Columns

     Dear Ken:  I have spilled some wax on my couch. Is there any way to get it off?                             Peter

     Wax is always best handled when it's cold. Dry ice works best here, but it’s become quite hard to find. Big box discount stores used to have it, but I suspect it became a liability issue. You could call...

     Dear Ken: We have a floor drain in the basement and sometimes get a sewer odor through it. Is there some kind of drain we can install to block the smell? Pam

     There is a small, U-shaped pipe under the floor called a 'P' trap that holds a cup of water or so and provides a seal against sewer gases coming into the house. Trouble is, it evaporates in a few days, allowing the odors in. Pour a bottle of mineral oil (available at the grocery store) into the hole. It...

     Dear Ken: Help, we have a mouse in the house! We believe it's only one, but he does damage and creeps us out. Please tell us how to snare him before we consider more lethal methods. Debbie

     Just snaring and releasing might allow it to come back into your house or a neighbor's. The traditional spring traps you buy at the grocery store are the most humane, in that they are instantaneous in their effect. Most folks spread a little peanut butter, sticky cheese, or...

     Dear Ken: I have one of those inexpensive bookcases from a discount store. It's made from pressed wood covered with some kind of a plastic skin. Can it be painted?        Brenda

     Once you prime this surface, you can apply virtually any kind of top coat that suits you. Wipe down the piece with some TSP or other strong detergent, lightly scuff sand the surface before you start—220 grit sandpaper will do, then apply a couple of...