Keep Grime Off With Semi-Gloss
Question: We have 12-year-old whitewashed plantation shutters throughout our condo that have become faded and grimy over the years. How should they be prepared and what kind of paint or stain should we use?
S.H.
Mission Viejo
Answer: “The first step would be to clean them using a light TSP and water solution,” says Harold Brobst of Hal’s Paint & Decorating in Fullerton. “Then rinse them off making sure you get all of the TSP off. I would use an oil-based primer on them, simply because acrylic primers tend to raise the grain of some woods, and the wood used in shutters is often of questionable origin.
“After an undercoat, I’d recommend a good quality water-based paint since it’s easy to work with and it’s non-yellowing. Don’t use a flat finish because shutters tend to collect grime, and flat paint is harder to clean. You may want to go with a semi-gloss enamel.”
Q: I have just bought large pots of impatiens and find that if I don’t move them twice a day to get them out of the sun, they wilt. Should I water them more? Am I doing something wrong?
B.H.
Garden Grove
A: “In summer, impatiens always have a harder time in the sun,” says Carmela Carrasco of Armstrong Garden Center in Costa Mesa. “At this time of year, we always suggest that people put them in morning sun, filtered sunlight or shade.
“There may be a problem with the pots they’re in. If the pots are too small, you should be watering them every day. If you want to get out of that responsibility, you can mix a polymer into the potting soil that absorbs water and keeps the soil from drying out.”
Q: I accidentally set a hot pan down on my kitchen’s white Formica countertop, and a small brown blister about 1/2-inch in diameter formed. Can this be repaired?
M.O.
Mission Viejo
A: “There are a couple of solutions that may work for you,” says Susie Henderson of Armor Top Counters in Anaheim. “You might check in the Yellow Pages under Kitchen Refinishing. There are places that will come out and repair a small blister for around $75 to $85.
“Damaged spots that are too large are often too expensive to be repaired. For those areas, there’s a product called Counter Saver that’s basically a piece of tempered glass with a metal frame around it. You cut out the damaged piece of counter and install this patch, which becomes a permanent spot where you can cut foods or put a hot plate or pan on the counter.”
Q: My 10-year-old Kenmore refrigerator works just fine, but I’ve noticed that in the back of the compartment there are a few little patches of ice. Is this a sign that it’s ready to quit on me?
N.C.
Tustin
A: “If it’s working fine otherwise, I’d suspect a problem in the door gasket,” says Tom Houlihan of Orange County Appliance Parts in Garden Grove. “Moisture may be entering from the outside and freezing. If there was a problem in the automatic defrosting system, you’d notice other problems, like the freezer not staying as cold as it should. After 10 years, the gasket is probably ready to be replaced.”
Q: I would like to put a grab-bar in a fiberglass shower, but I’ve been told that it shouldn’t be done. Is this correct?
J.S.
Mission Viejo
A: “If the stall has already been installed in the shower, then that is correct,” says Ralph D’Antonio of Familian Bath-Kitchen Center in Anaheim. “Generally, things like grab-bars are put in before the shower is installed, because then the grab-bar is able to be reinforced from the back of the fiberglass. Otherwise, if you install the bar once the fiberglass is already in place, it may not be sturdy enough for use.”
