From wallpapering snags to paw licking

Please advise me on how to tackle a wallpapering problem. I took on the task of wallpapering my son’s bedroom and have a problem with overlapping, where the paper is curling up. The glue just won’t stick it down. — KK, Kariega Unfortunately, wallpaper is not designed to overlap. An item in my files states that even if you could find a glue that would hold the paper down, you will be left with an unattractive ridge where the papers overlap. In time, this is bound to start peeling.

Overlapping must be avoided by judicious cutting. The experts say the only way to get a good finish is to have the papers lined up exactly, allowing surplus paper at the top and bottom, so that trimming can be done to cope with wall irregularities.

Faced with an overlap, you have to trim. Though this is not easy, the best method is to use a metal spirit level and a sharp Stanley knife. Get someone to help you with this tricky operation.

Is there a way of preventing tarnishing, once some copper items have been nicely shined up? — GT, Gqeberha

A successful home remedy with readers is to make a paste from equal quantities of vinegar, salt and flour.

Smear this onto the surface and leave to stand for an hour. Rub off and wash in hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Reader “MD” said the method worked beautifully on her fondue set and “the items now gleam with new life”.

Another effective method is to take half a lemon dipped in salt and rub the surface thoroughly.

Follow this with a good wash, and when the item is dry, the surface can be buffed up with the appropriate metal polish. A slick of olive or cooking oil will retard tarnishing.

I understand that gelatin is animalbased. Is there a plant-based alternative I could use in making jelly?

— JI, Gqeberha

Mrs Beeton’s 1925 “new edition” of All About Cookery states that “Gelatin is prepared from the bones and skins, etc of animals and certain other substances”.

Collagen is the protein found in animal tissue and bone which yields gelatin on boiling.

The plant-base substitute is agaritine — a “white gelatin” made wholly from plant material and imported from Germany.

Butcher Willie Meyer once told me that agaritine would fill a need for vegetarians and people with religious dietary constraints.

It is not difficult to use, having a setting temperature of 35ºC and being suitable for both hot and cold food preparations.

How can I stop my young male dog from licking his paws? There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with them. — GR, Gqeberha It’s possible that a skin irritation is causing the problem, in which case it would be best to consult a veterinarian about a shampoo such as Pyostat, which is designed to counter bacterial and fungul infections.

But before you go that route, see if you can discourage the licking by putting something on the paws that the dog will not like, such as lemon juice, but don’t persist with this for too long.

My husband has got a nasty brown stain from Condy’s crystals on his white T-shirt. How can we get this stain out? — KD, Gqeberha

Treat it with a bleaching solution of 20 volume hydrogen peroxide (from the pharmacy) mixed with water in the proportion of one part peroxide to five parts water. Add a little white vinegar.

Soak the stained area in this, and then rinse well.

However, it is essential to test the solution first on an inconspicuous area of the T-shirt, as it could possibly affect the colour, even though it is a white shirt.