SOUR CREAM SUBSTITUTE ISN’T TRICKY TO WHIP UP

Q Do you have any ideas for a good substitute for sour cream? A Combine four drops of lemon juice with one cup (250 mL), whipped cream. Let sit for 30 minutes. Or use plain or vanilla yogurt, depending on what you are making.

Q Is there anything I can do to make packaged gravy mix less salty?

A Next time you purchase storebought gravy, look for sodiumreduced packages. If the gravy is already cooking in a pot, add a potato to the gravy to absorb some of the saltiness. Another option is to add milk, sodiumreduced broth or water to dilute the flavour. If this is the case, combine flour or cornstarch with the liquid while it is still cold before adding it to the gravy so that the gravy thickens.

Q My dishwasher leaves chalky white film over areas of some dishes. I’ve cleaned the dishwasher, put vinegar through it, and altered the volume of rinse solution and amount of detergent, but with no effect. Any explanations or recommendations?

A I can tell you that when this happened in my household, I switched from liquid to powder detergent and the problem immediately corrected itself. If your challenge continues, run a small amount of “Iron Out” through the dishwasher for an intense cleaning. If the problem remains, call for professional repair service.

ASTUTE FEEDBACK FROM CONTRIBUTORS

Re: Bathtub Ring

Regarding the question about how to remove a bathtub ring, I recommend a product called GelGloss. It comes in a pink rectangular can at hardware/home stores. It requires a bit of elbow grease (wipe on, let dry to a haze, then buff off with a cloth), but the results are fabulous. The tub, sink etc. will be super clean, smooth and shiny. And, bonus, it makes cleaning easier for months afterward. — Catherine

Re: Cleaning Cast Iron Frying Pans

My very old cast iron frying pan had years of encrusted food, oil, etc. on both the inside and outside surfaces.

When we purchased a new selfcleaning range, a friend suggested I put the pan in the oven when it was in the self-cleaning mode. It worked like a charm!

Of course, I had to “cure” the pan again before using it. — Jan

FABULOUS CLEANING TIPS

For extremely greasy vent covers: Boil them in a stainless-steel pot filled with half a cup (125 mL) of baking soda and enough water to cover the metal. Boil 10 minutes. Rinse and repeat. For mildly greasy vent covers wash in the dishwasher.

I often found spiders sitting in the same area of my screen room. I decided to soak a few cotton balls with peppermint essential oil, which is different than peppermint extract. I have noticed fewer spiders ever since. — Tyler