Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
The wonders of baking soda never cease to amaze
QUESTION: My white bone china plates have marks on them from my stainless steel cutlery; the marks won't come out with the dishwasher. Any ideas of how to clean them? Thank-you, Terry, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Since scratches caused by cutlery have damaged more than just the surface, you may be looking at a permanent condition. With that said, here is a solution to try: Make a paste of baking soda and water, rub the plate with an abrasive pad and the baking soda. Rinse and dry.
QUESTION: I recently moved into a home with a one piece shower unit, and it is filthy. I'm not sure what it's made of but I've been told not to use an abrasive cleanser. I'm having a very hard time getting it clean on the bottom and one-third of the way up. Any suggestions? Thanks, Stacy (Sandy Lake, MB)
ANSWER: You will have a hard time getting the shower clean if you don't use a mildly abrasive solution. Into a spray bottle combine one half cup rubbing alcohol, three cups water and one tablespoon of dish soap. Spray onto shower and let soak for 30 minutes. Scrub with a plastic scrubby pad and baking soda. For regular use after the shower is clean, use the spray bottle combination without scrubbing or rinsing.
QUESTION: I love to make thick white cream sauces but find that they are always too heavy and filling. Any suggestions on how I can make them taste good but a little healthier? Lizzy, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Next time you are making a cream sauce and don't want the fat of heavy cream, substitute the cream with non-fat evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is homogenized milk with 60 per cent of its water removed (which is why it is very thick). The real benefit is that evaporated milk contains 80-per-cent more calcium than homogenized milk.
QUESTION: Sometimes when I wash dark clothing, a white residue is left behind. I always use a detergent made for dark wash. Do you know of an easy way to remove the residue without re-washing the items? Also, what do you think is causing this and how can I avoid it in the first place? Thank you, Stacy, Winnipeg
ANSWER: It sounds as though your detergent is not dissolving properly in the wash. If you have not already done so, switch to liquid detergent instead of powder. Wash with less fabric in the machine because, if the washer is overstuffed, water is not able to clean properly.
The other possible culprit is that your water is too hard; therefore residue is not able to dissolve. Whatever the case, always add one cup of vinegar to each load, this will clean the washer and remove residue from fabrics.
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
If the seats in your car are very worn out and you don't have money to replace them. Cover the seats with jerseys from your favorite sports teams. Submitted by: Jordan (Blumenort, MB)
You are ready to get dressed and notice that your clothes are wrinkled but you have no time (or desire) to iron. Put the clothes in the dryer with a damp hand towel and turn the dryer on for a few minutes.
When making a fruit platter, group fruits together and be careful which fruits are beside each other. For example: If pineapples are placed beside strawberries, the color from the strawberries will bleed onto pineapple pieces.
When slicing freshly baked bread, choose a sharp knife that's height is the width that you want each slice to be. That way you can use the knife as a guide before cutting slices to keep them even.
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
Pop popcorn in fridge for safekeeping
QUESTION: I have taken on a new hobby, which is growing popcorn in my garden. What is the best way to store popcorn so it stays fresh? Biannce (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Popcorn is a great treat year round. One of the advantages of growing popcorn in your garden is you can sample some of the many different types of popcorn. Popcorn is also a healthy snack choice. Compared to beef, it has about two thirds as much protein, more iron and about the same amount of calcium. Plus, the hull provides roughage, similar to bran flakes.
Store popcorn in an air-tight cowntainer in a cool, dry place such as the fridge or freezer. If stored properly, popcorn can be kept almost indefinitely.
QUESTION: On more than one occasion, I have made a batch of homemade soup that ended up tasting a little too salty. Typically, the entire contents of the pot ends up being thrown out. Is there any way to save salty soup? Mavis (Melita)
ANSWER: The salty soup remedy depends on the type of soup you are cooking. Add one or more of the following (whichever goes with your soup): cream, milk, water, chicken stock, beef stock, tomato juice, tomatoes, brown sugar or potatoes. If you choose cream or milk, don't let the soup return to a boil or the milk may curdle. If you use stock, make sure it is a low-salt version, or better yet, your own homemade, unsalted stock.
QUESTION: We hired my niece to paint the basement steps while we were away on vacation. She did a great job on the steps but left the paintbrushes out and they dried up. Is there any way to soften the bristles so the brushes can be used again? Robert (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Dip the paintbrushes in turpentine and let them stand for 15 to 20 minutes. Rub the brushes against a clean piece of cloth to test if the paint is coming off (re-immerse if needed). Or, bring white vinegar to a boil in an old pot (no longer used for cooking) on your stove and allow your paintbrushes to simmer for five minutes. Remove from pot and wash in hot, soapy water. Soaking paintbrushes in hair conditioner, paint thinner or linseed oil are also options.
QUESTION: I change the water in my fishbowl every week and as I pour the water down the drain I can't help but wonder if there is a use for fishbowl water. I read once you can water your plants with it. Is that true? Garry (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Use fishbowl water to feed your plants. It will make them grow tall and green. Just one word of advice: be careful not to drop the fish into the plant soil when watering your plants (learnt that the hard way).
Trivia: A town in Italy, Monza, has outlawed the use of fishbowls for keeping goldfish. This law went into effect in the summer of 2004.
QUESTION: I buy large jars of salsa and spaghetti sauce in order to save money. After a while I often notice mould on the bottom of the lid. How should I store sauce jars to prevent this from happening? Lacey (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: You are right; purchasing bulk foods typically saves consumers money unless half of it is thrown away. I store large jars of sauce upside down in the fridge. Doing this creates a tight seal between the sauce and the lid. Be sure to use sauces before the expiration date. Another option is to divide the sauce into portions and store in freezable containers in the freezer.
QUESTION: I've had this problem for quite some time and it is a mystery. My husband and I do not share a bathroom and the problem is with his bathroom. Somehow, the dark hand towels he uses get light-coloured, sometimes with pinkish spots or blotches on them. It's not bleach, as we use microfibre cloths and water to clean. I've asked him not to wipe the sink with the towel in case the blotches come from his aftershave or something chemical such as that.
Last week, my brother was the only one using the bathroom for a week as he was our guest, and I put out new towels. The same thing happened. Do you think it has something to do with chemicals that men use in aftershave or shaving gel or something like that? I know this doesn't happen in the washer, it happens in the bathroom. It's a complete mystery to me. Can you help? Lorraine (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Before you spend one more second of your time wondering... compare your husband's (and your brother's) toothpaste with yours. My guess is the toothpaste contains bleach and after each use he is wiping his face on the towel and permanently discolouring the fabric. P.S.: Great job using microfibre clothes to clean your home!
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 videos/blog/website: reena.ca!
Renovation & Design
Rusty door requires a little effort
QUESTION: I have rust at the bottom of my car door. What is the most effective product on the market that will take the rust off? Jim (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Grind away any rust, then visit your local hardware store or auto repair dealership. Purchase proper moisture-resistant filler, primer and paint to repair the damage.
QUESTION: A friend of mine sat on the ground (in her white pants) and got one of those sticky pods from a poplar tree on her butt. I can't find anything similar in your books. Should I suggest your carpet cleaner 'recipe'? Thanks, Marie (Emerson, Man.)
ANSWER: Your best bet for tar is to lubricate the area with oil such as mayonnaise. Smear it on and scrape off all of the tar. Next, apply dish soap and water to the area so you are not left with a grease stain. Waterless hand cleaner is also effective. Just make sure you test everything on an inconspicuous area first.
QUESTION: I feel like I am wasting money by buying bread crumbs when I could probably make them myself. Sounds like a silly question, but how do I make breadcrumbs? Trish (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: There is nothing like homemade breadcrumbs to improve the taste of your dishes and any type of bread can be used. In fact, a mixture of various breads will add oodles of interesting flavours to your dishes (make sure you don't use stale bread or you will end up with stale-tasting bread crumbs).
If your bread is too fresh, just bake the bread slices in the oven on an ungreased baking sheet until slightly dry (300 degree F for 10-15 minutes). Turn halfway through. Store your bread ends in the freezer in a large, resealable plastic bag or an open ice cream bucket with a few bay leaves (to keep bugs away) until you have collected a sufficient amount of bread pieces to make crumbs. Tear dried bread in small pieces and crush in a food processor or leave the bread crumbs in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
QUESTION: Your website indicates using borax to keep wasps away. I live in an area that only has a small convenience store and does not sell borax. Do you have any other solutions for discouraging wasps? Lincoln (Forrest, Man.)
ANSWER: Place a two-litre bottle of root beer away from where you are sitting. The bottle should be one-third full; the wasps fly into the opening but can't handle the carbonation.
Feedback from a reader who cares
Regarding how to ship fragile items throughout Canada:
Dear Reena,
I cannot believe the lady isn't using the oldest trick by antique dealers: disposable diapers. They contour around the items and the tabs hold everything in place. Anonymous
Fabulous tips of the week
Dear Reena,
I love reading your column. Do you want to get your glass coffee mugs sparkling? I put baking soda and cheap lemon dish soap in mine and fill them with hot tap water. I let them sit for a while and then wipe them out with a soft cloth and sterilize them with hot water. On another note: I used to use baking soda and dishwashing liquid and water on my oven bottom until I discoloured the silicone sheet. Julie (Winnipeg)
Hi Reena,
I came across a good cleaner for silver and copper. I have three copper vases and an old spoon of my grandmother's, which must be 100 years old. I cleaned them with Cerma Bryte ceramic cooktop cleaner. I thought I would try it and it works wonders with no elbow grease. Doreen (Winnipeg)
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 videos/blog/website: reena.ca!
Renovation & Design
Mancana ash disease tops reader concerns
Problems with Mancana (Manchurian) ash have dominated reader tree and shrub concerns this year, and I've even seen recently purchased nursery trees that show all the early symptoms of a potentially fatal disease believed to be related to a rare type of bacteria called phytoplasma.
An early sign of the disease is flattening of the current-growth twigs, which also have a tendency to curve and slightly twist. Those twigs may grow multiple buds that are side-by-side when there should only be one bud. Last year's branches often produce multiple twigs from a common location on the twig -- there should only be two twigs.
Most noticeably, branches die sporadically in the tree, and twigs often display unusual deformity in their growth.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure or method of controlling these bacterial infections. The infected tree will likely die and should be removed. Never grow another Mancana ash in that location, as the roots will be infected as well.
QUESTION: The leaves and twigs of my ninebark shrubs have started to grow a white-grey mildew-like powder on the leaves. Later, the twigs start getting these problems. How do I control this?
ANSWER: Ninebarks everywhere are being attacked by a powdery mildew, although it's more common in shrubs that have a dense mass of woody stems. Poor ventilation in the shrub and high humidity encourages the growth of mildew. This can also be a problem on nannyberry viburnums.
Plant mildew can be controlled with garden fungicides, but it's important that the stems of the plant be thinned out by as much as 50 per cent in the fall after the leaves have dropped. Collect all diseased material and place them in the garbage or if permitted by your local bylaws, burn it before winter arrives.
QUESTION: My willow hedge is turning yellowy green, and I see more and more twigs and branches dying each year. Can you help me with this problem?
ANSWER: I've examined several problematic willow hedges in rural areas this year and I often see a portion growing on low-lying ground. With heavy rains, these low spots accumulate water and keep the ground saturated. Most willow varieties prefer drier conditions.
As well, I often see twigs in the hedges that are partly black with orange-brown patches on their stems, a sign of willow blight disease. Dead and dying portions of the shrubs can be pruned out, but it's absolutely essential that you sterilize your pruning tool with bleach and water, methyl hydrate or denatured alcohol after every cut. It's easy to transmit the disease to other willow branches through disease contaminated tools.
Heavily infected plants are unlikely to recover and should be removed. All dead and diseased twigs and branches should either be covered with clay in a shallow pit or burnt. Never leave them outside in an uncovered pile -- the disease spores will be carried by winds to a nearby willow and infect it.
Michael Allen is a consulting urban forester and certified arborist and owner of Viburnum Tree Experts. He can be reached at 204-831-6503 or viburnumtrees@shaw.ca His web site is www.treeexperts.mb.ca