Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: No quick fix for dark spots behind pictures
QUESTION: I love your natural, non-chemical solutions. Is there anything that will remove the dark discolouration on the paint behind pictures hung on the wall? And is there a way to prevent this discolouration from happening? Thanks. Vee, Winnipeg
ANSWER: I contacted my favourite paint store and asked them for advice. They said you are best to repaint the entire wall. Most paint fades over time due to sunshine, this is not a stain, therefore it is permanent. In other words, the discoloured area is bleached so adding colour will return the wall to a solid hue. To avoid this in the future you can search out fade-resistant paints or close window coverings during peak daylight hours.
QUESTION: Somehow, medicated ointment got onto cedar panelling in our downstairs bathroom and it seems to be spreading! Any ideas on how to remove it would be appreciated as it would be a major reno job to remove the panelling. Lynn, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Rub dish soap and cornstarch over the ointment area to absorb grease. Leave for a day and brush away. Next, give the wall a smooth coat of carnauba wax. This wax is the perfect choice for cedar because it does not contain silicone. Gently buff the wood to leave it evenly coated.
QUESTION: I'm wondering if you have a homemade eyeglass cleaning solution. I need something that is safe for plastic lenses that have been coated with an anti-glare and anti-scratch coating. Thanks, Keeley (Turtle Mountain, Man.)
ANSWER: I received the following recipe from an optician. Begin with a small test on your lenses (just to be safe). Fill a spray bottle three-quarters full with rubbing alcohol and one-quarter with water. Add a few drops of dish soap. Shake to mix. Spray lenses and gently wipe with a soft cloth (not paper towels, toilet paper or tissues these will scratch your lenses).
Fabulous Feedback from Manitobans
Dear Reena,
I read your advice to someone who had a musty or bad odour after painting a room. Also important to note: Even water-based latex or acrylic systems need ventilation during application and "curing" or coalescing. What caught my attention was that the writer washed the walls with ammonia and then bleach. Latex or acrylic paints need approximately 28 days at proper temperatures before any scrubbing or washing should take place. Dry does not mean "ready." Luc
Hello Reena,
This is regarding the person who was cleaning her oven and got some oven spray on her vinyl flooring. This happened to a friend of mine and she used Fantastic with bleach. It took some scrubbing, but the brown spots disappeared. It does take some of the finish off, but is barely noticeable. Elizabeth
Chocolate tip of the week:
Make your own healthy chocolate chunks! We have all heard that dark chocolate is considerably healthier than milk or semi-sweet chocolate but dark chocolate chips containing 70 per cent cocoa or higher is difficult to find. There are a handful of companies that sell dark chocolate chips with a high percentage of cocoa at a high cost. So why not make your own? Purchase a few large dark chocolate bars, and cut into chocolate chunks, a food processor will save you oodles of time for this project. Store in a covered container at room temperature.
Did you know? Dark chocolate and cocoa are rich in cell-protecting antioxidants -- natural compounds found in fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts.
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
Turning your home into a green machine
Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle is something many people do selflessly in an effort to protect the environment and ensure the generations to come have a healthy planet at their disposal.
But that same lifestyle can also pay instant dividends, helping homeowners save money and creating a healthier atmosphere in which to live. Homeowners can make several manageable changes around the house that can protect the environment without disrupting one's current lifestyle.
Clean green
Instead of using harmful chemical cleaners when cleaning around the house, choose green cleaning supplies that don't release harmful chemicals or toxins into the air.
Paint with the planet in mind
Homeowners with painting on their to-do list should choose no- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints.
Fix those drafts
Chances are, at this point in a long winter, homeowners are well aware of which rooms were warm and which might have had drafts. Visit those colder rooms and plug any air leaks around the house. This will result in a lower heating bill and could save substantial amounts of energy. For homeowners with attics, checking the attic for air infiltration should be done each and every year.
Explore alternative landscaping methods
Xeriscaping, a style of landscape design that requires little or no irrigation, can save significant amounts of water. If xeriscaping is a viable alternative, homeowners will save water while also reducing the use of potentially harmful pesticides and chemicals commonly used to keep lawns looking lush.
Go low-flow
If replacing shower heads, faucets or even toilets is on the to-do list, replace existing fixtures with low-flow models to save water and money.
Shop for sustainable materials
Sustainable flooring is growing in popularity now that going green has truly taken off. Search for wood that has been harvested in an environmentally friendly way. Sustainable flooring materials include bamboo and cork, which many homeowners find as aesthetically appealing as it is eco-friendly.
Double it up
Single-pane windows not only allow lots of external noise into the house, but they also contribute to heat loss in the winter, forcing residents to turn up the thermostat and waste more energy as a result. Installing double-pane windows will keep more external noise at bay and allow homeowners to minimize heat loss in the winter.
Unplug the appliances
Perhaps nothing around the house silently uses energy as much as a plugged-in appliance that's not being used. Certain estimates suggest as much as 40 per cent of a monthly utility bill is going toward powering home appliances that are turned off. While every home is different, it's a safe bet most homes can save energy by simply unplugging appliances that aren't in use.
-- Postmedia News
