Dear Donny

DIY EXPERT DONNY SHERIDAN ANSWERS YOUR PROBLEMS

Q My kitchen cupboards are wood but they have been stained and waxed. Can I paint them? Thanks, Heather Henderson

A You need to get the wax off so use white spirit and steel wool, then sand the doors using 120 grade sandpaper followed by 240 grade. Then apply an undercoat and topcoat, or, Rust-Oleum manufacture a paint called kitchen cupboard paint, which requires no primer or undercoat.

Q My wooden window ledges keep getting scratched when my dog jumps up to see out, is there anything I can coat them with that will not scratch? Jacqueline Nicoll

A The only thing I can think of is to cover the window ledges with an acrylic sheet such as Perspex which comes in colours, gloss or matt.

Q We have a mould problem on a small garden wall. We are having to paint it every three months. Any ideas as to what we can do? Kind regards, Edna

A If it’s moss or lichen then it’s damp that’s the cause. As long as the wall is damp then it will always form some sort of slime. If it is the white salts from efflorescence then you can apply an efflorescence removal solution.

Q We have a new rug on a fitted wool carpet and have tried lots of recommended adhesives to stop it from curling at the edges and moving. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Paula Dixon

A A rubber anti-slip rug underlay is one idea but it has to be the full size of the rug. You can get edge grips as well. If you apply a bead of silicon or PVA around the edge of the underside of the rug and leave to set, this will grip the underlay better.

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