Dear Reena: I have often noticed that restaurants have grains of rice in salt shakers. Is this for good luck or a joke that someone plays on the waitress?
Bethany
While some people consider it a myth, the reason why many people add rice grains to salt shakers is that it鈥檚 believed to be a great way to prevent salt from clumping, because rice is said to absorb moisture. In fact, many people believe the cure for handheld devices that accidentally become wet is to leave them in a bowl of rice for several hours to absorb moisture.
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Dear Reena: I would like to bake a Christmas fruitcake for the first time. The recipes I鈥檝e looked up online are big and expensive. Is it possible to make half a recipe? One asks for five eggs (how do I divide them)?
Shirley
The easiest option is to use three small eggs (instead of medium or large). The more technically accurate solution includes measuring. A large egg equals about 3 Tbsp of contents. If the recipe calls for both egg yolk and egg white, beat the egg and use 1 1/2 Tbsp for the Christmas fruitcake recipe.
Dear Reena: Please advise me on how to clean the black ceramic tiles in my shower. We have very hard water. I have used many products to try to eliminate the mineral deposits and soap scum, but the tiles remain blotchy and stained-looking after they have dried.
Barbara
Whenever I want to freshen up old grout, I get a handy little piece of pumice stone. Pour some dish soap onto the pumice stone and wet it, then scrub the grout; it looks wonderful. Next, spray isopropyl alcohol onto the grout to prevent mildew from growing and discolouring the grout (keep it away from small children). Another option is to make a paste of borax and water and scrub grout with an old toothbrush.
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Dear Reena: Thanks to a lazy dog owner, I stepped in a pile of you-know-what and I didn鈥檛 notice until the following day. I cleaned the mess up, but the smell is lingering. The sole is a rubberized material used on walking shoes. I have scrubbed with a variety of products, but I cannot get rid of the smell. Do you have any suggestions?
Leslie
If possible, toss the shoes in the washing machine and wash with heavy-duty detergent and hot water. If the shoes are not washable, scrub the sole with an old toothbrush, water and quite a bit of whitening toothpaste. Soak the sole in a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water.
Readers鈥� tips
鈥� Both my husband and I are in our 70s and it鈥檚 a bit difficult for us to get down on the floor. Yesterday, we had to kneel down to read the serial number on our stove (to have it repaired).
To get that number, one has to pull out the drawer at the bottom of the stove. The sticker is right there, on the right. But being able to read it, especially with bifocals, required some major efforts on our part. We did it, and after we were done, my brain clicked in 鈥� I have a cellphone with a camera, and it just requires one of us to bend over and click a photo. If it doesn鈥檛 work, erase and do another one or use a digital camera.
Plus, if numbers had been difficult to read, we could have transferred the photo to our computer. Lilianna
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.
