Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Permanent markers need not be permanent
QUESTION: My late mother spent two weeks in respite in a nursing home and all her clothes were labelled including her socks. This is enough clothes for a month's holiday and the nursing home offers no solution for removing the ink except to ink out her name. The apparel is all in good condition and stylish and we wish to donate to our hometown project for gently used clothes. I'm hoping you have a solution for this problem and would be willing to share it with me. Thanking you in advance and hope to hear from you. A fan of yours, Elva, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Sounds like you are talking about permanent marker on clothing in which case I would recommend that you spray the area with bug spray that contains DEET. Let soak and then scrub with dish soap and water. It's worked in the past, give it a try!
QUESTION: I have six containers -- the collapsible ones that are covered with fabric, not leather. They are all brand new and every one of them has the strangest odour. Not a foul odour but nevertheless the smell is terrible. I have tried the following: Putting baking soda in and closing the lids, putting in vinegar and closing the lids, leaving them outside open in the sunshine for several days in the summer, putting in newspaper, spraying with Febreeze. The idea was to store blankets, etc. in them but the smell goes onto the blankets and I have to wash them before I can use them. Nothing seems to help, the smell is still there. Any ideas? Enjoy your column. Carol, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Sounds like the odour is caused by the dye used to manufacture the fabric. This is a common occurrence for fabrics that are imported, especially dark fabrics. When dye is the culprit there is often nothing that can be done. However, with your many solutions you have not yet cleaned the surface of the textile. Although I am not aware of the fabric content, I recommend that you scrub the fabrics with a solution of dish soap, water and tea tree oil (found at most grocery and health food stores). If the fabric is non-washable, scrub with shaving cream.
QUESTION: We replaced our bathtub and surround with a molded unit made of vinyl. It was purchased about three years ago. The cleaning instructions said not to use any substance or material that would scratch the surface and we should just wipe out after each use. This is fine when the shower only is used but I cannot get rid of the ring around the tub. Is there a non-abrasive way to clean the tub? Thanks for any help you can suggest. Anna, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Here's a great recipe that I like to call Mist and Shout: Mix together half cup baking soda, two tablespoons glycerine (found in grocery stores where bandages are sold) and two tablespoons liquid dish soap or Suave shampoo. Scrub tub with a green scrubby pad and rinse. Store remainder in a plastic bottle.
QUESTION: I attended one of your Home Sweet Home Conferences last month and got many great household tips. Since then I have experienced an annoying problem that you did not talk about. Whenever I type on my computer keyboard (which is a lot) the keys stick. The computer is only one year old and this problem just started but it is driving me crazy because my entire job is computerized. Any advice would be great! Pat, Souris, Man.)
ANSWER: With the computer off, wipe the keyboard with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. Make sure that you pour the alcohol onto the cloth; do not pour the rubbing alcohol onto the keyboard. You only need a little bit and make sure to wipe between the keys because a lot of grime gets in there.
Fabulous Tip of the Week:
-- Save pumpkin seeds, they are high in protein and low in fat. Clean off flesh (or leave on) and season with seasoning salt. Bake on greased baking sheet at 300 degrees for about one hour or until golden brown. Add to trail mixes or eat separately.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Slow cooker recipe serves 20 deliciously
QUESTION: What I need is a delicious slow cooker recipe for 20. This would be for a potluck dish and one I could put on in the morning and have ready six hours later. Simple but good. I'm done with all the salads I've prepared. Thanks. Ida, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Ida, here's a keeper! Fry four pounds lean ground beef. Drain. Put into slow cooker and add: 8 cubed potatoes, 2 chopped or sliced onions, eight medium carrots sliced, one cup chopped celery, 20 ounces frozen peas, two teaspoons salt, half teaspoon pepper and half teaspoon garlic powder. Add 20 ounces condensed tomato soup, one tablespoon beef bouillon powder and 1 1/2 cups water. Stir well. Cook low 8-10 hours or high four to five hours. Serves 20.
Here is another idea: Fry two pounds ground beef and one pound pork sausage. Drain. Drop into slow cooker. Stir in four pounds grated or cubed cheddar cheese and 20 ounces diced tomatoes and one can green chiles. Cook on low in slow cooker for to six hours. Serve with tortilla chips.
QUESTION: I am in the middle of a painting project and am having a terrible time creating straight lines. One paint colour runs into another paint colour. I tape the walls with painter's tape, paint and then remove the tape but the paint comes off and always needs touch-up. Thanks for your help. Gertrude, Crystal City, Man.
ANSWER: There is a new product on the market called, "Frog Tape". This exciting paint product is treated with a paint block system to prevent paint from bleeding. Frog Tape can be used on glass, dry wall, wood and metal and in my opinion works better than regular painters tape to control bleeding. You can find Frog Tape at most places where paint is sold.
QUESTION: How can I unstick a zipper on my new nylon fitness jacket? Brandon, Man.
ANSWER: Rub the zipper with one of the following: pencil lead, bar of soap or wax. Some say WD-40 is the answer but who wants to walk around smelling like WD-40?
Feedback from Manitoban Who Cares:
There was a question in the Free Press on Jan 16th about black markings on a glass-topped stove (Lorraine, Winnipeg). I have a glass topped stove as well -- it is white and every single bit of anything shows up on it. The good thing is you must keep your stove super clean, although sometimes I would love to just be able to ignore it like one can on a regular stove with wire elements.
However, since I cannot do that in good conscience, I have found a product that makes the job a whole lot easier. Vileda makes a product called a "Scrunge". There are several different types but the one for stovetops is the answer to a maiden's prayer. It takes a lot of the difficulty out of cleaning the stove top and so far I have not found anything that it will not remove, including sugary syrups which seem to be the most difficult.
One thing that also makes the job easier is to cover the element with a dish cloth (when it is cool of course) and then wet it down to soak it for awhile to soften it much like soaking a dish. Then I use the cream cleanser with the Scrunge and so far, I have kept my stove top clean. Hope this helps someone. I find your column most helpful. Marjorey, Winnipeg
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
-- Thought I would get on the soap sliver bandwagon, since, it just won't go away. Just kidding, but seriously, one more tip. I put my soap slivers in a toe of a knee high nylon, or a cut up pair of pantyhose, tie a knot, and then tie the pantyhose to the garden hose holder outside. When, I am finished digging in my garden, I have a bag of soap slivers handy to get my hands nice and clean again. Right beside the water source. Easy Peasy! Thanks Reena! Christine, Winnipeg
-- If you have several hot dogs that you want to cook over a bon fire fit, here is a real time saver. Put the wieners on the tines of a metal rake and cook many at once. Submitted by: Maureen, B.C.
-- To make raking easier, bolt two lightweight rakes together at the handles. Use them like tongs, makes picking up leaves fast. Wade, Blumenort, Man.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: All signs pointing the way to aggravation
QUESTION: I can't stand it when people knock on my door trying to sell me stuff. I put up a sign that says, No Solicitors! To my surprise, this does not stop people from ringing my doorbell and trying to pawn their junk off on me. From little kids to adults, they just won't leave me alone! Why doesn't my sign make a difference? Ben (Landmark, Man.)
ANSWER: Well, I can tell you that most young kids (and many adults) don't have a clue what the words No Solicitors means. You may want to begin by rewording the sign so that everyone can understand. Secondly, often companies training salespeople teach them to knock on the doors of people displaying those very signs. The reason? These are often the people who can't say No! The most effective signs are "Beware of dog" or "Do not disturb, baby sleeping." Of course you do not want to lie, so if you don't have a baby or a dog, your sign can just say, "Do not ring doorbell or knock." If all else fails, disconnect the doorbell or choose not to answer the door.
QUESTION: My blond hair has turned green from the chlorine in my friend's swimming pool. Amber (Dominion City, Man.)
ANSWER: When you combine high levels of copper in pool water, with chlorine bleach you'll leave Oscar the Grouch begging to be friends. Solution? Wash your hair in ketchup or a jar of tomato sauce and bring it back to its original blond. Shampoo and condition as usual.
QUESTION: I use dishwasher detergent in powder form and I have noticed over the past months that my detergent tends to clump. Is there a better way to store the detergent so that the powder stays loose? Thank you, Kelsey (Melita, Man.)
ANSWER: Whether you are storing homemade or store bought dishwasher detergent, you can prevent clumping with this easy solution: Pour powdered detergent into a plastic bucket and close with a tightly fitting lid. This way moisture and humidity will not find its way into your detergent and the powder will stay loose. Stores sell dishwasher detergent in plastic buckets, you may want to purchase one and continually refill it.
QUESTION: I am calling upon your assistance again. I have been fighting moths flying everywhere in my house for the past 6-8 months, trying to zap them every time I get a chance. It annoys me and my family to death and I don't know what to do. It gets into my food, flying over my head and everyone else's. I cannot even have anyone over at my house It is totally embarrassing. I have washed my kitchen cupboards, lined the shelves with newspapers (some one said newspapers keep them away) to no avail. They are there and everywhere, and merrily laying thousands of eggs. I don't even know how they got in my house to begin with.
Someone suggested I fumigate my house but the cost is exorbitant, also it means I have to throw all the food and everything out. Someone suggested using mothballs. But with my grandchild coming and staying with us I am afraid of spreading poison everywhere, plus he might put them in his mouth. I really need your help. Please can you suggest anything I can do to get rid of these little beasts? Please, please help. Thanking you in advance. Geeta, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Pantry moths can be found in rice, pasta, cake mixes, rat or mouse bait, breakfast cereals, children's artwork (containing pasta, corn, etc.), herbs, spices any grain, feed, seed, dried vegetables (decorative or edible) or dried fruit! Vacuum all shelves (throw out vacuum bag) and wash with vinegar and water. Throw out all grains that may have been infected by larvae. This is a waste of food but it beats paying for fumigation. For the next few months when you bring any grain-based products into the house, immediately store them in the freezer. This will kill all eggs or larvae that are already inside. Store your food in airtight containers, which are made of hard plastic, glass or metal (no plastic bags). The best way to determine whether a container is really airtight is to fill it up with water and see if it leaks. Sprinkle bay leaves or Bazooka gum in cupboards to repel moths from invading. Most of the commercial moth control products available are moth poisons, moth traps, and mothballs. You are right; mothballs are not a healthy product to keep in the home especially near food. Sprinkling borax on cupboard shelves is another effective option, but be cautious as borax is poisonous to humans and pets. Worst case scenario, fumigate.
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
-- If you plan to carve your pumpkin two or three days before Halloween, lightly smear petroleum jelly on the cut edges.
-- To lengthen the life of your carved pumpkin, spray with water and wrap in plastic wrap, store in fridge when not in use.
-- Create the smell of Halloween spice. On the bottom of the pumpkin lid sprinkle a half-teaspoon of each of the following: cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice. Once the pumpkin is lit, it will create a wonderful seasonal scent.
-- Get creative! Illuminate your jack-o-lantern with a multicolour, changing battery-powered LED bulb.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.