Dear Donny

QWe have a grease mark on our kitchen wallpaper. What’s best to remove it?

Barbara Williams, by email

ASugar soap or washing-up liquid used neat will work if the wallpaper is vinyl. If not, then it’s likely the grease will have soaked in. But most non-washable papers can easily be painted over.

Q

How do I remove leaf stains on a new cream slab path? Washing-up liquid hasn’t worked. Marion Tolley, by email

A

Use a strong hot water and bleach mix, scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush and leave it to dry – don’t rinse off. Then repeat but with not as strong a mix. I did this on Mum’s old stained path and it worked well.

QRain seems to have seeped into joints in my wooden front door leaving a stain despite years of yacht varnish. How can I fix this? Jacqueline Wilson, by email

ASounds like the water has got into joints through expansion and contraction caused by changing temperatures because oil-based varnishes don’t flex much. You could sand the door back and if you want a wood look, then go for breathable Osmo wood finishes or use Blackfriar wood stains and varnish.

DONNY’S TOP TIP

Don’t store water-based paints in a shed or garage where the frost will get to it, because these kind of paints go off and smell like rotten eggs once frozen and defrosted.

QMy dog rests her chin on the side of our limestone fireplace because it’s cool and this has caused a bad stain from her dribbling. How can I remove it? Lynne Lowick and Tilly King Charles Cavalier, by email

ALimestone is porous and needs protecting. I’d go for Lithofin Power-Clean to remove it and then Lithofin Stain-Stop, which will stop any future dribble from your dog soaking into the limestone. Instead it will stay on the surface and can be wiped clean.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: diy.donny@trinitymirror.com