Dear Reena: I was given a beautiful cashmere sweater for Christmas and I am wondering if you have any tips to ensure that moths don鈥檛 get at it? I had another cashmere sweater that now has a hole in it, and I was devastated. I do not want to use mothballs because of the smell.
Helen
Dear Helen: You are smart to avoid mothballs. Not only does the smell linger but also mothballs give off toxic vapours.
Clean your cashmere sweater according to the directions on the label. Store the sweater in an airtight container (or bag) along with lavender or rosemary sachets. Another option would be to sprinkle lavender essential oil onto a cotton ball and put it in with the sweater.
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Dear Reena: We are staying in a motel that supplies stainless steel pots. Some party before us left a plastic bag adhered to one of the pots. I have tried boiling water in the pot to loosen the plastic, but it did not work. My husband tried heating the plastic with a hairdryer to loosen but that did not work. Any ideas?
Linda
Dear Linda : A few commercial products work well to remove plastic from stainless steel. Bar Keepers Friend used with hot water and a scrubby pad or Goo Gone both work well. Spray the area and leave for 10 minutes before scrubbing. Another idea is to freeze the pot for one hour then put it in the sink, pour hot water and Dawn dish soap onto the area and scrub. Wash the pot well before using.
But the simplest idea might be to go to the motel concierge, explain the problem and ask for a pot you can use. You should not be expected to fix problems created by previous occupants.
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Dear Reena: My challenge happens when I sew. My threads always tangle, which makes my projects very frustrating because I spend too much time untangling thread.
Franca
Dear Franca: Many sewing retailers sell waxed threads. They don鈥檛 come in bolts but in sections of long hanging threads. You can also wax thread yourself by running the thread across a piece of paraffin wax, either a brick of wax sold for sealing preserves or an undyed candle, such as the plain ones sold as emergency candles. Doing this helps prevent tangles.
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Dear Reena: I live in a small apartment that has no balcony and only a very small fridge. Whenever I purchase a bag of potatoes, I store it in my pantry, but a short time later they bud. Do you have any tips for preventing potatoes from quickly budding?
Kel
Dear Kel: Simply store an apple in the potato bag to slow down potato budding.
Did you know the word potato comes from the Spanish word patata?
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Dear Reena: Do you hold any secrets for scissor sharpening without a professional sharpener?
Zara
Dear Zara: Using your scissors, cut through a few pieces of aluminum foil, steel wool or sandpaper to sharpen scissors.
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Life just got easier
鈥� Whenever I replace my pet鈥檚 bird food, I toss the shelled food outside instead of the garbage so that wild birds can enjoy uneaten seeds.
Detra
鈥� Make a wonderful watering jug for sprinkling plants. Drill holes into the lid of an empty four-litre milk jug. Fill the jug with water and secure the lid. Water your plants. It鈥檚 the best.
Ernie (Gardener for over 70 years)
鈥� Here is an easy trick to keep fruit and veggies fresh. When you bring fruit or veggies home from the store (usually in a plastic bag), stick a dry paper towel into the bag and tie it closed. Toss veggies into the fridge. You will be amazed at how long they stay crisp and fresh.
Dorothy
鈥� Here鈥檚 a tip using dish soap that my friend Rosalee recently passed on. Use dish soap as a pre-wash on stains. Rub a small amount onto the stain, leave for 10 to 15 minutes then soak the item in water for about half an hour before laundering as usual. It works on old stains as well as new.
Jan Cooper
鈥� Prevent hair frizz by wringing your hair out with paper towel instead of fabric towels. It causes less friction and absorbs more water, which speeds drying time.
Blair
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Check Reena鈥檚 website 鈥� reena.ca 鈥� to send tips and questions, to find missed columns or mislaid solutions, or to engage Reena to speak at an upcoming event.
