Repelling ants, dealing with dog drool
Q I have a huge invasion of tiny ants in my pantry. Help! A Remove all food from the pantry. Throw away any open containers or packages. Spray the pantry with Raid Ant Killer, and look for a product with a twoweek residual. After two weeks, wipe shelves, the floor and walls. Return all food to the pantry, making sure that all products are stored in airtight containers.
Q Any suggestions for removing dog drool from cloth, truck seats? A Wet a cloth with water and heavy-duty laundry detergent. Wipe the areas well and rinse with water. Finish with a white vinegar rinse, to guard against watermarks on the upholstery.
Q My door gaskets seem to be rubber, they are soiled and dirty. I have used every cleaning item in the house and they are still dirty. A Pour several drops of tea tree oil onto the rubber. Use a damp, green scrubby pad to gently wash the soiled areas. Tea tree oil can be found in health food stores and grocery stores, in the pharmacy department. Some people experience great results using the, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
Q Do you have an easy apple butter recipe for me? I have tons of apples in my yard and I need a delicious solution. A This recipe is easy and you can make it in a slow cooker. The best part? The entire house will smell amazing! Peel, core and chop 5 1/2 pounds (2.5 kg) of apples. Place the apples in your slow cooker. Into a separate bowl, combine 4 cups (1 L) white sugar, 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) ground cloves and 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) salt. Mix contents with apples. Cook on high for one hour. Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 hours or until mixture is dark brown and thick (stir occasionally). Uncover and cook for one more hour. Pour into sterile jars and store in fridge or freezer. Yum!
Re: Keeping Wasps Away. What a pity! You missed an opportunity to educate people on the benefits of wasps and stop the cruel “witch hunt!” Google “ecological benefits of wasps” and you will find lots of wonderful information. All creatures, great and small, are here with a purpose. And, the human species has got to stop thinking they are the best; and the most important. — Jean
WISE TIP OF THE WEEK
We have an older home with older plumbing. The bathtub faucet has dripped for years, leaving an unsightly water stain around the drain. The plumbing is inside a tiled wall, and I can’t get at it to change the washers, or whatever is causing it to drip. Solution? We soaked the water stain (for quite some time!) with vinegar soaked paper towels, and finally got it cleaned right up. Then, from the hardware store, I sourced an 18inch length of white plastic flexible hose, the right diameter to fit over the faucet. And now the drip-dripdrip is directed directly down the drain!
Another solution is to use a length of plastic rod, like those used on venetian blinds (a ‘tilt wand’). Cut it to the suitable length and place one end in the faucet and the other end in the drain. The water will run down the rod, and not get on the surface of the tub! — Dave