Cat litter removes driveway oil stain

Our granddaughter’s old car left large oil drops on our concrete driveway. Any suggestions before we tackle it ourselves?

For a fresh stain, sprinkle the area with a liberal amount of cat litter to absorb grease and then brush it away. For older stains, apply a solution of one cup washing soda and one-quarter cup TSP (trisodium phosphate) per gallon of water. Scrub or power wash the stain.

You can also try spraying a liberal amount of WD-40 onto the oil drops. Let sit five minutes, scrub thoroughly and then wash away. Is using vegetable oil on a new butcher block a good idea? Or, do I need to use some mineral oil or something like that?

For everyday cleaning, wipe butcher block with dish soap and water, and rinse with water. To sanitize butcher block, combine one part white vinegar into a spray bottle with four parts water. Spray and leave for 10 minutes, and then wipe.

When the time comes to oil the butcher block, food-grade mineral oil is recommended. It prevents the wood from smelling rancid over time.

Butcher block is beautiful and durable, and can last for many years if cared for properly. We have a ceiling fixture with three-inch plastic teardrops hanging from the edge that look discoloured. What can I use to make them clear again?

Here is my favourite recipe for cleaning plastic teardrops on light fixtures.

Cover the floor with newspaper. Into a spray bottle combine one teaspoon rubbing alcohol, four cups hot water and two tablespoons dishwasher anti-spot agent, such as JetDry. Spray onto plastic teardrops and let them drip dry — no need to polish. Or, if the teardrops are detachable, soak them in this solution. (Taken from Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions.)