Cleaning -- -- Newsday.com

May 19, 2005

House Doctor: It's spring cleaning time!

It's spring, so everyone seems to be cleaning. Where do you start? Yard? Basement? Garage? Utility room?

September 16, 2004

House Doctor: Household remedies make a handyman a hero

My mother-in-law scoffed at my suggestion. My wife raised her eyebrows. When they are together, I have no chance.

September 9, 2004

House Doctor: An imaginative use for your garage: car storage

My garage is a mess. And I am going to do something about it. From old shoes to half-used cans of semi-dried paint, it's time for things to be either put in their place or be put in the trash.

July 22, 2004

House Doctor: Skip the water when cleaning wood floors

Forgive Ed Korczak for reacting to a wet mop as if it were a lethal weapon. It's just that as the executive director of the National Wood Flooring Association, he knows that when it comes to wood floors, a wet mop really can be a killer.

January 22, 2004

House Doctor: Stripping Radiator Covers is a Big Job

Q. I recently purchased a 75-year-old home in Middle Village that has ornamental metal radiator covers. One of the covers has been painted with many coats of enamel and is peeling in large chunks. Is there a paint-stripping product I can use that is not terribly toxic? -- Toni Beers, Brentwood

September 19, 2002

House Doctor: Cleaning Limestone Steps

Q. I have limestone steps in front of my house, which faces east. The steps are discolored, a green with brown spots. I have tried scrubbing with a pine-based cleaner and bleach without success. Do you have any suggestions as to what I can do to correct this condition and then prevent it from happening?

December 31, 1999

House Doctor: Mold and Mildew

Q. A FRIEND OF MINE recently moved into a house that had been shuttered for several months. They have aired it out -- opened the windows, used the air conditioners, etc. -- but she seems to have developed an asthmatic condition since moving in. Her allergy appears to be to the mold and spores that are in the house. They can't move again, of course, but I was wondering if there is anything else they can do to remove the musty odor and make breathing easier? -May W., Babylon A. First, I have a question: How is it that your friends failed to notice this musty odor when they were walking through the home? And if they did notice it, what information did the previous owner provide? There are hundreds of different types of mold and fungi that grow indoors.

August 24, 2000

House Doctor: Alternative Cleansers

THE NEXT time the drain clogs or the window is smudged or the carpet is stained, you don't necessarily have to remember the jingle to a television commercial.

March 15, 2001

House Doctor: Cleaning Glue From a Wood Floor

Q. I HAVE A home in Brentwood that was built in the 1950s. My husband and I have been thinking about doing our wood floors. The wood floors in our bedroom and my son's bedroom have been covered with carpet, and the floor in the living room was covered with tile. After removing the carpet, we found that the wood floors are in good condition. The living room floor, however, is a different story. The tiles were glued to the wood, and what's left is a black type of adhesive. We were able to get most of the glue off the wood floor, but some remains. Is there any type of chemical we can use to remove the glue without damaging the wood?

October 11, 2001

House Doctor: Cleaning Concrete Pavers

Q. Do you have any idea how I can revive the once-vibrant colors of my concrete pavers? They are about 4 years old. A sealer was applied the second season. Power washing only brings up a salty look. They are dull and dusty-looking. - Karen Kaplan, Wantagh

February 3, 2000

House Doctor: Removing Candle Wax

Q. Do you know how to remove a large amount of candle wax from wood furniture? My candle spilled hot wax on my maple dresser and down the front of the drawers. -Christine Gardiner,

December 28, 2000

House Doctor: Basement Mildew

Q. I am interested in finishing my basement, approximately 750 square feet. My problem is a constant dampness and musty odor. I was advised to use bleach on the walls to remove the mildew and musty odor, then paint over it with an exterior latex paint with a mildewcide. The walls were painted by the previous owner, so I guess I cannot use a "drylock" paint unless I strip the walls. Do you have any suggestions on what I can use to treat the walls?

January 3, 2002

House Doctor: Removing Glue Stains From Laminate

Q. We just had a laminate wood floor installed in our kitchen. The floor looks beautiful. However, there are still glue marks on it from when the installer put down the floor. He used a damp sponge to wash away most of the glue that came up along the seams but some marks remain.

December 13, 2001

House Doctor: Cleaning Fireplace Brick

Q. We're replacing an old fireplace screen. Over the years, some of the bricks around the frame of the screen have become blackened with soot. What can I use to clean the brick? Also, I was told that the glass doors on the new screen are made of tempered glass. What difference does it make, considering the fire will be burning with the doors open?-Mary and Leo

May 31, 2001

House Doctor: Moss Between Pavers

Q. What is the best way to clean a brick patio of grass and moss that grows in between the sand joints? We have a concrete foundation under the brick paving stones, yet weeds and moss still grow in the sand joints.

July 20, 2000

House Doctor: Pet Urine Stain and Odor

Q. Help. We just purchased a house, and the previous owner must have had a pet that used the interior to urinate. I have ripped up the carpets and scrubbed the wood planks on the floor with bleach. This seems to have removed a lot of the odor, but when you walk in the front foyer the odor still hits you. I think some of the stain might be trapped under some peel-and-stick tile that was used in the front entrance area.

August 1, 2002

House Doctor: Mildew in the Greenhouse

Q. I just can't seem to solve this problem. We have an indoor greenhouse that came with our home when we bought it. The greenhouse is built on a brick foundation, and inside is a hot tub that I think is causing the problem. Because of moisture from the hot tub, there is a mildew buildup on the bricks. We have tried power washing, a commercial brick cleaner, chlorine bleach and several other products without any success. Got any ideas?

September 28, 2000

House Doctor: Bleach Can Erase Water Stains

Q. About 10 years ago, we renovated our home. We put in interlocking cedar panels on the walls and ceilings, but we had a problem with water damage. We have water stains in one area of the ceiling. How can we get rid of these?

October 19, 2000

House Doctor: Home-made Household Cleaner

Q. In your Aug. 24 column entitled "Housecleaning -- Done From Scratch" you wrote about making and using our own household cleaners using products from around the house.

April 25, 2002

House Doctor: Mildew Odor

Q. I am going crazy trying to get rid of a mildew odor. I called a plumber, but he found no leaks. I changed the bathroom exhaust fan and have spent money on air fresheners. The odor is coming from a panel in my kitchen that provides access to the motor of the Jacuzzi bathtub in the bathroom. I've sealed all the tub tile walls, too.

April 12, 2001

House Doctor: Cleaning White Grout

Q. I have white tiles and white grout on my whole first floor in my home. I would like to know if you can recommend a good cleaner for the grout. Right now I have been using a commercial cleaner with bleach ... it works but the smell is driving me crazy. Having dogs and children, I can't seem to keep up with the cleaning. I have called tile stores and have asked around and the only answer is darken the grout ... Can you help?

April 13, 2000

House Doctor: Mildew on Wallpaper

Q. We have a problem with an interior wall at a summer home in Mattituck. We've painted and wallpapered, but we keep getting these mildew spots on the wall and the paper. Can you help?

September 19, 2002

House Doctor: Caring for Granite Kitchen Countertops

Q. What can I do to clean and polish the granite countertops in my kitchen?

February 15, 2001

House Doctor: Shower and Bath Cleaner

Q. I have an acrylic whirlpool bathtub. I have used a variety of cleansers but am not satisfied with any of them. The tub just doesn't look clean enough to me, and it's hard work scrubbing and wiping. You recommended a cleaner by Zep in your column months ago, but I can't seem to find it. -Lisa M. Geller, North Bellmore

October 24, 2002

House Doctor: Removing Pine Sap

Q. My 50-year-old Northern Pine tree spews sap on my car. I can't find anyone who knows how to remove the sap from my car's paint. I've tried just about everything, including WD-40 and kerosene, but nothing works. I can't park anywhere else, and my only resort is to cover the car. But since I use it several times each day, that would be impractical.

August 22, 2002

House Doctor: Getting Rid of Moss

Q. The north-side roofs of my garage and house are covered by a thick, velvety moss that looks ugly and, I fear, might be harmful to the shingles. What can I do to get rid of the moss? - John R. Windorf, Miller Place

April 13, 2000

House Doctor: Removing Adhesive From Windows

Q. I used a plastic insulation kit on the interior of my windows. It worked fine, but now it's about time to remove it. The problem is the adhesive tape is leaving a sticky residue that I can't remove from the window frame. What can I use to remove this residue? -Gloria Kostick, Baldwin

September 21, 2000

House Doctor: Keeping Appliances Clean

PLUG IT IN, watch it work. That's pretty much how we treat our appliances.

May 2, 2002

House Doctor: Mysterious Sooty Residue

Tough job, this a home-improvement columnist beat. Readers have problems. You try to solve them.

June 27, 2002

House Doctor: Busting Concrete Dust

A few days after we moved into our new house in January, 1997, my two youngest sons took over our basement. They made it their own personal hockey arena. By kids' standards, it was near-perfect; an 18- by 52-foot rectangular area with high concrete walls and a smooth floor. Indoor street hockey. In our house, for our boys, a dream come true.

December 22, 2005

House Doctor: Put a positive spin on dryer woes

Your Nov. 10 column on air filters prompts this question. Recently, I received a LIPA bill that was extremely high. I started to pay attention to my electric usage. I noticed that my electric clothes dryer is taking quite long to dry clothes, much longer than it seems to have in the past. The dryer is 10 years old. However, I wash and dry about 12 loads of laundry a week. I am not sure if a dirty exhaust vent could be causing the problem or if it is simply time for a new dryer. Any insight?