Dear Reena: There鈥檚 a wide, ongoing conversation about how to manage fitted bed sheets that are too large for 鈥渞egular鈥�-size mattresses. We have tried the elastic tricks, which are cumbersome and don鈥檛 work. Is there an easy way to sew a permanent and viable solution? Thanks for any help.
George
The easiest remedy is to turn the bedsheet inside out and position it onto the mattress. Pin the excess of each corner. Remove the sheet and sew a dart along each excess seam. Another option is to purchase bedsheet garters to hold the sheet in place. The downside to garters are that they are fiddley to attach.
Dear Reena: I enjoy your column, and have picked up some clever tips. Four years ago, I had my kitchen renovated (I鈥檓 an old widower living alone and I needed to prepare the kitchen for the day I sell). Lately, I have noticed that sliding my kitchen chair in and out of position at the table has resulted in scratches from abrasion. The flooring is a nice chocolate brown and looks similar to ceramic tile, but the scratches reveal the next layer is white. Is there anything that can be done to mask these scratches or do you think this tile can be lifted out and replaced? I watched them install it, and it seems the different 鈥減lanks鈥� were interlocked.
Bernie
Thank you for your letter. If you have access to a matching tile, you might choose to hire a professional, to break the tile using a cold chisel and replace it with a new tile. Or you might wish to tackle the project, if you are confident in your DIY skills. Or, a much simpler remedy, is to make a paste using the grout that was originally used between the tiles, and some water. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of grout onto the scratches. Add a little water to make a paste. Dampen a sponge, and wipe the grout paste off the tile. The grout will fill the cracks and no longer be noticeable.
Dear Reena: I make my own fresh buns every Sunday, and then I put them in the freezer. To thaw them, I take them out of the freezer and place them in the oven at 350 F for eight minutes. Sometimes, they become hard and overbaked, but it seems that many experts advise this as the best way to thaw buns. Do you agree with the experts?
Kimberley
Actually, I am with you on this one, the risk of overbaking the buns is too risky. When I remove frozen buns from the freezer, I take them out of the sealable bag. I then gently wrap them with a tea towel and place them on the counter at room temperature. The towel absorbs the moisture, and the results are fresh tasting, soft buns.
Reader feedback
Re: Prevent crumbs from falling between fridge and counter
In your previous column, Billy asked about preventing crumbs from falling between the fridge and counter and you recommended clear vinyl tubing. My husband suggests 鈥渇oam backer rod,鈥� which is designed for space filling. It might not look as nice, but is a better support, so one could use the vinyl or anything else on top of the foam backer rod.
Rhonda
Re: Changing the furnace filter
As a service tech for a natural-gas utility, furnace filters should be changed once a month, if there are smokers or pets in the house. There is a lot less stress on the furnace-heat exchanger, as a clean filter prevents overheating. Filters also need to be changed in the summer, if you have central air.
Tim
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