Replace Mini-Blind Slats When Bent Out of Shape
Question: I’ve got a problem with a set of aluminum mini-blinds. In cleaning them last week, I pushed against the upper corner too hard and bent two of the slats. I’ve tried bending them back into shape, but that hasn’t worked. What can I do to fix them?
C.N.
Fountain Valley
A: “Unfortunately, you can never bend them back so they’re exactly like they were,” says Gidon Adlan of Bob’s Shades & Linoleum in Orange. “This is a common problem in cheaper blinds that don’t use a tempered metal. The better, thicker slats aren’t likely to bend unless you really force them. The best solution is to replace them. As they hang down, remove the bottom rail and release the control strings. Pull the middle strings up then pull out the bent slats. A mini-blind dealer should be able to order replacements for you.”
Q: We’re having a problem in one of the bathrooms of our 3-year-old home. There is a foul odor coming from the drain. We don’t want to use any harsh chemicals to clean it. What can we do?
D.L.
Laguna Hills
Answer: “There are usually two reasons this kind of problem occurs in bathrooms,” says Joel Gwartz of B.J. Discount Plumbing & Heating Supply in Garden Grove. “In a bathroom sink there’s usually a pop-up stopper with a rod that operates inside the drain. Sometimes hair gets caught in the pop-up stopper or on the rod where it screws into the drain assembly, which slows the water flow and can create an odor. You’d need to disassemble the stopper and clean it out.
“If that’s not the problem, I’d check the sink overflow. If the sink has ever backed up, debris from the drain can collect in the overflow and stagnate. You’ll need to take hot water and rinse out the overflow to try and clear it.”
Q: What can I use on my patio chairs that have yellowed? They’re made with white woven straps that have discolored from suntan lotion, etc., and I haven’t been able to get them clean.
J.U.
Mission Viejo
A: “There’s a product called Fair ‘n Clean that works great on patio furniture,” says Jim Montgomery of Anaheim Patio and Fireside in Huntington Beach. “This kind of furniture takes a lot of abuse, from the chemicals and lotions that get rubbed on it to the exposure to the sun and fluctuations in weather. Fair ‘n Clean is available at patio furniture stores, and you just spray it on the straps, wait a few minutes, then gently brush it clean and rinse it off. After it’s cleaned, you can use Fair ‘n Guard to protect the finish.”
Q: The aluminum window frames in our house have discolored over the years. Is there any way to restore them?
W.A.C.
Garden Grove
A: “You may want to try aluminum naval jelly,” says Gary Lillge of Crown Hardware in Corona del Mar. “This has a different formulation from traditional naval jelly to make it work specifically on aluminum. This will clean up the discolorations that often occur on exterior aluminum. If you find that there’s pitting, you may need to get some medium-fine, wet-dry sandpaper and go over the rough spots. After they’re clean, you’ll need to keep it clean regularly to prevent it from badly spotting again.”
Q: I have a fiberglass tub with a sliding shower door attached. I’d like to replace the enclosure, but I’m concerned about the caulking at the bottom, which is old, hard and discolored. I’ve used a scraper to remove some of it, but doing so has put some scratches in the tub. Is there anything I can use on the caulk to soften it and make it easy to remove?
G.B.
Santa Ana
A: “There’s nothing that’s really going to dissolve old caulking,” says John Bonadeo of the Tile Plumbing Gallery in Huntington Beach. “There are two types of caulk generally used: tub caulk, which is water-based, and silicone rubber caulk, which is petroleum-based. The chemicals that would possibly dissolve the caulk would probably affect the fiberglass. The key is to get a good razor knife and use lots of patience. Go slowly and carefully scrape the old caulk away.”
