Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Winning the stain game
QUESTION: How can I get purple nail polish out of a white cotton blouse? Betty, Blumenort
ANSWER: The sooner you tackle this stain, the better your chance of removal. Blot the area with acetone. Rinse with water. Repeat until stains are gone. Wash as usual. Other products that have previously had positive results are: ammonia, window cleaner, Goo Gone, Banana Oil (also known as Acetate Amyl) or WD-40. Do not combine products and test all solutions on an inconspicuous area first.
QUESTION: After trying for years to lose weight I have decided to cut butter out of my diet. Can you suggest a healthier topping for the standard baked potato? Elsie, Winnipeg
ANSWER: If you want to create the illusion and texture of sour cream, consider topping your spud with plain yogurt. If on the other hand a spoonful of flavour is what you are after then pile salsa onto the potato.
QUESTION: First off, thank you for all the wonderful tips. My mom and I enjoy reading your column. I have a pink top (58 per cent nylon, 38 per cent polyester and 4 per cent silver nylon - it says not to iron) that had some blue eyebrow wax drop on it. I was able to remove some manually, but not all. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can remove the wax? Thank-you, Vera, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Consider coating the area with Head and Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo. Next place the top inside of your freezer for an hour. Scrape the wax off using a plastic putty knife. Wash the top according to the care label instructions.
QUESTION: Can you give me some idea as to how to make homemade vanilla ice cream without any special machines or equipment? In my mind, if I make it myself I will have a better idea as to how healthy it is. Robin, Kleefeld
ANSWER: Homemade ice cream without a machine requires a bit of time to make because you need to stir it a few times during the freezing process, but like you implied, when you make it yourself you have a better idea of what is going into your body. Directions for ice cream: Into a tall metal bowl mix: 2 cups heavy cream and 2 cups of 2 per cent milk, 1 cup sugar, one quarter tsp. salt and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.
Place mixture in the fridge for one hour and then into the freezer for 40 minutes. Remove and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Doing this will break up the ice crystals that have begun to form. Freeze for 40 minutes. Remove from freezer. Mix using an electric mixer. Freeze again for 40 minutes then beat with an electric mixer. Pour into a plastic container and seal with a lid. The more you beat and freeze, the smoother the ice cream. If you use an ice cream maker, this project takes about 20 minutes and the ice cream is really smooth. Final freezing time varies from freezer to freezer.
QUESTION: Can you give me a homemade cleaner recipe that I can spray on my shower walls after each shower to prevent mildew from building up? Val, Otterburne
ANSWER: Here is an easy shower maintenance recipe using products that most people have on hand. Into a spray bottle, pour a half cup of rubbing alcohol, one tbsp. liquid laundry detergent and 3 cups of water. Spray onto shower walls after use.
Feedback from Reader Who Cares
Dear Reena,
I want to add to a tip that I read about wearing a rubber glove and using it to clean up pet fur from furniture. I found that it works even better to wet the glove before running your hand along the furniture. Thanks, Jenny
Fabulous Tips of the Week!
*Place scraps of carpet remnants under furniture legs to prevent carpet dents. Submitted by: Hilda
*I wipe away all of the finger marks off of my stainless steel appliances using baby oil and a soft cloth, works every time. Submitted by: Hilda
Editor's Note: Always keep baby oil out of reach of small children.
*When I have unsightly scratches from cutlery on my dishes, I polish them with toothpaste. Safe for my teeth and dishes. Submitted by: Elsie
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 my brand new videos/blog/website: reena.ca!
Renovation & Design
Wipe sink with oil to remove stains, restore factory colour
QUESTION: We have a seven-year-old Sil Granite sink. Its colour has really faded. Before, it was a very matte black, but now it is a very faded black with white smear streaks. We used a colour-enhancer product provided when I bought the sink. I have used two bottles of that, but it has not helped. Any chance you have a gem of an idea to get the smears off and some of the colour back? Damien, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Your best bet is to wipe the sink with cooking or olive oil after use. This will remove all the stains, repel water from sitting on the sink and forming white stains, and brighten the sink.
QUESTION: I would like to prepare my own rub for meat. Can you give me an easy recipe that I can use on pork? Heidi (Carman)
ANSWER: Here is an easy recipe which is perfect for about six pounds of meat. Into a bowl combine one quarter cup sugar, 4 tbsp. black pepper, one tbsp. salt, one quarter cup paprika, 2 tsp. dry mustard and 2 tsp. cayenne pepper. Rub half of the mixture onto meat 12 hours prior to cooking. Rub the other half on right before cooking.
QUESTION: I so enjoy reading your column. We have a water stain on our popcorn ceiling and were told to try Kilz overhead stain sealer. Now we have a yellow discolouration on top of the stain! Any suggestions? Wendy, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Kilz is a popular brand name but there are many products under this name, from Flat Wall and Ceiling Paint to Color Changing Ceiling Paint to Paint with Stain Blocking. You may need to prime the area before painting the ceiling, but your best bet is to explain your situation to your paint specialist and seek advice. Or contact the Kilz website and query which product is best for your situation.
QUESTION: How do I go about fixing my yellowed microwave door? Jen, Winnipeg
ANSWER: This may be a permanent condition but don't give up without a fight! Spread toothpaste onto the yellowed area. Dampen the brush with water and scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse with water and wipe.
QUESTION: I have always read your column with interest and have used many of your helpful hints. I hope you can help me with this problem. I have a set of lamps given to me by my late parents. They have a glass base, and I wonder if they can be painted as we have changed our decor/colours. If so, what type of paint might be used? Thank-you! O, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Yes, you can absolutely paint the glass base! Begin by unplugging the lamp and cleaning the base well with plain old dish soap and water. Dry and cover any electrical wires. Spray on heatproof paint in the colour of your choice.
QUESTION: Why do people deep-fry turkeys instead of baking them? I was given a deep fryer specifically for this purpose but I haven't used it. Is it worth the effort? Nana (Richer)
ANSWER: I have a friend who heads down to the U.S. every November for American Thanksgiving just because her dad deep-fries the turkey. She says it's the best way to prepare turkey, and nothing beats the flavor. Deep-frying turkey is a Cajun tradition that produces juicy meat and crispy skin. Many people agree it is out of this world.
Fabulous Tip of the Week
* Never let your toilet paper run away from the roll again. Either squeeze the roll in half before placing it on the toilet-paper holder (great if you own an RV), or position the roll so that the paper hangs under the roll instead of overtop.
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 my brand new videos/blog/website: reena.ca!