PREMIUM ORANGE JUICE
Chemical compounds boost flavour
Q Part of my grocery bill each week is spent on premium orange juice. So, I want to confirm that 100 per cent orange juice is made with oranges alone because the carton says “never any water or sugar added.” Is there anything at all added to the oranges?
A While many orange juice cartons/bottles claim to be 100 per cent pure premium orange juice, manufacturers often add a chemical flavouring compound known as ethyl butyrate to orange juice to enhance the flavour of the drink. The easiest observation of this may be done with your own simple experiment. Squeeze enough oranges into a cup to give yourself a few sips. Next pour yourself a cup of your favourite store-bought orange juice. Smell the difference? When flavour packs are added to “fresh” orange juice, it gives consumers the illusion that the oranges are freshly squeezed. When compared side by side, most people notice a difference between fresh and store-bought juice.
Q We moved into a house that has stains on the marble flooring in the bathroom. I’ve tried everything I can think of, including professional products, but nothing seems to work. Do you have any suggestions?
A There is a chance that the stains are permanent, and you may wish to contact a professional marble expert to grind the marble and restore it. The easiest DIY solution is this: Make a thick paste of baking soda and water; cover the stains with plastic wrap; tape the edges of the plastic with masking tape; leave for 12 hours and wipe. Or you can purchase an etching remover/ marble restoration kit at your local hardware store. Re: Cleaning Stipple
Regarding the homeowner who wants to clean stipple in their home, I advise that they test the ceiling stipple for asbestos first, then remove it using hazardous waste protocols. Contact a professional or do it yourself. Submitted by: Robert Re: Cleaning an oven safely and easily
Read the concern Karen had about her negative experience cleaning her oven. I stumbled upon the perfect oven cleaner when turkey juice burned onto my oven. I used Dawn Ultra Platinum dish soap. I mixed 1/4 cup (60 mL) of Dawn with 1 cup (250 mL) hot water, stirred it up and poured it onto the bottom of my oven, and let it set for about 30 minutes with the oven door closed. After 30 minutes, I took a plastic scrubber to it and the yuck came off like magic. I then mopped up the rest of the soapy water in my oven, wiped it down with a clean damp dish cloth to remove the soap residue. Submitted by: Sandra Re: Icy Porch Steps
I read your tips in previous years for combating icy porch steps. The following is a recipe I use each year (multiple times). Into a gallon (4.5 L) jug I add: 1 tbsp (15 mL) rubbing alcohol, 1 tsp (5 mL) Dawn dish soap and half gallon (2.25 mL) hot water. Pour the concoction onto cement. Within a few hours, ice turns to slush making the area safer for walking. Submitted by: Ruby
PREPARE FOR GARDEN WEEDS
I sprinkle cornmeal onto weeds to discourage them. Submitted by: Sanjay
Boiling water is the easiest solution for killing weeds. If you want an extra strong solution, pour 50/50 boiling water and pickling vinegar onto weeds. Submitted by: Audrey
Choke out weeds by laying newspaper between garden rows. Cover with mulch or cedar wood chips. Submitted by: Caleb Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for groups; check out her website — reena.ca — to ask a question or share a tip. Disclaimer: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.