Ruth asks: Do you have a suggestion for stopping opened softdrink bottles losing their fizz Auntie Flo?

Auntie Flo: Gas rises, and escapes ever so minutely from the sealed cap. So, put your soft drink or soda water bottle in the fridge upside down!

No gas can possibly escape, and even a month later the bottle makes that satisfying shhh when you open it.

I store unopened bottles in my pantry upside down too and that way I know they won’t lose their fizz if I don’t use them for a few months. read more…

William asks: If I leave steak knives in the dishwasher they go rusty quickly - how can I stop this?

Auntie Flo: Firstly William, don’t put them in there! It’s a sure way to ruin carving and steak knives that aren’t made of good quality stainless steel. Some brands do seem to tolerate dishwashers quite well, but I believe it’s best to hand wash them.
To remove rust on knives, pierce an onion with the rusty knife so it is covering the rust spots and leave it there for 24 hours. read more…

Sam asks: I have a favourite pair of sneakers that are starting to pong! How can I stop the smell?

Auntie Flo: Try this tip Sam. Ask your Mum for some old knee-high stockings and fill with (unused!) kitty litter. Tie the ends and tuck them in overnight for a quick refresh, you can add baby powder too. Another method to try is to take a few teaspoons of baking soda and put in the center of a cotton cloth. Tie the cloth and rubber band the edges securely read more…

Gail asks: How can I clean artificial flowers Auntie Flo? They are a pain to try and dust!

Auntie Flo: To clean artificial flowers try these methods Gail. Mix some powdered automatic dishwasher soap and water in a bucket and submerge the fake plant/flowers. Twirl around in the water for a minute or so and they come out clean and dust free. Simply hang upside down over the sink or outside to air dry.

I’ve also been told this quick method works a treat too. read more…

Bill asks: Can you advise me how to clean cat urine from carpet and stop the smell?

Auntie Flo: Blot up what you can with paper towels. Then mix a teaspoon of mild dish-washing detergent in a cup of warm water, dip a clean towel in the liquid and, working from outside in, dab at stain. Be careful not to overwet the carpet. Rinse with fresh water and blot dry. Next, mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water and dab on stain. read more…

Sally asks: Our wardrobe often smells musty, is there a cure for this that you recommend?

Auntie Flo: Try this tip Sally. Find a suitable large sized container with a lid, such as an old coffee can, plastic container, or painter’s bucket and poke several holes in the lid.

Fill the container with a good handful of charcoal briquettes, they will absorb moisture buildup in your wardrobe that often causes the musty smell. read more…

James asks: Do you have a tip for stopping cleaning sponges from becoming smelly?

Auntie Flo: After use, sponges must be well cleaned to remove any food particles which will very quickly rot. To do this, soak with clean water and wring until the water comes out clear.

Sponges must be stored in as dry a state as possible, so after wringing out allow them to air dry. read more…

Samantha asks: I need to remove the glass stopper from a treasured wine decanter but it won’t budge. Do you know how I might be able to remove it without risking it breaking?

Auntie Flo: Heat is sometimes the best way to ‘unstick’ things when you can’t use any physical force. The principle is that when you heat something, it expands a little. When you cool something, it shrinks. You need to create a temperature difference between the neck of the decanter and the stopper. This should loosen the the two glass surfaces, hopefully enough to separate them. Of course, if there is a sticky substance causing the stopper to be stuck, this possibly won’t work - but it’s worth a try! read more…