Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Save water, shower with a plant
QUESTION: I am a fan of yours and read your column weekly. It is wonderful that you can recommend so many solutions that involve products that most of us have in our kitchens. I live in a highrise condominium and we have artificial plants in our front lobby that get really dusty and look awful. Can you suggest something that will remove the dust and yet not destroy the "plants"? Thank you so much. Sincerely, Myrna, Winnipeg
ANSWER: It sounds as though the plants are too large to lift into the shower and then hose down with water. You can vacuum the dust off of your plants. Cover the hose of your vacuum with an old pantyhose leg (secure with an elastic band). This will keep the suction from pulling your plant into the hose and damaging it. Also, a dryer sheet can be used to wipe down larger petals and leaves. The coarse, tacky sheet removes dust with ease. Or make your own artificial plant cleaner at home: mix a small amount of lemon dish soap (to help get any grease off) with water in a spray bottle. Spray onto plant and wipe off.
QUESTION: I have recently felt the need to polish a fibreglass boat and a motorhome, both of which needed to be given a shine. The polishing products I purchased were not as magical as their labels claimed. They were offered in sizes that were not large enough and were very expensive. Do you happen to have any homemade recipes for waxes or polishing solutions that might accomplish the same or better results? Thanks, Rob (Gladstone, Man.)
ANSWER: Maguire's remover is a very popular product with good results but of course the trick is to experiment to see which works best for you. You can try a variety of oxidation removers and test for results. The polymer-based liquid waxes are quite good. You don't have to buff and rub hard to achieve a shine. Just wipe product off with a terry cloth towel. The following is a list of household products that you can use to clean different parts of your boat and motorhome:
Fibreglass: Baking soda, salt and water;
Aluminum: One tablespoon cream of tartar in half a litre of hot water;
Wood: Polish with olive oil;
Windows/plastic: one part vinegar to two parts water;
Brass: Worcestershire sauce;
Chrome: Polish with baby oil;
Degreaser: Paste of lemon juice and borax;
Scouring: Baking soda and water;
Mildew: Equal parts of lemon juice or vinegar and salt.
A reader sent me the following homemade recipe for cleaning fibreglass. In a pot heat to dissolve one-quarter pound shredded beeswax, cool. Add half cup of turpentine, quarter cup of liquid Ivory soap, one cup of warm to boiling water and quarter cup of pine oil. Mix until solution dissolves and congeals.
QUESTION: I am wondering if you can give me a non-toxic solution for removing mould on windows. The windows are a cheap variety as we have a 1980 house. In appreciation, Rachel (Brandon, Man.)
ANSWER: While wearing a mask scrub the area with an unscented dish soap and water solution, then sponge with a clean, wet rag and dry quickly. Another option is to fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and 10 drops of tea tree oil. Spray the mouldy area and scrub with an old toothbrush. Wipe with a clean cloth to dry.
Fabulous tips from readers:
-- Instead of storing dish soap in a bottle, decant it into a plastic bottle with a squeeze nozzle. That bottle of dish soap will last about three times as long. Save money and the planet. (The pull-up tops of detergent often dispense more than you need. Cheers, Rowena
-- I like to reduce the flour amount in most cookie recipes by one-quarter cup to make the tenderest cookies that do not dry out even after several days. Tina
-- I make icing with confectioners' sugar and milk. I make it fairly thin, as I 'paint' the icing onto the cookies with a pastry brush. Make it thin enough to spread easily but not so thin that it just makes your cookies wet and runny. Jessica
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., R0A 0C0.
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Get the scoop on peanut butter oil
QUESTION: Can you please tell me why some peanut butter labels state that they contain "no trans fats" but the jar label lists partially hydrogenated vegetable oil as an ingredient? Cheers! Bill, Winnipeg
ANSWER: All peanut butter, by law, must contain a minimum of 90 per cent peanuts. Both natural and regular peanut butters may contain some sugar and salt for flavouring. Some brands also contain a small amount of stabilizer (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil), of which about 60 per cent is stearic acid, a saturated fat that has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels. Stabilizer is added to peanut butter to keep the oil from separating and to help maintain peanut butter freshness.
Here are the results from a 2001 study called, Non-detectable levels of trans-fatty acids in peanut butter by Dr. Tim Sanders, food scientist with the USDA, ARS. According to his findings, "Peanut butter is made with very little hydrogenated oil resulting in no detectable amounts of trans fat in the finished product."
"All hydrogenated oil is not the same and the amount added to specific products is not the same. So you can't generalize about all products that contain hydrogenated oil," Sanders explained. "In our study, we used the best science and technology available to try to detect trans fats in peanut butter and couldn't."
QUESTION: My daughter (a heavy smoker) has lent her guitar to my son (a non-smoker). Any hints about how to get rid of the smoke smell on the guitar? Thanks in advance for any help on this problem. Gail, Winnipeg
ANSWER: The majority of the smell is most likely in the strings of the guitar, not necessarily the body. Begin by wiping the guitar strings with rubbing alcohol. The smell of rubbing alcohol will quickly dissipate. If the smell remains, place the guitar inside a large garbage bag with a container of coffee grounds. Close the bag around the guitar so that no air can flow inside. Leave for a day or two, the smell should be gone.
QUESTION: Can you please give me a recipe for making my own ketchup? My freezer is full of tomatoes from my garden and I want to use them. Larry Lockport,
ANSWER: No problem Larry, what a great way to use up garden tomatoes, fresh, fresh, fresh! Ketchup-like sauces originated in eastern Asia as a fish sauce long before many people in other parts of the world had ever seen a tomato. Ketchup is a very acidic substance and therefore, is not prone to spoiling easily or quickly. Homemade ketchup on the other hand can be refrigerated for up to three weeks. Here is a wonderful recipe for those who like to can food.
In a saucepan, mix together 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 whole cloves and 1 tsp. celery seeds. Cover and boil. Remove from heat and let stand. Wash, core and cut 24 medium tomatoes into quarters, drain juices. In a large pot combine tomatoes, 1 chopped, medium onion and half tsp. cayenne pepper. Boil and cook for 15 minutes. Stir often. Remove seeds and skin. Add 1 cup sugar to tomato mixture. Boil and simmer for 2 hours. When tomato mixture has been reduced to half, add vinegar mixture into tomatoes and remove spices. Add one-half tsp. salt. Stir and simmer 30 mins. Process into jars.
QUESTION: How do I remove stains and pitting from our everyday silverware? It seems that when I left the silverware in the dishwasher for a period of time the soap stained my silverware.
Aline, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Place a sheet of slightly crumpled aluminum foil in the bottom of a pan; add 4 quarts (1- L) water, one-quarter cup baking soda (washing soda is even better). Add silver pieces, let stand for a few seconds until tarnish is gone (make sure the water covers the silver pieces). Remove silverware and polish. Remove silver, rinse, dry, and buff with a soft cloth. Taken from Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, page 152).
Fabulous Tip of the Week!
Hi Reena,
I'm writing today with something that I've stumbled upon that is really working. For many years, I've been a fan of aromatherapy and essential oils, lavender is by far my favourite as it is the only one that you can apply directly to the skin (it's great for bug bits, sore muscles, sore throats, and aiding with insomnia), but I digress. We have two sons and a dog and the washroom they use gets very smelly. I mixed about 2 cups of water (distilled is best) with 25 to 30 drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle. When the smell gets overwhelming (or after some "business"), we shake the bottle and spray the mixture a few times in the room. Within seconds (it's rather amazing actually), the smell is gone! And best of all, no chemicals! (Peppermint is a non-toxic antiseptic, but it is also antispasmodic and should not be used during pregnancy or by anyone who has serious illnesses. Consult an aroma therapist before using.) I've tried lavender for this, but it's not as effective. Just thought I'd pass it on. Joanne
Reena Nerbas is a Manitoba based professional speaker and author of the national best selling series, "Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions", Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives. Corporate and Christmas Workshops Available by calling: 204-320-2757. I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Check out my website!
www.householdsolutions.org
