Give a tired-looking kitchen a facelift
Dear Reena: Do you have any suggestions on how to remove blood spots from a pillowcase? Paul
Scrub the stains with Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo, then rinse with water until stains are gone.
Dear Reena: How can I keep my garden-grown herbs fresh? Van
Treat herbs just like you would flowers. Trim the stems. Place them in a container with two inches of fresh water. Cover them loosely with a plastic bag and place them in the fridge.
Change the water every few days. Basil is the exception — this delicious herb should be kept at room temperature.
Feedback from a reader
Dear Reena: A while back, you published advice regarding how long to use a disposable razor before tossing it out. You said: “Some people recommend that disposable razors are fine for three uses and others suggest three months or longer.”
My doctor advised me to toss the razor after each use. I had a brain infection a few years ago and one of the theories was that the infection might have been caused by using a razor that I nicked myself with previously.
Anonymous
Liven up that old kitchen
• If you remove your cupboard doors for painting or refinishing, be sure to label or number the doors so they go back in the right place. The holes for the hinges (door and frame) need to match, too, so you can easily determine which door goes where. • Do you have drawers or cabinets that could use a new look? Just change the hardware and you won’t believe the facelift. • To liven up wood cabinets or pantries, wipe them down with a very thin coat of car wax. Buff them dry for a beautiful shine. • Oil-based paints in dark colours work well on kitchen cabinets. Black cabinets or even a dark earth tone falls under this category.
However, the battle of latex versus oil continues in several other areas. Oilbased paints will stand up to scrubbing more than a latex-based paint. If you have young kids, then you may consider oil-based paints such as melamine.
Whichever paint you choose, allow 24 hours between coats, even if the label says less. This will ensure that each coat reaches its maximum hardness and will be less prone to chipping or gouging. • A mild dishwashing liquid works well for cleaning the fronts of cabinets. A tablespoon or so in a cup of warm water should do the job.
For trickier bits of food that may be stuck, use a sponge with the green scrubbing pad.
Do not to use a scrub brush, steel-wool pad or any type of abrasives, as these will only scratch the surface of your cabinet. Scouring powder is damaging to cabinets as well. Before drying, sponge with cool, clear water to rinse.
Tip: Salt is another kitchen-cabinet cleanser that is useful as a mild abrasive. It also kills germs.
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.