GO CHEMICAL-FREE WITH HOMEMADE WEED REMOVERS
Boiling water doesn’t work, but using pickling vinegar and salt should do it
Q What is the best pesticidefree way, of removing weeds for good? I have a front garden with an uneven natural fieldstone patio. There is dirt and/or gravel in the slits between each stone. Different kinds of weeds grow in those slits. As soon as I remove them, they grow back in less than a week. I can’t keep up with the weeding, but I don’t want to use herbicides or pesticides. Is there some kind of homemade solution that would work? Pouring boiling hot water on the weeds doesn’t work. A For areas where weeds grow between rocks, place landscape fabric, add a thick sheet of plastic or several layers of newspaper underneath the rocks. For a homemade weed killer, pour acetic acid (pickling vinegar) onto the weeds. Table vinegar, the kind we eat with french fries, is not strong enough. To make another weed killer, in a pot combine and stir together 1 gallon (4.5 L) pickling vinegar, 1 pound (454 g) salt, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) dish soap, then pour over the weeds. Repeat as needed. (Caution: These methods will kill all treated plants).
Did you know? Newspaper is biodegradable and, when composted, it turns into mineral-rich topsoil, packed with nutrients.
Q After more than 30 years of use, our colonial-style maple wooden dining room table has a very sticky feel to the surface. I have tried plain soap and water to clean it, and plain water and Murphy’s Oil Soap. Nothing works. When I play cards with my grandchildren, the cards stick to the table. Have you any solutions short of having the top refinished?
A It sounds like the finish on the table has worn off, which is a common result of many finishes over time. Since Murphy’s Oil did not do the trick, consider purchasing a stronger varnish cleaner, available at home hardware stores. If the table remains sticky, yup, you guessed it — the table will need refinishing.
Q How can I prevent furniture from sliding on the floor so that it doesn’t leave marks on the wall when someone sits down? A The easiest solution is to cut a piece of non-slip shelf or drawer liner the same size as the furniture feet. For furniture that remains in place, cut the shape and simply slide the shelf liner underneath each foot. For furniture that is made to move, such as kitchen table chairs, you will require some kind of adhesive to hold the liner in place.
Use a drop of Super Glue or wood glue depending on the furniture material. There are sticky pads available, but these don’t always hold and often collect dust and hair. Other ideas are to install chair rails or pieces of Plexiglas onto walls so that chairs have no direct contact with the wall. You can also cut small sections of carpet tiles and apply them to the corners of chair backs using double-sided tape.
TIPS PROVIDED BY READERS:
Wrap the stems of bananas with plastic wrap to keep bananas fresher for longer.
If you need to wash several potatoes at once, place them (in their jackets) on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run the cycle as normal without any detergent.
Use an apple slicer to cut perfectly shaped potato wedges.
Eliminate strong odours in your home while cooking vegetables by adding one unshelled pecan to the pot of water.
Create the perfect veggie dip bowl by removing the tops of peppers. Hull the peppers and fill the empty vessels with dip.
To accommodate someone who is lactose intolerant, add a cooked and pureed cauliflower instead of adding cream to cream-based soups.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups. Check out her website at 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.