Tips, Tips, and More Tips from November 2002

If candle wax dripped on your polished mahogany dining room table, try this. Get the wax very cold by putting ice on it. An easy method is to take an unopened bag of frozen vegetables and hold it against the wax for about 1/2 hour. Then gently scrape the frozen wax off the table with a plastic spatula. If a little wax remains, try polishing the table with any furniture polish.

How to clean a ceramic pot (by David Rago of David Rago Auctions Inc.): “Our secret formula for bringing a ceramic piece to its kiln state is to soak it for at least 24 hours in a bucket full of very hot tap water, a cup of sudsing ammonia, and at least a half cup of liquid Spic and Span. Remove, then soak for at least another 24 hours in clean, hot tap water. Dry in a soft towel.”

If your guests spill tomato sauce or ketchup on the carpet, sprinkle salt on the stain. Sweep up the salt and repeat over and over until the stain is gone.

After cleaning the brasses on a piece of furniture, wax the metal to help retard tarnish.