Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Olive oil, cold cream good for dry leather
QUESTION: I am wondering if you would mind clarifying something in your books. The leather in my parents' sofa is starting to dry out. As such, they want to treat it with a moisturizer. One of your books suggests using olive oil to moisturize leather, and another one of your books suggests using cold cream. Which would be the best for what they need it for? If you use olive oil, wouldn't it leave a sticky residue and maybe even start smelling bad (rancid oil)? What is cold cream, and would it work for this application? Thanks in advance for your help with this!
ANSWER: Both olive oil and cold cream have had great results on leather. Just be sure to test both on an inconspicuous area first. Apply one or the other to a soft cloth and wipe on leather in a circular motion. Remove all excess. Leather is porous and therefore the grease will absorb into the fabric without sitting on top, leaving a smell or attracting dust. Cold cream is an emulsion of water and certain fats, usually including beeswax and various scent agents, designed to smooth skin and remove makeup. You will find cold cream where face products are sold.
QUESTION: I am wondering if you have a remedy for cleaning tea stains off bone china cups and saucers. I don't want to use anything that will take the pattern or gold rim off of the cups. Thanks in advance.
Lois, Winnipeg
ANSWER: For really tough stains on china cups, use one of the following cleaning techniques: Place a denture tablet inside the cup and fill with hot water. Leave overnight. The stain should dissolve. Or wipe stains with whitening toothpaste. Or make a paste of baking soda (or washing soda) and water and scrub cups and saucers. Or put one teaspoon citric acid, oneteaspoon lemon juice and fill the remainder of the cup with hot water. Leave overnight. Note: Wear gloves when working with washing soda.
QUESTION: I washed and hung a white sweater on a painted hanger to dry. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that the hanger's paint was chipped in places. So now my white sweater has rust stains on the shoulders! Any suggestions for removing these stains? Thanks for your help. I find your column so interesting.
Marilyn, Winnipeg
ANSWER: One solution that I find very effective on fabric rust stains is pouring hydrogen peroxide (or lemon juice) onto the stain and sprinkling it with cream of tartar. Leave the item in the bright sun for a day and wash. Works very well. Or chop a few stalks of rhubarb with water and cook. Hold the stain in the boiling rhubarb water for a few seconds. Great results, and your pot will sparkle as well. Taken from Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions.
QUESTION: I have drugstore beetles in my kitchen cupboards containing cereals, pasta and rice. These items are all stored in 500 ml freezable food containers. I throw out contaminated food and wash the containers and shelves, but the beetles are back in no time. Any suggestions?
Shirley, Winnipeg
ANSWER: The simplest way to get rid of drugstore beetles is to locate the source of the infestation and quickly get rid of it. Use a flashlight or other light to examine all food storage areas and food products. Get rid of heavily infested foods by collecting them in heavy plastic bags or in sealed containers for garbage disposal.
When you purchase foods, check packaging dates to establish freshness. Stay away from broken and damaged items. Purchase rarely used foods in small quantities to prevent storage periods of one month or more, especially during warm months. Store foods in insect-proof containers -- glass, heavy plastic, or metal with screw-type lids -- or store in a refrigerator or freezer. Properly ventilate the storage area to discourage these moisture-loving pests.
Foods with questionable infestations can be heated in a shallow pan in the oven at 120 degrees F (48.9 C) for 1 hour or place in a deep freeze at 0 degrees F (-17.8 C) for 4 hours; or heat in a microwave oven for 5 minutes. Heat dried fruits or vegetables by placing them in a cheesecloth bag and dipping in boiling water for 10 seconds. After removing all food, food packages and dishes from the cupboard, shelves or storage area, use a strong suction vacuum cleaner with proper attachments to clean all spilled foods from crevices behind and under appliances and furniture. Pull out heavy appliances from the wall and scrub with soap and hot water. After shelves are dry, cover with clean, fresh paper or foil. It is not recommended to use insecticides around food, but do so if the infestation persists. Clear out the kitchen and put all food that may be affected into the freezer. Spray Raid or call a professional pest-control service to tackle the problem. If using a strong chemical, be sure to wash all shelves and walls before returning the food to the shelves.
QUESTION: Now, here's a situation you might not have heard of before. I wear rubber gloves for doing dishes. Over the years I have accumulated dozens of gloves for the right hand and thrown away dozens of gloves for the left hand. I'm left-handed and find it's that hand that gets the pokes and holes from knives and other sharp items while dishwashing. I've tried to think of how I can repair the small hole in the rubber glove, to no avail. Can't bring myself to discard the right-hand gloves! What ideas do you have to remedy this situation?
Joy, Narcisse
ANSWER: Although there is no effective way to fix torn rubber gloves, if you always wear out one rubber glove, start saving all the good gloves and by turning half of them inside out you will gain a few extra pairs. Or cut good fingertips off one pair of torn rubber gloves and put them into torn glove fingertips to reinforce them. Also, consider alternative uses for rubber gloves: Cut them into circles and they are great non-slip grippers on things such as a stuck jar lid. Or cut the fingers off a torn rubber glove and slip them over mop and broom handles. That way, when you lean them against the wall they don't slide or create marks on the wall. Cover chair feet with the fingers of rubber gloves to protect floors. Or cut strips on the round, both the hand part and fingers, and use as rubber bands. Cut off the index-finger piece from the torn rubber glove and you have an ideal sheath for your finger the next time you have to sort through a stack of papers. Love the question!
I enjoy your questions and tips. Keep them coming! Check out my website www.householdsolutions.org
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Zonolite in the attic? Better to leave it be
QUESTION: Thanks for the column on the Zonolite class-action suit in January. I had read the facts sheet on the website, but did not get from it that only a small portion of the removal/abatement cost would ultimately be covered.
Before reading your column, I had already contacted the lawyer listed and received back a standard email that led me to believe my questions were not read. It just redirected me to the Q and A webpage of www.graceclaims.com as well as their own class action info webpage.
I sent a second email explaining that I had read the info page already but had two questions. A second email arrived with more info, but still nothing that indicated we needed to have already paid for removal/abatement, nor that it would not cover much of this cost anyway.
While we have no intention currently of selling our home, I am concerned about what will happen within the next 20 or so years when my husband and I decide we want to sell our farmyard. We have heard of cases in Ontario where deals have fallen through due to Zonolite presence. So if we do not remove it now, we may be forced to do so at a later date.
The advice from government/health websites has been to not disturb it and seal up every miniscule crack or openings around fixtures in ceilings. Tradespeople we have spoken to seem to think it's a problem only if the insulation becomes visible during renovations, which we want to start this year. Given that the dangerous part of the insulation is invisible to the naked eye and highly friable, I find this odd.
Even people we have talked to who are involved in abatement or removal ask why we think removal is necessary. Given the cost, I don't wonder why. We received an estimate of $15,000 from Power Vac to remove it from our bungalow's 1,000-square-foot attic. Since this is so expensive, do you suppose there will be many who have undertaken the expense and so be able to file a claim?
At any rate, my husband and I will have to soon make our decisions based on the conflicting info we have received about whether to leave it sit or remove it. I suppose nothing short of a crystal ball would help with these concerns.
Barb Galbraith, email
ANSWER: While I strive not to answer similar questions more than once a year, a recent inspection that uncovered large amounts of vermiculite in the attics of a home prompted me to revisit this issue, previously covered in January. I am impressed with the level of research you have done and will offer some further advice so that you can rely on more building-science-based information for your decision. To properly revisit this topic, I will describe the current issue with this type of insulation.
Several years ago, it was discovered that most of the vermiculite insulation that was produced under the brand name Zonolite, which originated from minerals from a mine in Montana, contained high amounts of asbestos. This insulation may have been installed in attics in homes in Canada during the 1970s and 1980s. At the time, it was approved for use under a federal government insulation program, so was widely used across the country. There may be thousands of homes in Canada that have Zonolite currently in their attics, and sometimes walls.
While I understand your concern with future sale of your home, I don't agree that removal should be done, unless absolutely necessary. Asbestos in homes is only a concern if the products that contain it become disturbed, either by damage or by physically moving the products. This may allow the asbestos fibres to become friable, airborne and subject to breathing in by occupants of the home. If you have a reasonably well sealed attic, there is almost no possibility of this happening if nobody enters the attic space. If you have a contractor enter the attic with the expressed desire to remove the offending material, it will have to be grossly disturbed in the process. That will likely release large amounts of friable material, creating a potential problem that didn't exist when the insulation was left dormant.
To allow for this problem during removal, extreme measures must be taken to prevent loose fibres from contaminating the living space of the home. This will require sealing large areas of the home with plastic and installation of large fans to create a negative pressure situation in the attic. Once removal is complete, a major cleanup will be required followed by indoor air quality and laboratory testing of other samples from the home to ensure it is asbestos free. That is the real reason for the ridiculously high cost of removal. It is simply that the precautionary steps required to prevent contamination of the home are time-consuming and expensive.
If the material is left undisturbed, not only will there be little chance of loose asbestos fibres entering the living space and being inhaled, there will be no need for expensive remediation. I agree with Health Canada and other government sources that recommend leaving it alone. Despite some over-reactionary panic in other provinces, such as parts of Ontario as mentioned, I would not be too concerned about resale of homes with vermiculite in the attics. If that does become a larger issue in the future, I would expect the government would have to become involved in some form of compensation as there would be thousands of affected homeowners across the country that have a product that was once approved for use in their attics.
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 emailed or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P. O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Get that grease off your wooden cabinets
QUESTION: First of all, I would like to tell you that your books are great! Secondly, what would you use to clean grease off of wooden cabinets caused by frying foods in the kitchen?
Denise, Winnipeg
ANSWER: There are several options for zapping greasy cupboards. Begin with the easiest and work your way up to more aggressive solutions. Regular cleaning is key! Combine Dawn dish soap and water, use an abrasive cloth to scrub wood along the grain. Or clean cupboards with Murphy's Oil Soap, scrub and rinse. Or use the following Mother Hubbard's Cupboard recipe: Combine 1-2 cups vinegar, 1 cup ammonia (optional), half-cup baking soda and 2 gallons water. Cover hands with rubber gloves and draw a small amount onto a sponge, wipe each cupboard (from top to bottom to prevent streaking). Apply olive oil once a month to protect wood. Apply car wax every six months, let dry and buff. Or clean cupboards with TSP (trisodium phosphate), rinse well. Test all solutions on an inconspicuous area first. Worst-case scenario, lightly sand and then clean with Mother Hubbard's Cupboard recipe. Taken from Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets.
QUESTION: I have no idea how to keep moths away from my closet; those pesky little things destroy my woollen sweaters. I put cedar everywhere but they still enter "the dining room." Do you have any advice on how to solve this problem?
Kindest regards, Monika, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Get rid of moths using one or a combination of the following: Cloves, dried lavender, rosemary, mint, thyme, cinnamon sticks, eucalyptus, peppercorns, dried lemon peel and cedar (chips, balls, planks or essential oil-cedar lined closets, drawers or trunks). These natural fragrances are delightful to humans but will keep moths away. You can make sachets to stash in drawers and trunks or hang in closets using: pretty cotton fabrics, plain cheesecloth, muslin, linen or clean nylons (knee-highs or cut pantyhose). Next, dry-clean or thoroughly wash items in hot water (temperature above 50 C [120� F] for 20 to 30 minutes) kills all stages of insects. This is the most common and effective method for controlling moths in clothing, blankets and other washable articles. For items that cannot be hot-washed, wrap in plastic and place in the freezer for a day. Mothballs containing the chemicals naphthalene or pardichlorobenzene are a dangerous solution. The balls produce vapours that, in sufficient concentration, will slowly kill insects. However, if the container is not airtight, the chemicals only weakly repel adults and any larvae already on clothes continue to feed. In addition, the balls give off a distinctive and unpleasant smell that can be very difficult to remove even after cleaning. They are poisonous and must be kept away from children and pets. Lastly, change your vacuum bag regularly to ensure you're getting the larvae out of your home.
Extra Tip: Bay leaves are the best grain-moth repellent. Sprinkle bay leaves on shelves, or tape bay leaves inside of canisters or cereal boxes (they won't alter the flavour). Grain moths like warmth and moisture, so store grains in airtight containers and in a cool place. The only other material that works to deter grain moths is Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum!
QUESTION: While we were away from home, a hairball from our elderly cats was spilled on our brown jute rug. Our cat-sitter rubbed the rug clean leaving two noticeable light spots on the rug. Can we treat these spots by brushing on some brown fabric dye? Can you recommend a way to darken these spots? Look forward to hearing from you. Diane (Mitchell, Man.)
ANSWER: All carpet is dyed in the first place, therefore, it is definitely a technique that will work if done correctly, however, it is risky business. Colour-matching is a great challenge and for best results, consider hiring professional carpet-dying services that will help you refurbish your carpet for less than half the cost of replacing the carpet.
If you are determined to fix the carpet yourself, the first step is to find out what kind of textile your carpet is (you said jute), and whether or not your carpet is stain-resistant.
When purchasing carpet dye, consider how much dye mixture is required to cover the carpet you are refurbishing. Coverage must also be sufficient to allow the dye to bond evenly with carpet fibres. Make sure you are buying a carpet dye with a colourfast guarantee. Dyed carpets should not fade when cleaned. Also find out the drying time and setting time. Clean the carpet before beginning and follow all directions listed on the colour-dye kit. Test carpet dye on a swatch of carpet if you have one available, or on an inconspicuous area.
Extra Tip: If the stains are really small, you can try colouring the bleached areas with a brown permanent marker.
QUESTION -- What is your opinion of stainless steel kitchen countertops? Wyn (Amaranth, Man.)
ANSWER: Stainless steel counters are gaining popularity in everyday homes due to their durability, stain- and water-resistance, low maintenance and ease of cleaning. Also a hot plate or pan can be placed directly on the surface without worry of damage. Because it's easy to clean, it's great for preventing bacterial growth. If you have a stainless countertop installed, make sure the surface is at least 18-gauge and has eight to 10 per cent nickel in it. Another advantage is that stainless steel is neutral, which means that you can change your cabinets to almost any other colour or material and the counters will always match. If you plan your kitchen lighting scheme right, the reflective nature of the surface will increase the illumination and make the room sparkle.
However, like most things in life, there are drawbacks. Stainless is not cheap, even though it seems like a bare metal, it requires a lot of work to have it made and installed. Also, cutting directly on the surface will leave scratch marks.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and "Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives available online and in stores across Canada.
Tip of the Week:
Juicy Fruit Room Air Freshener Recipe: Dissolve 1 tsp. baking soda in 2 cups hot water; add 1 tsp. lemon juice. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray each room in the house.
Burn 100 per cent pure beeswax candles with 100 per cent cotton wicks. They are said to purify and clean the air while helping the room smell great.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming!
Check out my website! www.householdsolutions.org
Renovation & Design
Going for a modern kitchen? Think outside the box
QUESTION: We are building a new home and the kitchen cabinets are a toffee-coloured birch. We have decided on black-and-cream-mottled granite for the countertops and a cream-coloured porcelain tile floor. The overall look is modern. I am wondering what type of kitchen table and counter stool design we should look for.
ANSWER: When you are dealing with natural elements, you have a large range of options. The natural qualities of these materials lend themselves to embrace designs from contemporary to country and everything in between.
The options for kitchen furnishings are great. If you are inclined to develop a sleek, modern ambience, incorporate metal into your selection. Many outdoor-furniture shops have a wonderful assortment of tables and chairs that can be outdoor- and indoor-friendly.
You could select the table only and match chairs from a different vendor. These tables tend to have tempered glass tops which are removable, offering a unique design option which allows you to have a granite top custom-fitted. To avoid overuse of the countertop granite, select a stone with less pattern, but in one of the prevailing countertop colours.
Another design option is to look for a two-toned wood table. A black top with brown stained legs (or the reverse) offers a definite urban feel to a kitchen. A straight or unadorned tapered leg will reflect a contemporary statement, whereas a turned or fluted leg will give the space an urban-country flavour.
QUESTION: I have a landscape question. What should we consider for creating a low-maintenance yard? We have seen some yards that are devoid of grass and look really attractive, and then there are others that look like a desert wasteland. How do we make this project always look good without the effort?
ANSWER: Just like an indoor design project, a successful and professional-looking landscape project needs to follow the same principles of scale, balance, colour and texture. You need to view your yard (and home) in its entirety. Your home should be the focus, with interesting landscaping that incorporates secondary and tertiary focal points to complete the picture.
There are many landscaping materials that are low maintenance. A popular choice is the use of rock to replace grass. Although this is a natural and easy-to-care-for option, it needs to be viewed as a backdrop for your project and not the main event.
If a yard is predominantly rock, without the addition of other elements, the project ends up looking uninspiring and unprofessional. Look to add interest in height, colour and texture with the inclusion of trees, shrubs and perennial plants.
Develop your design as a professional florist arranges flowers in a bouquet: Use height in the back or middle, surrounded with mid-height blossoms and framed with low-lying greenery.
Plants and trees are not completely devoid of maintenance, but with the right advice these species tend to take care of themselves with little additional effort, once they establish themselves.
Trees and shrubs are important for an esthetically pleasing yard that is predominantly rock.
Select various species that provide seasonal variation with blossoms and leaf colour. This will create a visually interesting display year-round. Adding conifers (evergreen varieties) will also offer interest even during the grey and white days of winter.
Large rocks, sculptures and waterfalls add interest to a yard, but their placement is very important. These elements will draw attention, so they must be considered as part of the whole project. Too often, homeowners add a sculpture or rock configuration that is simply incongruent with their home's style.
The expertise of a landscape or gardening specialist will be invaluable to achieving a professional look, even if you plan to do the bulk of the work yourself.
-- Canwest News Service
Leanne Brownoff is an Edmonton design consultant who welcomes your questions at www.leannebrownoff.com. Answers will be featured in her column, as high volumes prevent individual responses.
