Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Makes a More Welcome Mat

Question: We’re going to be buying new wall-to-wall carpeting this fall for our home, and I have a concern about doormats.

I think one of the reasons the carpet we have now has became so dirty is that the hemp mat doesn’t get dirt off of shoes. What kind of mat should we get?

M. Y.

Stanton

Answer: “One solution would be to get a piece of indoor/outdoor carpeting that has a fake grass surface and rubber backing,” says Walt Parker of Parker’s Floor Coverings and Draperies in Orange.

“There’s also a product made with the same fibers that has a thick pile surface, known as needle punch. A piece of this can be adhered just outside the door, and it’s easy to care for. Just wash it down with soap and water and turn the hose on it.”

Q: I have an old desk I use in my home office that’s fine except for the fact that one corner of the oak veneer has been whacked off. I’d like to see it fixed, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money on it. Can this be repaired easily?

C. A.

Laguna Hills

A: “There are a couple of ways it can be fixed and both are fairly easy to do,” says Chris Maciel of The Old Way antique and furniture repair in Brea. “You can try cleaning away the hole and using a stainable wood putty or wood patch. Before it dries completely, take a razor or an Exacto knife and fake some of the wood grain so that when it’s stained, the patch will blend in a little with the veneer.

“You can also buy wood veneer at many hardware and lumber supply stores that may match the oak pattern on your desk.

“Cut away the broken piece of veneer so that you’ve gotten rid of the splintered pieces and try to shape it into a pattern, such as a ‘V.’ Then cut a piece of new veneer to fit that will actually overlap the area you’re repairing.

“Glue this piece in and solidly clamp it with a piece of cardboard underneath until it dries. You’ll then take a block sander and sand the overlapped portion, then stain it to match the desk.”

Q: With the poor quality of our water here, we’ve had problems with sediment in our faucets disturbing water flow. Is there anyway to remedy this situation?

H. F.

Anaheim

A: “Short of installing some type of water treatment unit as the water enters your house, all you can really do is work on the symptoms,” says plumber Steve Karch of Santa Ana.

“Clogged aerators are usually most affected by bad water. They’re easily removed and replaced with a pair of pliers, or you can try periodically cleaning them by letting them sit in a solution of vinegar and water overnight, then flush them out.

“This helps keep scale deposits down and gives them a longer life.”

Q: I’m going to try and permanently fix a pair of loose eyeglasses with some glue, but in looking at how the job should be done, I realize now that I need a very small clamp.

I don’t want to buy a clamp for something I’ll probably do just once. Is there anything I could use instead?

S. A.

Westminster

A: “I’d suggest a pair of needle-nose locking pliers,” says tool repairman Art Campbell of Brea. “These can be found in varying sizes at hardware stores, so you may want to take the glasses with you to see which one is best for the job.

“Just make sure that when you use them to wrap some cardboard between the jaws to keep from damaging the eyeglass frames while it’s clamped.

“I don’t know that you’ll save any money buying locking pliers, but even if you don’t use them as a clamp again, you can use them as pliers for other odd jobs around the house.”