Tips, Tips, and More Tips from September 2005

If an old piece of furniture has an odor, air it outside on a sunny day. Set it in the shade, not in direct sunlight. Sprinkle talcum powder or baking soda on the top to absorb odors. Remove odor from a drawer by putting charcoal in a shallow pan inside the drawer.

Use your silver. If it is used, then washed and dried immediately, it rarely needs polishing.

To remove a sticky label, try heating it with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive. Any remaining glue can be removed with isopropyl alcohol or Goo Gone. If the silver is discolored, clean it with silver polish.