Dear Reena: How can I remove glue from ceramic tiles around the toilet base? A new toilet with a smaller base was installed on ceramic tiles, leaving glue marks around the base.
Pierrette
Dear Pierrette: The success of your efforts depends on the type of glue used on the surface. If the glue is soft, soak the area with water and scrape with a plastic putty knife. If the glue is hard, apply glue solvent compatible with ceramic tile or acetone to the area (test on an inconspicuous spot first). Gently scrape. Worst case scenario; carefully sand the area or use a chisel and hammer to remove glue.
Dear Reena: My oak table has an iodine stain. Can you tell me how to remove it?
Gloria
Dear Gloria: Iodine is difficult to remove once it penetrates a wood surface. Three possible solutions are household ammonia, oxalic acid or Sodium thio-Sulphate (a product used to clean aquariums). Other than that you will need to sand and re-stain.
Dear Reena: The vanity in our main bathroom is oak (or maybe oak veneer). There is no handle to open the doors, I noticed that the wood along the bottom where hands touch it is grungy looking. What can I safely use to clean that area. I’ve tried some gentle rubbing with dish soap, but it had little effect, and I don’t know what’s safe to use.
Also, how do I get our 15-year-old bathtub to look shiny again?
And here’s a strange one: If you’re wearing a pendant that can’t be removed from the chain and the chain is too long for some tops, is there a way to make it shorter somehow at the back of the neck so that it stays put?
Rachel
Dear Rachel: Great questions.
You are right; dish soap and water are the recommended cleaners for oak and oak veneer. But don’t be too gentle — use a non-scratching scrubby pad and a little elbow grease. The next step is to wipe the wood with lemon or olive oil. Remove the excess with a soft cloth.
To rejuvenate your bathtub, buy a product called Gel-Gloss available at home hardware stores and apply to the bathtub.
To make your own cleaner; mix together half a cup of baking soda with castile soap until it is the consistency of icing. Smear onto the tub and scrub. Castile soap is available at health food stores or online, often under the heading Dr. Bronner’s soap. Whichever solution you use, be sure that the bathtub is not slippery before you step in.
You can temporarily shorten a necklace so its length matches your outfit. Gather the necklace chain to the length you like, secure an earring into the links and fasten the earring with the clasp. Or clasp the necklace at the length that you want and tie a small bow right above the clasp to prevent the clasp from moving on the chain.
Readers’ feedback
Re: Applying lotion to back
I also often have itchy skin on my back and have found that applying the lotion to a small paint roller works perfectly to apply lotion evenly across the back — much better than a wooden spoon. It is also good for applying suntan lotion to the back if you are alone. Look in your local hardware store.
Vivian
Great tips of the week
• Here is an easy way to organize a tangled mess of cords attached to one multi-plug power strip. Save plastic bread clips and label each clip with a permanent marker. Attach the bread clip to the corresponding cord.
• Transform the world’s ugliest fridge into a message board with a few coats of good quality chalkboard paint. Chalkboard paint may be tinted a variety of colours.
Check Reena’s new website — http://www.reena.ca — to send tips and questions, to find missed columns or mislaid solutions, or to engage Reena to speak at an upcoming event.