Reena Nerbas
Dear Reena: I have a wood coffee table. A hot plate was placed on it and now there’s a white spot. What should I do?
Valerie
Apply mayonnaise or non-gel, non-bleach toothpaste to the wood. Leave for 30 minutes and wipe. If the stain remains, cover the mark with a white cloth. Using the steam setting on your clothing iron, wave the iron over the top of the cloth making sure that you do not set the iron on one area. With a little patience, the mark will disappear.
Dear Reena: I am starting an interior home-painting business and need some advice. Normally, I tape off areas such as backsplashes and toilet tanks, but the paint still splatters onto surfaces. Is there a trick to cover surfaces better?
Landon
Using a drop cloth works well. And here is a trick that is fast, easy and best of all inexpensive. Purchase a roll of Press ’n’ Seal cling film. It is similar to plastic wrap and found in the kitchen departments of most stores. Before painting, cover surfaces such as backsplashes and striker plates with the cling film.
Dear Reena: What are some tips for making perfect pancakes?
Adam The number one rule is: don’t over stir the batter. During cooking, when you see bubbles forming, that’s the sign that it’s time to flip the pancake. Use a 1/4 cup measure so that all pancakes are uniform. Keep your heat low to medium so that the pancake cooks slowly and does not burn. Grease the pan well so that the pancake is easy to flip and does not stick to the pan. For a rich flavour add a little vanilla to the batter and substitute milk or water with buttermilk.
Dear Reena: Can you please give me a tip for cleaning the window of my woodstove? The black on the inside of the window looks as though it is painted on.
Blaine When the stove is cool, crumple up a sheet of wet newspaper. Dip the newspaper into the ashes of the stove. Wipe the window with the newspaper. The caked-on residue quickly disappears.
Best Tips of the Week • I collect empty baby-food jars and paint the lids with chalkboard paint. I purchase spices in bags and fill the baby-food jars with the spices. I label each jar with chalk and store the remaining spices in the freezer. I store all my spices in a kitchen drawer, the chalkboard labels keep me organized. Jody • I keep a fabric softener sheet in the pocket of my winter coat. After removing my toque, I run the fabric softener sheet over my hair, and static is no longer a problem. Kelly • Fill holes in your drywall with white toothpaste. It will dry and you can paint right over it. Andy • Keep your cheese fresher, much longer by placing it in a sealable bag instead of using plastic wrap. Kristi
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. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca