Dear Reena, I hope you can help me with this problem. I inherited a dining room set that is white painted wood. The finish of the chairs and legs of the table are a “distressed look.” The backs and tops of the chairs have a lot of spindles and places where dirt and grease accumulate. I have tried different things to get rid of the dirt and grease caught in the crevices. I have used a toothbrush with Mr. Clean, Murphy’s Oil, vinegar, and dish detergent. With a lot of elbow grease, I can get rid of some of the accumulation. Can you suggest any other product that would work faster and better? — Josie
Dear Josie, Option 1: Purchase wood cleaner specifically designed to clean wood furniture. Option 2: You mentioned that you have used vinegar to clean the furniture, but here is an old carpenter’s trick for cleaning wood. In a container combine one quarter cup vinegar with one cup olive oil. Pour the contents onto a soft cloth, and scrub to remove all excess.
Dear Reena, Do you know of a method of removing grease from grout? — Rosanne
Dear Rosanne, For regular cleaning, scrub the grout with Dawn dish soap and a pumice stone designed for cleaning grout. Rinse with water. Once or twice a year, spray the grout with lemon juice or white vinegar. Scrub the wet grout with baking soda and a pumice stone. Rinse with water.
Dear Reena, Can I substitute soy milk in recipes calling for regular milk? — Ben
Dear Ben, Yes, you can. Be sure to purchase unsweetened soy milk, so that you are not surprised by the overly sweet flavour. Not everyone likes the taste of soy milk, so be sure to experiment with a little amount before adding it to an entire recipe.
Dear Reena, When I clean my home, should I vacuum before dusting, or dust before vacuuming? — Madi
Dear Madi, Dust first, that way you can vacuum the debris that settles after you dust.
Dear Reena, What is the difference between regular and Greek yogurt? — Al
Dear Al, Greek yogurt is regular yogurt that has been strained and therefore is thicker and creamier than regular yogurt. Greek yogurt has about twice the protein of regular yogurt, but regular yogurt has about twice the amount of calcium. Another difference is cost. Greek yogurt can be up to twice the price of regular yogurt. Lastly, plain Greek yogurt has less sugar than the regular kind.
SMART TIPS
1. If you are unable to open a jar, wrap a couple of rubber bands around the lid; this gives you extra grip. If that fails, hit the bottom of the jar with the heel of your hand. This loosens the seal and then try again with the rubber bands. Works every time for me. — Donna
2. I work in a restaurant and often take leftover French fries’ home at the end of my shifts. When I would heat them up, they always tasted soggy and bland. I have since discovered that if I chop them up and heat them in a frying pan with hot cooking oil, they taste delicious. — Tim
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.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca. Ask a question or share a tip at reena.ca
-Reena Nerbas