Perk up a stained pot
Weekly tips and tricks for even the most confounding household conundrums
Q How can I get rid of stains in a coffee pot? I would like to sell it, but I would like to clean it first. Thanks!
A Sprinkle baking soda and a small amount of water into the pot and heat the pot until the burnt coffee disappears (being careful not to re-burn the pot). Rinse with hot water.
Q Horizontal kitchen blinds take forever to clean, and because of the effort involved, I am thinking of selling them and buying cloth curtains. Any advice?
A I agree, stop wasting the day cleaning horizontal blinds. Drop them into the bathtub and use the shower hose to spray them. Sprinkle with shampoo or dish soap and rinse. Shake hang to dry and move on with your day.
Q Do you have a recipe for homemade mouthwash? I am looking for something that contains no alcohol and is inexpensive.
A Here is a simple solution that you can make at home. Instead of throwing out the green end pieces of your strawberries, save enough stems to measure half cup. The stems of strawberries are packed with antioxidants which are good for human bodies. Add the stems to one cup boiling water and steep strawberry leaves until cool. Next add the juice of one lemon. Strain and pour into a bottle. Can be stored for up to one week. No money, no waste!
FABULOUS FEEDBACK FROM READERS
Hi Reena,
I read the problem about the package of ground beef being left in the fridge for several months and the problem getting the smell out. Perhaps leaving a bowl full of tomato juice in the fridge for a while may help. I had a problem like this, and after using this method, the smell disappeared.
— Barb
Dear Reena,
Just read to use alcohol to clean an eyeglass frame finish. In my opinion no alcohol is needed. Use dish soap and water only, fill a small spray bottle (10 oz.) with three-quarters water and one-quarter dish soap. Rinse with cool water, making sure to remove all soap. Most anti-reflective lens coatings have a hydrophobic coating, so holding frames upside down and running the cleaned lenses horizontally under the slow running water will remove almost all the water. Dab off remaining droplets with thin cotton cloth or tissue. I’ve been doing this in my optical practice for 16 years and my customers get 3-4 years almost scratch free.
— Ernie
FABULOUS PIE TIPS OF THE WEEK!
■ Before you bake your next apple pie, prevent apples from shrinking. Cook the apples slowly first over low heat for 15 minutes. Add sugar to the apple slices. Doing this will extract some of the juices and make the crust less soggy. Choose more than one variety of apples so some are sweet, some are tart.
■ Homemade pie crust that is too soft should be wrapped in plastic and stored in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Add flour as needed.
■ If your pie looks cooked but the filling is underdone, loosely wrap it in foil and return it to the oven to cook through.
Note: 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.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena. ca. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca