Ball on broom handle removes shoe marks

Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 10:12 pm

Dear Reena: I am 76 years old and regularly look after my grandchildren on weekdays. although I enjoy my time with them, when they leave I almost always notice black marks on the floor from their runners.

It is hard to bend over to clean the floor. any suggestions on what I can use to get rid of the marks?

The most obvious solution is asking your grandchildren to remove their footwear upon entering your home.

If this is not an option, I have another solution for you.

Make a slit in a fuzzy tennis ball and slide it onto the end of a broom handle. Brush the tennis ball along the floor to erase the marks. it works with little effort.

Dear Reena: Do you have any solutions or preventions for yellowed linoleum around forced air registers?

I am assuming that your flooring is vinyl. To prevent discolouration from occurring under the lip of vent covers, secure masking tape underneath the area.

Once the stains are present, they are tricky to remove, and in many cases those yellow marks are permanent.

You have nothing to lose by trying the following: Pour three per cent hydrogen peroxide onto the area every day for three days. Do not wipe, and observe if stains become less noticeable.

If it doesn't work, consider purchasing a stronger concentration of hydrogen peroxide from a hair salon.

Some people have had great results by using oven cleaner to remove these stains.

Do a test on an inconspicuous area first, because what works on one type of vinyl will not necessarily work on another.

Just as a side note, the terms vinyl and linoleum are often erroneously used interchangeably. Vinyl is made from synthetic fibres. The main body is cardboard or vinyl that is covered with one sheet that contains the design, another sheet for the finish followed by a protective coat of varying thickness.

Linoleum is a natural product. it contains linseed oil, cork powder, natural resins, coloured mineral pigments and other natural materials. as linseed oxidizes, the linoleum gets harder. Linoleum is a much more durable product than vinyl and is ideal for high-traffic areas. Linoleum is making a comeback.

Vinyl and linoleum need to be treated differently.

Dear Reena: my child keeps applying temporary tattoos to his arm. After a while, part of the tattoo wears off and his arm just ends up looking dirty. any idea on how to quickly remove the remaining mess?

Wipe the remaining tattoo residue with rubbing alcohol. it will quickly disappear.

Dear Reena: my husband and I received a lovely handmade quilt from my husband's grandmother as a wedding present.

The quilt is made of cotton and synthetic materials. it was stored in a plastic container with mothballs for a significant period of time before it was given to us. For the past three years, I have not been able to get the mothball smell out of the quilt.

We've tried a variety of laundry detergents, hanging it in the sun and storing it for months in a cedar-lined chest. nothing has worked and the smell does not seem to be fading. If there anyway to get this smell out?

Ball on broom handle removes shoe marks

Tagged with: area • Ball • broom handle • hydrogen peroxide • linoleum • time