Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Heat is your friend when removing decals
Question: How can I remove a decal on a painted Gyproc wall? It looks like it’s been there a while, and someone tried to remove it previously. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. D.M.
Answer: Your best chance of success requires heat. Begin by wetting the decal with dish soap and water. Hold a low setting hair dryer, towards the wall, so that the glue softens. Gently pick up one edge and hold the heat under the sticker, slowly peel the sticker. Rubbing alcohol applied under the sticker will also help release the glue. Some damage may occur; work slowly so that the paint stays intact.
Question: Love your column! I would like to know how to keep the dust down when I have a small area to sand on drywall? Thank you. Flo
Answer: Reduce drywall dust during a sanding project by covering up as much furniture, floor and wall as possible with plastic sheets. Secure a drywall sanding attachment to a shop vacuum. The vacuum sucks up much of the dust, which reduces it from spreading around your home. If you do not have access to an industrial vacuum, you might consider dampening the area with a sponge before sanding; however, this requires practice, and the results are not as appealing as dry sanding.
Question: Can you please provide me with a recipe for an easy homemade Caesar salad dressing? Delores
Answer: Into a bowl combine two minced garlic cloves, 5 ml (1 tsp) anchovy paste (optional), 30 ml (two tbsp) lemon juice, 5 ml (one tsp) Dijon mustard, 5 ml (one tsp) Worcestershire sauce, 240 ml (one cup) mayonnaise, 64 g (1/2 cup) grated parmesan cheese, 1.25 ml (1/4 tsp.) each of salt, and pepper. Add more salt to taste. Store in fridge for up to two weeks.
Sticky Situations
Re: Stuck Jar Lid
A colleague passed along this tip, which has rarely failed me. Place a wide rubber band (the kind mail carriers use or the ones that hold veggies such as asparagus in bundles) around the lid, then try to unscrew it. Works almost every time. Brian
Re: Rice Sticking to the Pot
One way to prevent rice from sticking to the pot is to cook it in the microwave. For one cup of rice, add two cups of water. Season and cook in the microwave on HIGH for 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed, with no sticky mess. If you prefer to cook rice on the stove, rinse the rice before you boil it (until the water becomes fairly clear). Add a little oil or butter to the pot. For 210 grams (one uncooked cup) of rice, add 710ml (three cups) of water, simmer for 15 minutes. You’ll get perfect rice every time. Sandra
Tips of the Week
Add a few dashes of white or cider vinegar to the water in which you boil ham. It will draw out some of the salty taste and improve the flavour.
Soak fish in vinegar and water before cooking. You will end up with whiter, less “fishy” tasting fish. Use 30ml (two tbsp) of white vinegar per 946 ml (one quart) of water and allow fish fillets to soak for 20 mins. before cooking.
Add 5 ml (one tsp) white vinegar to pie dough to reduce sugary sweetness and bring out the flavour in desserts such as pecan pie.
If homemade soup is too salty, add 5 ml (one tsp) each white vinegar and sugar and reheat.
Have a great suggestion or tip? Please send an email. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca.
info@reena.ca
Renovation & Design
Tips for baking a perfect loaf of bread
Question: I have recently started making bread, by hand. Everything is good, except my bread is always dry. I follow all directions exactly and the loaf looks and smells great. Any ideas? Thanks. Peggy
Answer: Altitude and humidity in your home can alter the dryness of the dough, so you may need to experiment with the recipe a bit. Also, make sure that you knead the bread long enough to activate the yeast.
Consider reducing the flour by one-quarter cup so that the dough is less dry. Some people say that using bread flour makes a significant difference, I have not found that makes much difference.
While baking, it is important to insert an oven thermometer into the dough, you want a temperature of around 190 to 210 F (88 to 99 C), depending on the type of dough. I bake bread at 350 F, if your oven temperature is too low and the bread bakes for too long, the dough will dry out.
Assess your yeast to make sure it is active. Into a cup, add one teaspoon yeast and one cup, warm to hot water. If the yeast does not spread, it will not activate when you bake, you need fresh yeast.
Lastly, if you use flour such as whole wheat, the bread will be heavier and may taste dry. It is better to mix dough that is sticky rather than dough that is tough.
Question: I have used the shower door cleaning solution that I read in your column. I need to make more, but have lost the recipe. Please help. Inez
Answer: Here is my favourite shower door cleaning recipe. Into a spray bottle combine: One tablespoon Jet Dry dishwasher rinse, one quarter cup rubbing alcohol, half tsp. dish soap, two cups water and half cup three per cent hydrogen peroxide. Spray shower and leave; no need to wipe or rinse. Apply once a week or more. Also, gently wipe shower doors with a small amount of mineral oil to repel the water from sitting on the glass.
Question: My oak coffee table has become sticky. I tried Pledge, but it made it worse. Diluted dish soap did nothing. Any suggestions other than refinishing it? Thank you, Tracy
Answer: Into a spray bottle, combine 50/50 white vinegar and water. Spray the table and wipe. The vinegar strips away grime and dust that builds-up over time. If that does not help, consider cleaning the wood with Murphy’s Oil Soap. Wipe with water.
Fruit fly frenzy
• I read some of the remedies for killing fruit flies and want to share the one that I swear by. Just put about a half-inch of cider vinegar in a container like a custard cup, put in a squirt of dish washing soap, stir. I have seen it work within minutes of seeing one of those bothersome flies make an appearance. I caught seven the other day within a very short time! Enjoy your tips. Sylvia
S.O.S Household hints
1. After purchasing S.O.S pads cut them in half, doing so will sharpen the scissor blade and save you money.
2. Store S.O.S pads in a plastic container lined with aluminum foil to prevent them from forming rust.
3. Store any kind of steel wool away from flames or heat sources, they are very flammable.
4. Recipe for a wonderful multi-purpose cleaner: Combine 1-tsp. borax, half-tsp. washing soda, 2 tbsp. vinegar, half-tsp. liquid castile soap. Add 2-cups hot water. Shake and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on appliances, floors and house exterior, scrub with S.O.S pads.
5. Use S.O.S pads and water to remove nail polish from carpet (some elbow grease required).
Have a great suggestion or tip? Please send an email. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca.
info@reena.ca
Renovation & Design
Soap and water likely enough to remove gasoline stains from concrete
Question: Gas spilled onto the concrete floor in the garage. Is there any way to get rid of it? Laura
Answer: Remove gasoline stains on your driveway with the following technique: Using a garden hose, spray the area with water, scrub with a wire brush, such as a barbeque brush and dish soap or dishwasher detergent. The stains should quickly disappear. As a last resort, combat tough spills with muriatic acid and a pressure washer. Apply the acid following the manufacturer’s directions, and let it soak for several seconds. Keep in mind that muriatic acid is an extremely dangerous product; if you use it, wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing, and never wash it down storm drains. Test all solutions on an inconspicuous area first.
Question: Visitor’s used ball point ink and wrote all over my daughter’s ‘American Girl’ doll’s face. It happened today, what can I use to erase the marks? KT
Answer: The most successful product for this situation is 10% benzoyl peroxide (acne medication), the sooner you cleaner, the better the chances of removal. Using a cotton ball, dab peroxide onto the doll’s face, and gently wipe away the ink. Some ink is permanent and cannot be removed. Note: American Girl offers a doll hospital service, you can send the doll to the specified address, to be repaired, for a fee.
Manitobans’ response to fruit flies
• I battle fruit flies every year just like everyone, but I also compost so they can really get out of hand very quickly. This year I started keeping my compost pail in the freezer at night, it helped so much! Along with all the other steps you had in the column too, but compost is kind of a special case. Audra
• Tried and true to remove fruit flies. Take a small glass, such as a shot glass. Place a small piece of banana in it. Cover it tightly with a piece of cellophane. Poke a few holes with a toothpick. Don’t make the holes too big or the flies will escape. Place a few of these glasses around where you see the flies. They will congregate to these traps, and it works. Once captured, flip the glass upside down and wrap the cellophane around the mixture and discard. Voila! Kimberly
• I have tried the remedies mentioned in your column (except the commercial ones) with little success. I finally used my hand vacuum, immediately emptying it into a plastic bag which I sealed. It worked great. FB
Souper Tips
• Use a cookie cutter to cut shapes out of half-inch thick, sourdough bread slices. Place the slices on a baking sheet and sprinkle with your favorite cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Lay in the centre of your bowl of soup.
• Brown veggies, before adding them to soup to bring out the flavor of the vegetables. It you sauté them in butter and garlic, the flavor is even more enhanced.
• Don’t wait until the end of the cooking process to season your soup. Season as you cook, and adjust as needed, so that the ingredients absorb the flavors.
• Add a splash of acid to soup, rather than more salt. Acid such as lemon or lime juice adds delicious and unique flavor to soup.
• Invest in a slow cooker as your kitchen helper. Add the contents to the slow cooker in the morning and by supper, the flavors will be intense and ready to devour.
• Keep noodles separate. When making soup, leave cooked noodles in a separate bowl, instead of adding them into the soup. Freeze the soup or eat leftovers the next day, without having to contend with soggy noodles.
Have a great suggestion or tip? Please send an email. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca.
info@reena.ca.
