Dear Reena: Can the dents in my stainless-steel fridge be repaired?
Vi
There is a theory that if you heat the dents with a hair dryer or press dry ice onto the area and then blast it with cold air, the dents should release and vanish. After researching this theory, I聽have found it unsuccessful. The聽safest and least noticeable solution is to leave the dent(s) as聽is.
Dear Reena: Is there a product that I can use to get rid of ants,聽and is safe for pets and kids?
Rita
There are several solutions for tackling ants. What works for聽one will not necessarily work for another since there is such a聽large variety of ant species, but聽here are a few ideas that are聽safe for children. To begin with, seal all doors and windows. Next, many ants will stay away if聽they smell what they consider an unpleasant odour, such as cinnamon, garlic, tea leaves or聽coffee grounds. You can also sprinkle anthills with dry oatmeal, cornmeal or Cornflake cereal.
Another option is to make what I like to call 鈥渞hubarb tea.鈥� In a stainless-steel pot, boil rhubarb leaves with water. Pour the cooled liquid onto anthills. This helps get rid of ants and, because of the oxalic acid in rhubarb, the pots will appear sparkly and clean! Another suggestion: Ants are territorial, so pile the dirt from one anthill聽onto the dirt of another anthill. Or push a metal pipe into anthills and pour hot water and tea tree oil into the pipe.
Feedback from readers:
Re: Freshening Your Home
Dear Reena:Your suggestion regarding homemade air fresheners was so disappointing. You聽didn鈥檛 once suggest that a聽good airing of your home will help with freshening the air and reducing odours. The industry has convinced us that clean, fresh air is not a desired odour so聽we have to mask it with cinnamon, lemon, fresh linen, tropical fruits and all kinds of odours. I聽am someone who must detour around the fragrance counters in聽large stores, use 鈥渇ragrance free鈥� laundry soaps and softeners, and can start gagging and coughing when I come into a space that has recently been 鈥渇reshened.鈥� It isn鈥檛 necessary. Keep your garbage, composting, bathroom and all other waste bins closed and emptied frequently, and open your windows every day (and doors where feasible), for 15 minutes so air can pass through and freshen naturally. My mother used to do this even in winter, though only for a聽few minutes when it was cold and when few others were at home. Modern homes, especially, are super-sealed and air gets trapped and 鈥渙ver used.鈥� Masking it with another odour doesn鈥檛 help. Only fresh air can really freshen your home.
Elaine
Re: Eliminating Scum in Bird Baths
Dear Reena: I heard that sticking copper pennies into a聽bird bath will eliminate scum and build-up. Trust me, it works! Kathy
Handy Tip of the Week
鈥� I use a fabric softener sheet on聽my hairbrush to prevent static. It also makes cleaning the聽brush a snap. Simply push a聽fabric softener sheet onto the聽bristles of the brush. After a聽week or so, lift the fabric softener up from the bristles and聽toss it into the garbage. Voilà, A clean brush and no static聽in your hair. Amy
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of聽any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.