By Reena Nerbas
Dog Odour in Leather
Dear Reena,
Our dog’s favorite place to sit was on our leather sofa, and now that she is gone we cannot seem to get the odor off of the leather! We have tried leather cleaners but to no avail. I had a professional here yesterday to clean it but he said pet odors cannot be removed. Can they? Please help! Debbie
Dear Debbie,
Begin by dampening the area and wiping it with white vinegar and baking soda. Wipe clean. Next purchase a container of saddle soap which is specifically made for leather. Wet a cloth and rub it with saddle soap to create lather. Work the lather into the chair and rub for several minutes allowing the ingredients to penetrate the fabric so that you reach all areas of where the dog’s mess soaked through. Dry well.
Wax on Oak Table
Dear Reena,
I dripped some red candle wax on an old oak table and did not notice it for over an hour. As soon as I saw it, I scraped off the wax and rubbed the spots with furniture oil. Now I see that although all the wax is gone, there is still some red dye in the wood. I thought I might try some mineral spirits next but I decided to contact you to see if you have thoughts on this. I would like to avoid having the table refinished if at all possible. Thanks in advance. Shelby
Dear Shelby,
Have you tried rubbing the area with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser? Depending on the finish of the wood, you may have great success with this. I have also received reports that some people add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the Magic Eraser and say that the dye stain disappears (test on inconspicuous area first). Another option is to scrub the area with Head and Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo and rinse with water. Mineral spirits will likely remove the dye but also damage the finish of the wood. Next time (if there is a next time); cover the area with a brown paper bag or tea towel. Press the area with a warm iron (steam setting off). Move the paper around the area to soak up all of the wax.
Freezing Bread Dough
Dear Reena,
I live alone and love the taste of freshly made bread. So I make my own bread dough and have a hard time eating more than one loaf while it is still fresh tasting. Is it possible to freeze bread dough and bake it later? Jessy
Dear Jessy,
Sure, all you need to do is increase the yeast by one third when you are making it for freezing. Allow the dough to rise as a loaf and then place the loaf into a lightly floured double sealable bag. Freeze. When the time comes to bake the loaf, remove it from the bag and place it inside of a lightly oiled loaf pan. Cover the pan with a plastic bag and thaw in the fridge. Once thawed, let rise and bake as normal.
Hardened Honey
Dear Reena,
I bought the same honey that I always buy, but for some reason the honey in this bucket is as hard as a rock. I have already bent two spoons trying to get the honey out of the honey pot. Should I throw it out? The bucket was $20.00 so I don’t want to get rid of it. Help, Nathan
Dear Nathan,
When I think about how hard those little honey bees’ work for every pound of honey, I cringe at the idea of even one teaspoon of honey being tossed into the trash. Especially since the solution is so simple; fill the kitchen sink with hot water. Put the sealed honey pot into the water, making sure that no water seeps inside the pot. Wait 20 minutes and the honey will be liquid and easy to pour.
Did you know? The average worker bee produces between one and two teaspoons of honey in her entire lifetime.
Fabulous Tips of the Week
I found that putting a few drops of real vanilla on my tooth, temporarily helped soothe my toothache. Submitted by: Camea
I came up with a clever way to clean my knife block holder. First I turned the block upside down over my sink to shake out any crumbs and dust. Next I soaked a pipe cleaner in rubbing alcohol and inserted it into the knife block to clean inside the tight slots. Submitted by: Morgan
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.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Need a Presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca