Some Questions and the Aswers sent in by our readers

Question: Blinds. 1) How can I remove the dust and dirt build-up on my Venetian blinds? 2) How do I get rid of the sewage smell that emanates from my kitchen drain? -- Thanks, "Leslie, Kirk and Leslie Brachman" keenopak@telusplanet.net

Answer: Remove Dust From Venetian Blinds. Clean the venetian blinds well with water solution or the solution "awesome" sold at the dollar store works great on a variety of items. then once the blinds are cleaned, run a bounce sheet over it on a regular basis, keeps the dirt from building up. the trick works well on ceiling fan blades also. -- Gloria Kildani Jul 5 2007

Question: Removing Nicotine Stains. I have 5 hand made quilts that were stored in a room where smoking was allowed. They were not in sealed bags, so all of the exposed edges are yellow with nicotine. I have not found anything to take the stains out. If you get any suggestions, please pass them on to me. Thanks Joyce strom -- joy515@sbcglobal.net. Jan 23 2007 (Ref:1327)

Answer: Quilts. If you use a heavy solution of oxyclean powder in a tub full of warm water with the oxyclean stirred in well, let soak overnight, rinse and wash as usual. jj -- 'Wilma Hassey. Jul 12 2007

Question: Foolscap Paper: Why is foolscap paper so called? -- David Murchison qbox@akjol.com 7th July 2007(Ref:1337)

Answer: The most popular paper of this size had a watermark of a fools (joker's) head and a cap. http://thetipsbank.com/papersizes.htm -- Dave Sharpe Tarzana LA 7th August 2007

Question: Wrinkled shower curtain liner How can I remove the wrinkles from my plastic/vinyl shower curtain liner? Thanks, I look forward to a helpful response. -- Sharon Sweet sdsweet@uswest.net (Ref:0349)

Answer: Wrinkled Shower Curtain. Have you tried putting your vinyl shower curtain in the dryer? Just long enough for it to get warm…then hang it up immediately…I am going to try that since my blow dryer didn’t work! Good luck! -- Kim Lowe 7th August 2007

Question: Is a Solar Keratosis a Cancer Proper or is it a pre-cancerous phenomenon, and can I ignore it as my doctor suggests? Karen Shipley kship1185@aolp.com April 29 2007

Answer: Solar keratosis fulfils criteria clinically, histopathologically and biologically for malignancy, i.e. SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma), as do the other cutaneous types of superficial SCCs, namely, arsenical keratosis, radiation keratosis and Bowen's disease; each of them, in time and without therapeutic intercession, has the capability to kill either by destruction of tissue locally or by metastasis widely. Ignore what your your doctor says and get treatment and perhaps another doctor. -- Andrew Donitz Phenix Arizona USA August 12 2007

Question: - What does the abbreviation P.P. stand for - This is used when someone is signing a letter on behalf of someone else? -- Darren Corbie dcorbie@nigurapom.com 12th June 2007

Answer - p.p refers to per procurationem (by agency), a Latin phrase meaning that you are signing the letter on somebody else's behalf Alison Letherbridge Sutton Surrey England 12th August 2007

Question: Removing Water Stains on Varnish. I have tried to find out how to remove a water stain from a varnished table. I AM BEGINNING TO DESPAIR. Does anyone know how to remove a water stain from a varnished table. PPPPLLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSEEEE. -- di@arnotec.co.uk 13 May 2004 (Ref:1044)

Answer: Water Stains on Varnish. I first put a little tooth paste on a damp washcloth and rub around the water stain in a circular motion. The paste is slightly abrasive and will raise the grain to blend in the stain, a little bit. Then, wipe it with a clean damp cloth and dry. Lastly try rubbing a walnut across the stain, letting the oils from the walnut soak into the wood. It works great to hide scratches and other damage. For very bleached out stains, I use Old English furniture treatment. It helps to put a darker tint back into the wood. Hope this helps. -- 'Christa Rutelonis' Aug 12 2007

Question: Melted carpet When attempting to remove wax from our carpet by ironing over greaseproof paper we somehow managed to melt our carpet! We are in rented accommodation and we need a way to minimise the damage. Can anyone help?! -- "Dunne, Nick" ndunne@westminster.gov.uk (Ref:0303)

Response#1 Melted Carpet: Hi , Ive done exactly the same as you, I think. Im left with a very hard dark patch on the carpet. Did you get any tips, and did it work???? Sue 20 March 2007 Reply

Reply#1 Melted Carpet: Blimey this was a long time ago! No we essentially melted the carpet and there was no way back from there. If you've done the same then you'll either have to ignore it or the carpet will have to be replaced. We were renting at the time and had to claim back on insurance once we knew the landlord wanted to replace the carpet. Nick 'Dunne, Nick' Mar 20 2007

Reply#2: Repairing Carpet. Your question wasn't dated, so hope this reaches you in time.

For any damage to carpet, go to a clothes closet, or an inconspicuous place and cut a patch to fit the damaged spot. Cut it slightly larger so you can trim and fit it in. The fibers should blend in fine once you glue it down. There is a right way and wrong to laying carpet, so be sure and turn the patch so the fibers lean in the same direction. Don't know how to explain this exactly, but think you will get the idea.

I've used this method before on burned spots and it worked fine. Use a good glue. Good luck. -- 'Sade' . Nov 8 2007

Question: Help Help. How can I get creosote out of clothes. My daughter sat on a log treated in creosote and now has black stains all over them. Thanks. -- Kelly Hill missynspooky@look.ca (Ref:0306)

Answer: Creasote. Use nail polish remover I just got a huge stain today and it came out only with nail polish remover good luck J. -- Aug 28 2007

Answer#2: Creosote out of Clothes. I was looking up information because my Husband made a mess of a pair of pants with creosote. I ended up using "Greased Lightening" sprayed it on and let it sit a while, the black marks literally disappeared, I was thrilled and thought in case you never found a solution or need one next time , I'd let you know!. Aimy Steyn 24/01/08