Chris Bennett - Some 'Old Fashioned' Tips

 Read more from Chris Bennett.

Here are a few ‘old fashioned’ hints that may save you some money:

A simple way to cover up scratches on wooden furniture is to use shoe polish. Choose a colour that best matches colour of the wood, rub the polish into the wood with a soft cloth and buff until the scratch melds in with the rest of the finish. A white water mark may be removed by using a mild abrasive such as toothpaste, brass cleaner (Brasso) or very fine steel wool (0000 grade). With the exception of the steel wool, which you use by itself, use a soft cloth and the abrasive of your choice and buff vigorously in the direction of the grain. If the stain is a deep one you may have to re-polish or re stain the woods surface however in most cases a simple application of regular furniture polish will make the surface look like new.

Having problems with getting paint to stick to metal or concrete? Try painting them with vinegar first. It acts as an excellent primer for these surfaces. After washing your paint brushes in either water or solvent (depending on the type of paint you have been using) give them a final rinse in clean water into which you have added some fabric softener. Makes the brushes feel like new when they are dry.

To get rid of paint smells my Granddad always swore that leaving half a large onion in a soup dish of water would get rid of the paint smell overnight. Other people have told me that ammonia mixed with water will do the same. Don’t go over board with the ammonia, just about 50ml to 2 litres should do the trick.

These are but a few simple old fashioned tips that have stood the test of time, your problem might be one that deals with painting, building, bricklaying, wallpapering and so on. It doesn’t matter, I’m here to help.

Email Chris with any DIY questions and queries you may have.

Click here to see Chris' Q&A page.

print