LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: I’m going to paint my living room, and I want to wash the walls first. What’s the best cleaning solution to use?
- Martha Brooks, via e-mail
DEAR READER: Probably the easiest thing you can try is a mild solution of baking soda and water. For large jobs, mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 quart of warm water in a small bucket. You don’t want to use anything too acidic that will react with the paint or primer.
Painting a room is a good project to freshen up your home without spending too much. Here are some wall-prep hints:
Empty the room or use dropcloths to cover large pieces of furniture.
Clean the walls so the paint will go on smoother.
Use primer to cover stains.
Repair drywall and plug any nail holes. You may need to use sandpaper and fresh spackle a few times to make the wall smooth.
Vacuum windowsills and baseboards to minimize dust that could get in the paint pans or rollers.
Use masking tape or green painter’s tape to mask off trim, windows, doors, lightswitch faceplates, etc.
DEAR HELOISE: When traveling, I dislike the folds in clothing (which require ironing), so I’ve created an easier way to pack without the fold lines.
Choosing the clothes I intend to pack, I lay the longest item (usually my robe) on the bed. Then I lay my slacks on top in layers. Next, I lay my pajamas or nightie, followed by blouses and sweaters on top of it all. Then I fold the pile in three sections to fit entirely in the suitcase.
Plastic bags with shoes, underclothing or toiletries are easily tucked into the sides of the suitcase.
- Rose Baiardi, Florida Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail
MovieStyle, Pages 36 on 10/30/2009
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