Unplugging Refrigerator Can Take the Chill Off Traveler’s Electric Bill

Question: I’m out of town about a week to 10 days a month and have been trying to figure out ways to cut my home expenses. When I’m gone, my refrigerator is empty. Is there any problem if I just unplug it while I’m gone? My friends say it stresses the motor to turn it off and on frequently.

B.C.

Costa Mesa

Answer: “You shouldn’t have a problem turning it off while you’re gone, and for extended periods you probably will notice a difference in your electricity bill,” says Tom Houlihan of Orange County Appliance Parts in Garden Grove. “The biggest inconvenience in doing that is you have to get rid of all the refrigerated and frozen goods before you leave, and it takes awhile for the refrigerator to get cool once you plug it in again. It sounds as though you may not need a large refrigerator, so you might consider just getting a small portable that’s easier to handle.”

Q: We’ve recently installed a white marble hearth and mantle by our fireplace, and unfortunately a small piece of burning wood fell from the fire and left a scorch mark. We’ve tried several products to get it out, and nothing’s worked. Any suggestions?

C.L.

La Habra

A: “Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll have much luck cleaning it,” says Brooke Martin of Leonardo Marble in Anaheim. “If it’s not too deep, a marble refinisher can use special tools to grind the spot away, then buff it to bring back the shine. He also may know of stain removal products unavailable to the public that can reduce or get rid of it.”

Q: I’m refinishing some furniture and need a particular McCloskey wood stain that I can no longer find. Where can I buy a similar product?

M.D.

Santa Ana

A: “Stains can be custom-matched fairly easily,” says Harold Brobst of Hal’s Paint and Decorating in Fullerton. “Check your Yellow Pages for local stain dealers, and take a sample of the stain or a piece of the furniture you’ve already done to them. A good mixer can match the color very well, just as in matching paint.”

Q: Q: We have a large ceramic tile floor that we clean with Mop & Glo. After cleaning, however, it gets very slippery, and it’s difficult to strip. What else can we use?

E.R.

Lake Forest

A: “It sounds as though you have a high-sheen tile,” says Beverly Richey of Tile Importers in Anaheim. “This kind of surface is impervious to a glossy coating like you’ve been applying. Instead, get a rag mop, rather than a sponge mop, and wash it down with a solution of warm water and a little bit of white vinegar. In between washings, you can dust by spraying some furniture polish on a dry mop and rub it down.”

Q: A corner of our bedroom carpet got wet and mildewed from a roof leak recently. I’ve repaired the leak but the mildew smell is still there; how can I get rid of it?

C.S.

Laguna Niguel

A: “The mildew is probably coming from the padding,” says Walt Parker of Parker’s Floor Covering and Draperies in Orange. “The carpet and padding need to be pulled back at the tack strip level and folded open until it’s exposed to the air and allowed to dry. After it’s dried out, as well as the subfloor underneath, you can sprinkle carpet deodorizer on the subfloor and padding then retack the carpet in place.”