The longer I live, the more convinced I am that there are at least two ways to deal with every household problem, one that involves calling out the professionals, and a do-it-yourself option that's cheaper, better and maybe even faster!
HOW TO CLEAN FINE CRYSTAL
Dear Mary: I have a beautiful crystal vase that, over the years, has acquired a buildup of residue that I cannot remove. Do you have a suggestion on how to remove it? — Pat
Dear Pat: That buildup is likely calcium, lime and other minerals from years of standing water. You may need to experiment a bit, but I'm sure you can return that vase to its sparkling beauty without damaging it. Here are three simple and completely harmless methods.
Method 1: Fill the vase with your hottest tap water. Pour in a few squirts of liquid automatic dishwashing detergent — or a single pod, if that's what you have — and allow it to sit for a few hours, or overnight. Empty the vase, and use a sponge or bottle brush to remove any remaining film. Rinse. Dry. And look at that sparkle!
Method 2: Fill the vase with water, and drop in one or two denture tablets, depending on the vase size. Allow it to sit and work overnight. In the morning, agitate the container gently to ensure all of the deposits and mineral buildup have come loose. Empty the vase, and wash with mild soap and water. Rinse well, and dry completely.
Method 3: Start by filling the vase with white vinegar up past the murky area. If the vase is large, you can use a mixture of vinegar and water. Allow the vinegar to sit for a couple of hours. Swish the liquid around to see how much of the film has been loosened. If the film layer is thick and not coming loose, add 1/4 cup of uncooked rice. Cover and shake the container. The rice may be able to scrub and loosen the tough layers. Use the bottle brush to remove any remaining film from the interior of the vase. Empty the vase, and wash with mild soap. Dry completely.
DOG PIDDLE AND CARPET
Dear Mary: I have two dogs and depend on piddle pads, as they are home alone for about 12 hours in one stretch on the days I work. Sometimes they miss, if you know what I mean. This has made a mess of the carpet in that room.
Just this week, I planned to shampoo with my carpet-cleaning machine, but I discovered that I didn't have any carpet shampoo. I decided to use hot water and Nok-Out instead. I realize the manufacturer probably wouldn't recommend it, but I wanted you to know that Nok-Out got my carpet much cleaner than the regular shampoo does. I just wanted you to know how well it works as a carpet cleaner when paired with really hot water, and how much I love Nok-Out! — Linda
Dear Linda: Great news. I'm happy you didn't have to replace that carpet. Because Nok-Out and its companion SNiPER are primarily an odor eliminator and disinfectant system, I'll bet your carpet now smells as good as it looks. I love that you've discovered that Nok-Out is also a great cleaner.
Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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