Dear Reena: I have a tip and a question. To keep my black clothes looking new and fresh, about every six months or so I put a package of black fabric dye (Rit or Tintex) in with all my black loads.It works like a charm and my black clothes always look new.
My question is: Since Walmart has stopped selling fabric dye, I can no longer find it. Grocery stores don't sell it and neither do drug stores. Have you any idea who sells it?
Kate
Dear Kate: Thank you for the great tip Kate! Fabric dye is typically available at Michaels craft stores. Some grocery stores do sell it.
Dear Reena: Recently, a drop of Crazy Glue landed on my laminated flooring and I tried to clean it with a face tissue. I now have a white mark of tissue and glue.
Would appreciate your advice on removing this mark.
Al
Dear Al: This is one of those cases where WD-40 comes in handy. Test on an inconspicuous area first, then spray the area and leave for 10 minutes. Scrub with an abrasive (not steel wool) cloth.
After glue is gone, wipe area with dish soap and water. Some people use acetone to remove Super Glue but chances are good that the laminate will discolour.
Dear Reena: Today I wanted to use my pizza stones for the pizza dough I made and when I pulled them out of my oven drawer, I discovered that they had colourful spots of mould embedded in them. I guess the last time I used them they got put away damp.
I used my aluminum ones instead and hope that the stones aren't beyond help as they are new. I washed them with dish soap then used baking soda and vinegar.
This removed the superficial mould but it appears the colourful red mould and some green have stained the stones. They are porous and I don't know if they can be rescued and safe to use.
Is there anything that I could do to get the remaining mould stains out of the stones?
Teri
Dear Teri: Bake the stone in an oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool. Wipe the stone with 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide and salt, rinse with water. Dish soap is not recommended on stoneware as it is porous and will seep into the stone.
Dear Reena: My problem is: My new kitchen chairs have very small vinyl tipped feet - smaller than a dime. I have not found a way to make the felt pads I usually use stay on.I have used them: as they are, selfadhesive pads and I have used Gorilla Glue but nothing will remain on the feet of the chairs.
Any suggestions?
Joan
Dear Joan: Forget the Gorilla Glue. The challenge of the glue not holding is a result of glue being absorbed into the felt pads; therefore strength of glue won't make a difference.
Either purchase a plastic or wooden leg protector and nail kit (the nail is hammered directly into the chair foot). Or purchase properly fitted rubber chair protectors that slide onto chair feet.
Suggestions from readers
- When trying to rid a fridge or freezer of a bad smell, I've found nothing works better than kitty litter. My husband forgot minnows in our propane fridge and three weeks later, it was pretty rank.
I used a pan with a flat surface to put the litter on and changed it once a week until there was no more smell, it took the odour away and it never returned.
Ms. C.
- When needing to make gravy, I use mushroom or chicken undiluted soup. I pour the soup into the pan with the drippings. This makes instant gravy with no lumps.
Ms. C.
- To dry sponges of all kinds, including sponge paint rollers, wrap them in a dishrag (like a jellyroll) and wring out as hard as you can. They will come out almost dry with no damage. This works with exfoliating bath gloves too.
Joan
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