Cross-stitch repairs and an easy snack suggestion
Q: I have about 10 cross-stitch pieces I never got around to having framed, sadly I kept them in a dresser in the basement which was flooded this past June and they are very badly stained from water.
A: Before attempting a thorough cleaning of the pieces, you will want to test the back side of the embroidery thread for colour fastness. If colours run, bring the art to a professional drycleaner to remove the stains. If the colours stay intact, hand wash each piece separately in a tub of baby shampoo and water. Move the fabric around in the tub. Drain and refill with clear water. Soak for a few moments to remove shampoo. Lay flat on a white towel to dry. Cover the art with another white towel. After 30 minutes, remove the towel and let air dry. When the art is almost dry, cover the pieces with a towel once again and press with a warm iron to remove wrinkles.
Q: I am having a gathering at my house in a couple of weeks. My job is to prepare a snack for the evening, but I work until 4 p.m. Do you have an easy snack suggestion I can prepare ahead of time and keep warm in my slow cooker? I am planning to have a fruit and veggie platter but I want something a little snackier.
A: Combine the following: 1/4 cup (60 mL) melted butter, 4 tsp (20 mL) Worcestshire sauce, 1 tsp (5 mL) salt, 1 tsp (5 mL) garlic powder, 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) onion powder and 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) sugar. Stir well. Fill your slow cooker/crockpot with handfuls of Chex cereal, pretzels, pieces of taco chips and nuts; you will need about 7 cups (1.75 L) of crunchy foods. Pour butter combination over top. Cook on low for two and a half hours. Stir every 30 minutes.
Q: Several years ago, my leather sofa became badly scratched during a move. The moving company sent a repairman to fix it. He applied some sort of liquid, buffed it, and it looked like new! It has since acquired some more scratches, but I can’t get any information from the moving company. Can you suggest a solution.
A: While there are short-term fixes such as shoe polish and olive oil, they are not a long-term solution to repairing scratched leather. The label on your leather furniture will tell you what type and finish you are dealing with. If you see an “A” on the cleaning code, that stands for Aniline leather; “P” for Protected leather and “N” for Nubuck leather. Aniline leather has a wax finish. If this is your leather, heat the area and use your fingers to redistribute the wax or add additional melted wax to the scratched area. Most leather furniture is labelled “P” and the fabric is dyed or painted, then coated with a lacquer finish. The repairperson that you described may have sprayed the area with lacquer. If you are tackling the damage, a leather repair kit is the easiest way to hide scratches. “N” leather is usually completely dyed and therefore scratches do not typically remove colour. When in doubt, contact a professional restoration service.