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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-04-27, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 198«. & Garden ’88 Baking soda a low cost cleaner around the house baking soda is effective at neutralizing household odors and dissolving grease and dirt all around the house. It’s non-abrasive, so it won’t scratch kitchen or bathroom surfaces. Now that spring is here, it’s a wonderful time toclean and spruce up your house. The makers of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda have developed some practical tips for spring cleaning using what’s contained in their familiar yellow box. Baking soda will clean soap scum off shower stalls, remove embeddedjuicestainsfrom kit­ chen countertops and even get grills in shape for outdoor barbe­ cues. Baking soda is pure, natural sodium bicarbonate; its unique chemical and physical properties allow it to neutralize household odors, dissolvegreaseand dirt, and clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces with scratching. It’s also economical - one box will solve most of your cleaning needs, reducing the number of cleaning products you buy. KITCHEN •Floors - If winter has left your kitchen floors ridden with black heel marks from shoes and boots, it’s easy to remove them with a bit of baking soda. Sprinkle it on a Reproductions bring old furniture back XL”‘X Thanks to excellent furniture reproductions, Sheraton hunt boards or Chippendale secretaries are available and, although not cheap, they are affordable. Today, at stores and by mail, reproductions including a tall case clock from Williamsburg, Va., a walnut tallboy from the halls of an English palace, and a mahogany side table that displays the same carving as the original that resides in an Irish castle can be purchased. With prices for antique furniture skyrocketing, collecting reproduc­ tions may be the only way to get the designs, says Better Homes and Gardens Traditional Home. Re­ productions, however, don’t come cheap. They usually cost more to make than similar new pieces, and the co-operating museum also takes its slice of the profits. Part of the appeal of these copies is their historical association. Manufacturers often include a photography of the original piece of furniture in their catalogue and also provide a history of the furniture design. Before shopping for one of these historical copies, it’s helpful to know the difference between the terms replica, reproduction and adaptation. The category the furniture fails in will make a difference in the price paid. A replica is a line-for-line copy of a piece of furniture. Insofar as possible, the manufacturer uses the same materials and painstak­ ing methods of construction as were employed on the original. A replica is the most expensive copy. A reproduction is also a line-for- line copy of a specific antique. In some designs, liberties may be taken in construction or type of wood. Both reproductions and replicas are usually marked so they won’t be pawned off as true antiques. An adaptation emulates a cer­ tain kind of furniture. It may be very true to the original, or it may take liberties with the original design and be quite fanciful. Recently, manufacturers have catered to the market for mid- to late-19th-century reproductions. Two examples are Hickory Chair Co.’s American Digest collection and Lane Co.’s collection produced in conjunction with the Museum of American Folk Art. Keep in mind that some of the furniture being reproduced today is still fairly plentiful. Check antique stores and auctions before shelling outfor a new copy. The originals may be cheaper than a reproduction and they will appre­ ciate. crystals are strong enough to remove the marks, but too soft to scratch or harm your floor. Rinse and buff dry. •Countertops - For food spills such as juice, coffee or tea that have stained your countertops, apply a paste of three parts baking soda, to one part water. Let it stand for half an hour and wipe with a damp sponge and rinse. To remove onion, garlic and other food odors with countertops or wooden chopping boards, sprinkle dry baking soda on a damp sponge and rub it in. Rinse with water and dry. BATHROOM •Shower Curtains - To remove mildew that is accumulated on your shower curtain over the winter months, as well as cleaning and deodorizing it, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and gently scrub. Sponge clean and wipe dry. •Fiberglass Shower Stalls - If your shower stall has become cloudy and dull withsoap scum, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and gently scour it clean without scratching. Sponge clean and wipe dry. This method also works for the chrome fixtures on sinks, tubs and showers. You will see everything sparkle again! LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM •Silver Flatware/Serving Piec­ es - Get your fine silver pieces ready for spring dining and entertaining! To remove buildup tarnish, use the following method for all your silver - from flatware to candlesticks. Fill a non-aluminum pan with hot water and place a small (5 inch) square of aluminum foil in the pan. Add baking soda (one teaspoon per quart of water) and bring to a boil. Drop silver in briefly. Remove silver with tongs and wash with soapy water. Rinseandbuff toa shiny gloss. Another handy tarnish-remov­ ing alternative is to apply baking soda with a damp sponge or soft cloth. Rinse and buff until shiny. OUTDOORS •Grills - After a winter of using the oven and microwave, you’ll probably be more than eager to use the outdoor grill once again. To remove food and grease from your grilling rack, soak in a solution of baking soda (four tablespoons of baking soda per quart of water). For stubborn, burned-on food, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and scour rack lightly. Another wise tip for outdoor cooking: Keep a can filled with bakingsodanearthegrill. Ifthe fire flares up, you’ll be able to extinguish it. And, since baking soda is of food grade purity, it won’t hurt the food being cooked. •Driveway/Porch/Garage - For oil spills on your driveway or on the floor of your porch or garage, pour baking soda generously on the spill. Let it stand overnight, and the next day, sweep it up and throw it away. Clinton Feldmann WIND O W S Feldmann Available with insulated leaded lights DELUXE DOORS in 14 different patterns. Cambridge For new construction or home renovations Compare the Difference... you’ll choose Feldmann WINO O W S STEELINSULATED DOORS with magnetic sea! weather stripping SEE OUR SHOWROOMDISPLAY Augusta Clinton mirror and aluminum products 24 Princess St. West, CLINTON 482-3322