Dear Reena: When we set the tables for our church supper, we discovered that two of our vinyl tablecloths had been carelessly folded and put away. How do we get the wrinkles out of them?
I believe they will crack if left this way. I wondered about using a hair dryer on them or a steam iron with a damp cloth under the iron. Do you have an answer for us?
Joyce
Soak the tablecloths in the bathtub or a sink with warm water, along with 1 Tbsp fabric softener or hair conditioner. Hang them to dry. Ironing the tablecloths might also work, but is more labour than necessary.
Feedback from contributors
Re: Smell from wood-burning stoves
The smell is likely due to negative house air pressure. The solution is to put in fresh air vents in both appliances.
Also, open a window wider when drafting a wood stove, and always leave it a little open.
Every pound of wood requires one cubic foot of air to burn. A fire with lots of air burns cleaner and hotter.
A fire burns better during a high-pressure system (clear sky) than a low-pressure one (cloudy sky, precipitation soon).
The actual terrain where you live can affect how your wood stove burns, and the air pressure inside. Also, every time I use the exhaust fan shower or stove, I open a window (wider in the winter when the wood stove is burning). Rodney
P.S. I had a shower and when I opened the southeast window as I got out, I smelled an unusual chimney odour. The wind was coming from the northwest and was vacuuming air out the southeast window. With the exhaust fan, that changed the air pressure to be equalized by entry from the easiest point of entry. This should be avoided when burning or just after, due to C02.
Re: Repairing deep cuts in leather furniture
I read your advice to Mandy. One of the questions was: Can you re-dye leather? The short answer is no, but the longer answer is that you can have the leather repainted. I had this done on my BMW 鈥� seats with the colour rubbed were air-brushed by a pro.
They looked new after the paint job. I did the same with an expensive living-room leather chair, which also looked new after the paint job. My car-seat air-brushing cost roughly $500. Call luxury car dealerships to see who they use for a good referral. Rick
This spud鈥檚 for you
鈥� Have a knife with some rust spots? If you insert the knife into a potato and let it sit for a while, it will go a long way toward removing the rust. Henry
鈥� I make the best stuffed potatoes you have ever tasted. My secret is to slit the potatoes a few times and microwave them for about five minutes. Next, scoop out the potato flesh and combine it with creamy alfredo sauce, cheddar cheese, chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Fill the potato skins and bake in the oven until soft. Dez
鈥� Instead of cleaning potatoes by scrubbing them with a bristled brush, I use an abrasive pad to ensure that they are very clean and free of dirt. Dez
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. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca.
