Reena’s Tips of the Week:

S.O.S pads are dirt cheap, but that doesn’t make having to replace them so often due to rust any less annoying. There’s actually an equally inexpensive solution to this common household problem.

Gotta cut down on the caffeine but the tea addiction kinda gettin’ in the way? Well, there isn’t a solution that will decaffeinate your favourite drink, but we’ve got something that might help ease the nerves.

Stop scrubbing those pots! The green/blue hue that develops at the bottom of your stainless steel pots can be easily avoided.

Click on for the details! Read the rest of this entry »

Reena’s Tips of the Week:

With Spring in full swing, those blooms in your yard need tending to! We’ve got a useful tip to help you enrich your soil without a trip to GardenWorks.

Can’t get rid of the persistent static that makes every piece of clothing cling to your body? We’ve got a simple solution for that as well!

Fresh out of shaving lotion? Soap isn’t the only emergency alternative!

For the details on these household solutions, read on!

Read the rest of this entry »

Reena’s Tips of the Week:

You might have coffee with your pasta, but what about coffee IN your pasta dish? We’ll tell you why this works!

Finding it impossible to get that black grease off your hands? There’s a simple solution.

Have company coming and need to freshen up your kitchen? We’ve got the perfect recipe.

For the details on these household solutions, read on!

Read the rest of this entry »

Reena’s Tip of the Week:

Are you allergic to eggs or on a vegan diet?

No problem! Here’s a substitution solution to the all important baking ingredient: eggs

For the magic recipe, read on! Read the rest of this entry »

From the Mailbox:

In regards to washing blue jeans with vinegar so they do not fade, can you please outline how this is done? How much vinegar do you add to your washing machine or do you soak the jeans in a pail of water? Any help you can give me regarding washing clothes and not losing their colour I would appreciate.

Helen from Mildmay, Ontario

For Reena’s answer, read on! Read the rest of this entry »

Reena’s Tip of the Week:

How to keep the fizz in your pop bottles!

Store pop cold (but not frozen) and closed – these are big factors in fizz loss since the solubility of carbon dioxide is greater at lower temperatures.

Squeezing the bottle before recapping is also an effective trick since smaller gas volume reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the gas phase.

In addition, you can purchase a type of cap that can re-pressurize the bottle. Turn it in place and then operate the little attached pump which is part of and affixed to the center of the cap – these are available at many department stores.

All solutions are to be used at the risk of the user.

Reena Nerbas is the author of “Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions & Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets.”

To learn more about Reena, click here.

Reena’s Tip of the Week:

There’s nothing like a perfect crease for that polished, professional look so here are two old-time recipes using cornstarch and water. You can store this in a spray bottle or dip your fabrics into the solution:

Recipe 1: Combine 1 heaping tablespoon of cornstarch to 1 cup of boiling water. Stir to dissolve. Pour into a sealable container or a spray bottle.

Recipe 2: Heat 1 litre of water. Separately stir 2 tablespoon of corn flour and mix in a half cup of cold water. When the water is lukewarm, add the cornstarch mixture to the hot water, stirring continuously. When you add the mixture, the initial colour is white. Keep stirring until it boils and becomes transparent. This indicates that the mild starch is cooked (for stronger starch, increase the quantity of corn flour). This will take about 10-15 minutes to cool down and remember to cover the solution with a lid while cooling otherwise a thin film is formed at the top, which is a waste. Once cold, use it to shirts, pants, linens etc.

Bonus Tip: If you really want a sharp pant crease that will last through the week, this method will help: Lay fishing line into the crease from the inside of the garment and use an iron to melt it into place. Be sure that the crease is straight before heating the fishing line. This tip comes from a Private in the United Stated Army.

All solutions are to be used at the risk of the user.

Reena Nerbas is the author of the two National Best Sellers, “Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions & Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets,” available in stores across Canada. Reena is a columnist and Home Economist in a lab coat (and she’s not afraid to use it). She can be heard on CBC radio programs across Canada.

To learn more about Reena, click here.

From the Mailbox:

How do you remove water marks from a cherry wood dining table?

Thanks so much. Enjoy hearing you on CBC!

Shirley

From Reena:

There are a number of treatments (that have had great success) for water/heat marks:

Lay a thick blotter over the spot and press it with a warm iron until the stain is gone

Rub mayonnaise into the spot, leave for an hour, then wipe. You can also use petroleum jelly, non-gel (non-bleach) toothpaste, or baking soda and water.

Be sure to test every solution on an inconspicuous area first. If the stain remains, then you may be dealing with a stripped finish, in which case the table will need refinishing.

This handy household solution can be found in Reena Nerbas’ book, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions (page 57).

All solutions are to be used at the risk of the user.

Reena Nerbas is the author of the two National Best Sellers, “Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions & Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets,” available in stores across Canada. Reena is a columnist and Home Economist in a lab coat (and she’s not afraid to use it). She can be heard on CBC radio programs across Canada.

To learn more about Reena, click here.

From the Mailbox:

Hi! Could you please give me your recipe for washing windows? I know I’ve seen it in your column, but can’t remember all the ingredients.

Thanks!

Lee

From Reena:

No problem Lee! Here’s the recipe:

In a 1 gallon size container, mix 1 tsp of cheap shampoo, 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and enough vinegar to fill the jug. Pour into a spray bottle. Spray and wipe with three-day old or older newspaper.

Always wash windows on a cloudy day!

All solutions are to be used at the risk of the user.

Reena Nerbas is the author of the two National Best Sellers, “Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions & Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets,” available in stores across Canada. Reena is a columnist and Home Economist in a lab coat (and she’s not afraid to use it). She can be heard on CBC radio programs across Canada.

To learn more about Reena, click here.

Reena’s Tip of the Week:

How do you tackle that foul sour smell from fresh milk spilt in the back of the car?

1. Sprinkle a box of baking soda over the offending odour and cover the area with newspaper. Leave undisturbed for three days

2. Remove newspaper, vacuum up baking soda, et voilà! No more smell.

All solutions are to be used at the risk of the user.

Reena Nerbas is the author of the two National Best Sellers, “Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions & Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets,” available in stores across Canada. Reena is a columnist and Home Economist in a lab coat (and she’s not afraid to use it). She can be heard on CBC radio programs across Canada.

To learn more about Reena, click here.