Handy tips cover a wide variety of cleaning questions

Last week, I received several calls that covered a wide range of subjects. So, in this week's column, I thought I would share with the reading audience some of the tips I gave to various callers.

Dave called wanting some information on carpet selection. I told Dave that before he bought his new carpet, he should consider a few things. First, the density of the carpet has a lot to do with how long it will last. A good rule to follow is that if you can see the backing through the fibers, the carpet won't last very long.

Dense carpets have fine fibers, which displace weight over more of the material. A better carpet won't look different from a low density one until after a few years have passed and the cheaper one has begun to wear out.

The kind of fiber your carpet is made of also affects its durability. Polypropylene carpets offer more stain resistance but less durability. Nylon carpets are very durable but don't have the stain resistance of polypropylene and polyester.

Terry called and said when she waxed her floors, there are dull spots on her floor. I suggested to Terry that she strip her floors and thoroughly rinse them. The dullness is caused from trapped soap residue left on the floor.

Judy called and said she thought her toilet was leaking water out of the tank. I told Judy to get some red food coloring and drop a few drops in the tank. If it is leaking, she will immediately see it in the bowl. If she sees red food coloring, it is time to change out the flapper valve.

Sandy called and said she was going to paint her den with an oil-based stain-killer. However, she said she hates the smell of oil-based paint. I told her to stir in a tablespoon of vanilla extract. She said she likes the smell of vanilla.

Last week, while on a job site, my chalk line disappeared. In desperate need, I took a piece of red chalk, dropped it in a plastic bag, crushed it with a hammer to a powder and dropped in a piece of string. Out came a very useful chalk line.

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the chief executive officer of Northwest Executive and Environmental Services, LLC.