Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Vinegar effective against mold and bacteria
QUESTION: Could you enlarge please on the antiseptic properties of vinegar? I am using it exclusively now and feel very good doing so, but I would like some info on just how effective it is.
What I do suggest also is that you look into its benefits as a toothbrush disinfectant, particularly at this time of year when colds seem prevalent. Without giving it much thought, we put a toothbrush in our mouths several times a day. We'd think twice about doing that with a spoon or straw and NOT washing it well afterward.
I've started putting my toothbrush (and tongue scraper) into a quarter-cup of water with maybe a capful of vinegar in it every few days for a good soak and think this must be worthwhile, but I would like this verified. And then, tell people please! Thanks, Karen (Russell, MB)
ANSWER: I agree that disinfecting your toothbrush is important. After researching the effectiveness of household vinegar, I've come across several studies that say vinegar is effective in reducing microbial contamination.
In fact, one experiment was carried out and reported on CBS News. A Good Housekeeping microbiologist wanted to find out whether or not vinegar kills mold and germs.
"We put the mold into the grout of tiles," said the microbiologist, Gina Marino, adding that this mold and bacteria had to grow for a few days. The results? "Well, with mold, it's sort of effective," she said. "It reduced it by 90 per cent, actually."
But what was really exciting is how well vinegar worked against bacteria. It was 99.9-per-cent effective. Vinegar worked far better than anyone expected, and better than many of the products on the market today.
Consider soaking your toothbrush in 1 tbsp. baking soda to 1 cup of hot water for 30 minutes following a cold. If using vinegar, use the same amount. Vinegar is one of those household superstars that has an endless amount of uses, so I always make sure that I'm fully stocked up on the stuff.
QUESTION: Would you know how to remove polyurethane from countertops? When I was finishing the cupboards, some dripped onto the counter and now it will not come off. I am afraid to use sandpaper as this might scratch the countertop. Please help! Bill, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Although I don't know what your countertops are made of, I can tell you that when it comes to polyurethane you will need to use acetone, denatured alcohol or mineral spirits to dissolve the spill. These are the products that wood-finishing experts use to clean excess polyurethane when installing woodwork.
Be sure to test any product that you use on an inconspicuous area first, perhaps under the lip of the counter.
QUESTION: My fiance stored her bike on top of a pink-cushion wing chair. Of course, grease from the bike chain got onto the chair. How would one get this grease stain out of the chair? It's on the arm and I believe there is one on the cushion. If you can help me with this it would be appreciated. Rene, Winnipeg
ANSWER: There are a few products that have had great results on bike-chain grease. Begin by scrubbing the area with Sunlight laundry bar soap, rinse with water. Other products that have had great results are Resolve Carpet Spot Remover, waterless hand cleaner, brake cleaner and Murphy's Oil, or WD-40. Apply clear dish soap onto area to avoid product stains. Test on inconspicuous area first. (Taken from Household Solutions 1)
If products were already applied to the area, the stain may be set and difficult to remove.
Fantastic Readers Respond
Re: Your article in today's Free Press about hummingbird food. In one place, you wrote that honey is bad for these birds and then you suggest to "substitute honey for plain old white sugar". Don't you mean substitute plain white sugar for honey?
I'm also curious about your comment about red food coloring. If it has not been tested satisfactorily for safety, why can it be called "food" coloring? Chuck
Reena's Note: Yes, I meant plain white sugar instead of honey! While red food coloring is approved for human consumption, no tests were done to determine safety for hummingbird bodies. Good catch, Chuck!
Hi Reena,
I've discovered the easiest way to remove mascara from a face cloth is to hold it close to the shower head or the laundry sink faucet set in the spray-action mode. If the shower head has adjustable settings, the strongest setting gets the mascara off very quickly. Jo-Ann
Dear Reena,
Further to the lady about pillows and allergies, I suggest she try a water pillow. They are a bit more expensive but are worth it since they don't lose their shape and conform well to the head and neck. I've had mine for a few years now and I love it. Grace
Dear Reena,
I am very grateful for your response to my problem regarding tree resin on pants and thank you with all my heart.
One good turn deserves another, so I will share my latest "brainstorm". It falls into the category of cleaning.
I have problems reaching and cleaning the outside of my windows, so I bought one of those telescopic mops which have a swivel flat head and microfibre cloth. I took two buckets of water, one with a warm vinegar solution and another with plain water for rinsing. Then I used that swivel flat-head extendable mop, which really is meant for your floors. It worked like a charm, so easy, so fast. In the summer you could use a hose instead of the second bucket. Anne
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
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Solid flooring materials best for basement
QUESTION: Can I ask for your input on an issue in our 1950's Winnipeg bungalow?
We are renovating our basement and will be installing carpet in some of the rooms. The basement floor is a concrete slab. The construction's a bit unusual -- before the floor was poured, the substrate was covered with a tar paper. The interior partition walls were then built by suspending them about four inches above the ground, baseboard added and then the concrete floor was poured.
During renovation, we tested for Radon and found the levels a bit high. To reduce the levels we undercut all of the interior walls, laid a 15-mil poly into the spaces and used adhesive to attach it to the sides of the concrete slab. We accessed all spaces along the exterior of the building and used a polyurethane foam to seal.
The results were a reduction in the radon levels below Health Canada guidelines. We added an HRV for good measure in this hot water radiant-heat home and further reduced levels to around 100 bq/m3.
When we took the old carpet up, we noticed that all of the concrete floors were covered with a sheet of plastic, presumably to reduce moisture from getting into the underlay and carpet. There must have been tiles on the floor prior to the carpet as the floor has black tar-like residue on it. Before we had estimators in to quote the work, we removed the old carpet along with the plastic.
Two companies quoted on installation of a new wool carpet. Company A included replacing the plastic, "to avoid any black material coming through the underlay". Company B made no mention of laying plastic before installing the carpet.
Should we be replacing the plastic before installing the rubber padding and wool carpet?
Thanks, Joel Kay
ANSWER: Replacement of flooring in basements can be a tricky subject, due to the possibility of moisture or dampness in this area. Some of the discrepancy between flooring installers may be due to a lack of familiarity with your in-floor heating system, which may help prevent condensation common with carpets on basement concrete floor slabs.
I don't think that putting polyethylene sheathing under a carpet is a good idea and will offer some alternatives for you to explore.
I'm not a proponent of soft floor coverings in any basements installed directly over concrete slabs. This is because I've seen far to many cases where the carpet has become wet or damp from water sources or condensation. Even in a relatively dry basement, the concrete floor slab may be cool enough to cause condensation from slow-moving air.
If this condensation is trapped in the carpet fibres, mould growth is a strong possibility. Many times, a damp, musty smell associated with basements can be due to old floor coverings. With your in-floor heating system, this is less of a possibility, but it could still occur if there's a water leak.
Putting plastic sheathing underneath a carpet may help prevent some condensation, but may also trap moisture that develops underneath. It may have helped prevent staining from black adhesive used with the previous flooring, but it would have been a problem if water had seeped underneath the poly from minor basement seepage, a leaking water heater or washer, sweating water-supply pipes or sewer back-up. All of these things could have happened at one time or another over the many decades since your home was built.
A better alternative to carpet, especially one made from natural fibres like wool, is to use flooring that is moisture-resistant. Solid vinyl or ceramic tiles, which both come in multiple styles and applications, may be a better choice. However, since there's very little flexibility to ceramic flooring, it could crack or become damaged if your basement floor slab shifts or moves seasonally. For that reason, vinyl flooring may be a better alternative, due to the excellent flexibility if floor movement is an issue.
If you're dead-set on carpeting your renovated basement, installing a subfloor would be a much better alternative to a typical underpad and poly. This would not only prevent bleeding through of the old floor adhesive, but would also remove the carpeting from contact with the concrete, eliminating condensation as an issue. Even with a heated floor, condensation could still occur in areas where the heating pipes are poorly distributed or air circulation is poor.
The subfloor should be made from moisture-resistant material, such as pressure-treated plywood or other specialized subfloor sheathing. This could be installed directly over the concrete to ensure maximum headroom, or with treated "sleepers" to help level an uneven floor.
So, while solid flooring materials are preferable to fibre-based coverings in a basement, a proper subfloor with your heated floor slab means that carpeting could be relatively problem-free in your home.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the President of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors - Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be e-mailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
