tools in a bucket of sand. This prevents rust from forming on the metal.
— Len
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. Need a Presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
Renovation & Design
Train vibrations likely not harmful
Question: I own a 10-year old, two-storey home on a piled foundation that is approximately 200 metres from railroad tracks. When a heavy train passes, I can feel tremors/vibrations on my upper floor/ If I have a glass of water on my bedroom dresser I can see ripples on the surface caused by these tremors/vibrations. Over the life of this home, is this cause for concern from a structural perspective? What are the long-term effects of these tremors/vibrations? Would the damage be limited to tiny drywall fractures, cracks or nail pops from the small movement?
I am interested on your thoughts on this matter.
Thanks, Jeff Toye
Answer: The effects of long-term vibrations from the trains near your home may be hard to pinpoint or predict, but are much less likely to be serious issues due to the piles under your foundation. Having the foresight to spend the extra money upfront may save you from significant movement, and higher costs, in the future.
Constant vibrations from busy streets with large trucks, buses or trains may have a noticeable effect on some homes. Depending on the proximity to the irritant, these may range from minor to major wall and foundation cracks. The reason these issues may be nearly impossible to predict is that there are a number of other variables that may affect the outcome. Soil conditions, drainage, underground sewers, type of road composition and numerous other factors may determine whether rumbling from nearby vehicles will create serious issues. But the largest factor that may determine whether problems may arise is the structure of the home, itself.
Most newer homes in our area have reinforced concrete foundations, built on a concrete footing buried two to three metres below grade. Because of our wonderful expansive clay soil, settlement of these typical homes is almost guaranteed. Over time, most of these homes will move downward, often in one direction or toward one corner of the foundation. As long as this movement is fairly uniform, and teleposts under the main beams in the floor structure are appropriately adjusted, this settlement may not cause any serious structural issues.
If the settlement is increased or exacerbated by regular, heavy vibrations from a nearby train or busy roadway, it may cause larger problems or lead to foundation damage. If the settlement is minimized by better building practices, the vibrations may have much less effect on the home.
The main way to prevent typical settlement in our homes is to install the foundation on deep concrete piers, or driven piles, rather than footings. Your home likely has concrete piers, often referred to as piles, which may go into the soil for five to eight metres below the foundation. These supports will prevent settlement of the heavy home and foundation by reducing the effects of gravity and also prevent movement related to frost.
The bottom of these piers or piles will be installed way below the "frost line," or the normal depth that frost will penetrate the soil in the winter. Having structural supports that deep will minimize most vertical movement in a home, but may not fully prevent movement caused by vibrations.
Even with your high quality foundation built on piles, some movement other than up and down may still occur in the house. This can be from environmental factors such as wind and temperature changes, but may also be due to ground movement from traffic vibrations. These forces may be strong enough to cause small hairline cracks or popping screws in your drywall, or some of the other items you have experienced. However, the piers that are preventing vertical movement should eliminate the most serious type of motion. You may still be susceptible to rattling china cabinets, windows, or flooring, but most of the components of a modern home have enough flexibility to prevent serious damage.
The key to determining whether any long-term serious effects will occur is to watch your house closely and nip any of these in the bud, if they start to happen. If hairline cracks, which can develop at drywall seams and corners become larger over time, repairs will be warranted. Re-securing loose fasteners and re-taping and painting walls and ceilings regularly will prevent more serious cosmetic defects. Patching or caulking any exterior components that show wear may also help prevent worse damage from occurring. As with most issues, good maintenance and diligent repairs will stop a molehill from becoming a mountain, regardless of the vibrations.
I would love to be able to tell you that there should be no serious effects on your home from the regular vibrations and soil movement caused by the nearby train tracks, but that is impossible. Predicting that type of failure in a home depends on too many variables, which nobody may be able to fully anticipate.
Regardless, having the good sense to build your home on deep concrete piers, nearby train or not, should make the chances of serious issues much less likely.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the past president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors — Manitoba (cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at 204-291-5358 or check out his website at trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
Soften cold butter with a rolling pin
Question: I can’t tell you how often I forget to remove butter from the fridge and find myself in a pickle because a recipe calls for softened butter. Normally I melt the butter in the oven or microwave and it becomes liquid. All I want to do is soften the butter. Any tips? Candace
Answer: You will never again need to heat butter to soften it. Place the hard butter in a sealable bag. Close the bag and pound the butter with a wooden rolling pin.
Question: My wife accidentally melted plastic on our clothes iron. She tossed the iron in the garbage and I pulled it out. Do you know if the iron can be saved? Bernard
Answer: Good catch Bernard. Sand the iron with fine sandpaper, then wipe with vinegar and the iron will be as good as new.
Question: I always clean moldy plastic containers with bleach and water. After I am finished my fingers smell like bleach. How can I get rid of the bleach smell on my fingers? Terrina
Answer: When working with bleach, it is always important to wear gloves. However, even with gloves the smell can get on your skin. To remove the smell of bleach, squeeze the juice of a lemon on your hands and rub them together before rinsing with water.
Question: I live alone. Since I only use a little bread each day, I always store it in the freezer. Sometimes when company arrives, I want to thaw a loaf of bread quickly to serve with supper. How can I thaw bread without it becoming soggy? Martha
Answer: Remove bread from the freezer. Place bread in a preheated oven at 475 degrees for 2-3 minutes. You will be amazed at your crunchy and delicious bread.
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. Need a Presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
