Dear Reena: I have two large dogs whom I often take on road trips. Both dogs shed profusely. What can I use to rid the car seats of fur? I vacuumed the upholstery, which made very little difference. Any advice would be appreciated.
Peter
Here is a trick that detailers often use in their quest to detail vehicles. Using a spray bottle filled with water, lightly spray the upholstery. Use a squeegee and pull it toward you. The fur drawn out of the upholstery will amaze you.
鈥�
Dear Reena: When I drive, I like to take full mugs of coffee with me. On more than one occasion, the liquid spilled out of the mug and dried inside the cup holders. Any idea as to how I聽can clean the cup holders?
Scott
A little dish soap and water will clean the holders. Dry the holders with a soft cloth. Place silicone muffin cups inside drink holders to protect the car from spills. Remove the silicone muffin liners occasionally and wash them in the sink.
鈥�
Dear Reena: When blueberries are out of season, I use frozen berries for baking. How can I prevent blueberries from sinking to the bottom of muffins when I make homemade muffins? Also, how can I ensure that the muffins I bake are light and fluffy? It doesn鈥檛 matter which recipe I use; the muffins are heavier than I聽would like.
Samara
Place the berries in a bowl and coat them with a quarter cup of the dry ingredients called for in the recipe. The flour will prevent the berries from sinking, and reduce the amount of bleeding in the batter. The perfect muffin has a lightly brown edge with a speckled appearance. The inside is moist and the top should not have a peak, as this is caused by overmixing. In other words, the easiest solution for creating fluffy muffins is to not overmix the batter; overmixing the batter will 鈥渨ake up鈥� the gluten and make the muffins tough. The easiest trick for not overmixing is to spoon-mix the batter instead of using an electric mixer.
Tips from readers
鈥� Here鈥檚 an easy formula for cleaning grout. In a spray bottle, combine 3/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup bleach. Apply the paste to the grout and leave for 10 minutes. Scrub with a bristled brush. Leave for 10 minutes. Rinse with water. Note: According to the Arm and Hammer website, it is OK to combine baking soda and bleach. Never mix bleach with ammonia, as it creates a聽harmful gas. Myrna
鈥� Freeze your eyeliner for 15 minutes before applying it to your face to prevent the liner from crumbling. Kyra
鈥� I save old toothbrushes and use them to detail my car. They get into the crevices and hard-to-reach places. Brian
Note: Users assume all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
