Dear Donny
Q In winter, black spots appear on my kitchen walls, which I wipe off. I used anti-condensation paint but the spots are back again. Margaret Emmott, by email
A You have a cold wall, and cold spots probably occur where a fixing touches the plasterboard and the cold from outside is transferring. Try insulated plasterboard or insulated render – but you also need ventilation, especially in a kitchen where there is a lot of moisture from cooking. Even opening a window will help. You also need heat to stop the wall getting cold.
Q I was laying flowers on my parents’ grave and noticed the headstone had blackened from the original white marble look. How do I clean it? Darrell Stevens, by email
A Use Lithofin MN outdoor cleaner, which removes all the dark algae deposits and green stains caused by trees and shrubs. It’s about £12 a litre.
DONNY’S TOP TIP
To prevent newly painted case and sash windows sticking, allow to dry and apply furniture polish with a cloth before shutting.
Q I always enjoy your column and took your advice and bought Zinsser 123 primer and exterior gloss in black, which transformed my outside window ledges. But the white uPVC door top coat wrinkled in a few places. What’s gone wrong? Barbara and Eric Taylor, by email
A I’m wondering if the door gets a lot of sun, as it’s not recommended to use dark colours for south facing surfaces. Or was the door painted in direct sunlight? This can cause crinkling. I’ve never been let down by Zinsser products – contact its help line if needed.
Q Do you know of anything I can use on my stainless steel sink and cooker to alleviate slight scratch marks caused by cutlery and pans please? Elise Baker, by email
A Use baby oil on stainless steel and it will hide the scratches. The sink will need to be dry and not in use so the oil doesn’t wash straight off – use a lint-free cloth when giving it a wipe.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: diy.donny@trinitymirror.com