More recent household questions and answers

Household

Magic marker on tile

How do I get rid of magic marker from tile walls?

My favorite new way to remove marks from walls are the "magic erasers." They are available either name brand or store brand, and are found with the regular household cleaners. You simply wet them, wring them out and then scrub the marks off the wall. After several uses, the sponge will dissolve and then you throw it away.

If the marks happen to get into the grout lines you can try scrubbing the grout with a brush and a tile and grout cleaner. If it is white grout, it would likely be safe to use a cleaner with bleach. You may want to test an inconspicuous area first. Another bleach product that does well, on white grout, is the Clorox bleach pen that is found in the cleaning supply department. Use it at your own risk on colored grout, I know of a case where it has bleached-out the color of the grout leaving a greyish white color behind.

Bobbi Hauptmann
Environmental Design, Extension

Mothball odor overwhelms house

I am thinking of buying a house, but it has an overwhelming mothball odor. It is strong in every room and can be detected when entering the home. Once the previous owner moves out with the mothballs and I remove the carpets and the drapes and paint all walls and ceilings, will the smell still be there? Do you have any suggestions for getting rid of the smell?

After you remove all of the soft surfaces you mentioned, and paint, I think you will smell, a significant difference.

For the hard surfaces that will not be changed, our recommendation would be to ventilate the house with fresh air. Use fans to pull air in through open windows if there is not a breeze, and open windows on the opposite side of the house for cross-ventilation. Be sure to open doors to closets and rooms that are not opened frequently.

If opening windows is not an option in your location due to the weather, charcoal is a great odor absorber. You can place charcoal briquets on a tray to protect the surface, and place those in the areas that do not get ventilated.

The other option is sunshine. It may be difficult to allow the sun to shine on every surface of your house, but even something as simple as opening the curtains will help..

Bobbi Hauptmann
Environmental Design, Extension

Staining an oak table

I have a natural color oak table with white legs. I want to redo it to be a medium oak color and black legs. Do I just sand it lightly and then try a stain or do I need to remove whatever sealer first?

You will need to remove the current sealer in order to put a new stain on your table top. There are gel stains available that are sometimes used in lieu of sanding off an old finish, but if you are not afraid of the work, I think you will like the results of doing it the old-fashined way.

Sanding is the chemical-free way to accomplish this. Depending on the thickness of the sealant, you may want to start with a fairly coarse grit paper (80 to 100) then work your way to a finer grit (up to 220). Prepare the wood for the new stain by wiping with a tack cloth and mineral spirits to ensure the removal of the sanding dust. Stain and seal according to the manufacturer's directions of the products you choose. Be sure to always wear protective gear (mask, gloves, eye protection) when using tools and potentially harmful products.

Since you have decided to paint the legs, sand them with a fine grit paper and wipe with mineral spirits prior to painting. This will help the new paint adhere better.

Bobbi Hauptmann
Environmental Design, Extension

Carpet direction on stairs

I understand that carpet has a direction and this direction must be constant throughout a room for a uniform look. Does this direction have to continue onto the stairs?

As you are aware, carpet does have a direction, usually indicated on the carpet backing. Due to the nature of the carpet, this is the direction it should be installed whether on the floor or stairs. Ideally, you would install carpet on stairs as if the roll were rolling down the stairs.

Depending on the type of carpet, turning the direction may actually shorten the life expectancy of the product. Wear going against the manufactured direction is putting stress on the fibers that may not have been designed for that purpose.

A local carpet representative noted that it would not be wrong, to install carpet against the direction to save a few dollars, but not all carpets are good for this application. If you have specific questions as to whether the carpet you have is appropriate for stair installation, contact the place of purchase or contact the manufacturer directly.

Aesthetically, the choice is yours. Stairs may actually be forgiving depending on the carpet. When looking at the stairs you are going to see the carpet in two different ways, running up the rise then at the different height of each stair.

If you have the extra product, I would suggest laying a good sized sample or two in the direction you wish on the stairs. Look at it during different points during the day and in different levels of light. This trick may help you decide which would work best for your situation. If you decide to turn the carpet, note that you may see the turned piece wear differently and quicker than that which was installed according to the carpet direction. .

Bobbi Hauptmann
Environmental Design, Extension

Mildew on plates

I have some earthenware plates that keep getting mildew on them. They don't have any visible cracks. I wash them in a dishwasher and store in a china cabinet. Other older plates in the same cabinet don't get mildew. How can I prevent this?

Try contacting an art studio or a "paint your own pottery" type of business and inform them of your situation. Depending on the brand and age of the china, it might be possible to have it re-fired and re-glazed, which would help with the reoccurrance of mildew.

Bobbi Hauptmann
Environmental Design, Extension