Sofa’s Choice

Q. Please advise how to shampoo my fabric-upholstered sofa. I can’t find anybody nearby who offers this kind of service. What are the materials to be used and are the materials locally available? Many thanks for your help. - Flordeliza "Baby" M. Tenorio

A. There are all kinds of spray shampoos and conditioning fluids that are commercially available for use on upholstered furniture. Depending on what kind of fabric your sofa is upholstered with, the cleaning products are usually applied as foam and cleaned section by section with a thick-bristled brush. If the fabric of your sofa is made of something like cotton canvas or cotton chintz (with a protective coating that acts as an anti-dust repellant), the cleaning job is a fairly routine one because the fabric eventually absorbs the foam shampoo or it dissipates as it dries up. Good luck!

Q. Dear Bon, I always read your tips in your STAR column. How do I keep flies from joining us when we eat outdoors? Lighting candles does not seem to help. Thanks. - Jean M. Gonzalez

A. It’s the type of candle you use that will determine whether mosquitoes and flies will be repelled by it. Perhaps you need to purchase citronella-scented ones. Or, to fend them off more directly, you could try applying some cologne or scented alcohol on the exposed parts of your body. It is also recommended that you cultivate a neem or a sweet basil plant in your garden to keep those flying critters at bay. Good luck!

Q. Dear Molly, my Mom read a section of your column entitled Dye In, Dye Out and she instructed me to order your dye powder. She is not computer literate and so she gave me her specs. She needs a gold dye to darken the color of her curtains, which have faded a shade lighter. Would you be so kind as to send me a price list which I can show my Mom? If I purchase through the Internet, can it be delivered directly to my Mom’s address in San Andres? Thanks and will look forward to your reply. - Rowena "Wen" A. Ferrer

A. All WhollyMolly products can be read about on our website at http://www.whollymollytips.com/CPL.htm. Unless you just e-mail your order and mail a check, you can also order online (through the Buy it! button that takes all your information and processes your credit card). You’ll have to do the transaction several times depending on your estimate of how much would be needed for the size of your Mom’s curtains (each sachet is good enough for two dresses or three blouses). The items will be airmailed from the US once your credit card transaction has been approved. Yes, there is a dark yellow or gold tint dye.

Q. I just purchased your Healthy Hair Tea & Tea Bag, but I don’t know how to use the herbal pouch. What’s the proportion? How many scoops of tea to how many cups of water? I’ll be waiting for your answer. Thanks. - Lota Santiago, MD

A. Hi, Lota! Simple instructions for use are in the product library of our site. It’s really up to you – more scoops will just intensify the strength of the tea when boiled, and this allows you to re-use the teabag more times. Try it out and get comfortable with your own level. My own experience is using three scoops in a teabag and boiling it in a basin of water. I don’t measure, but look at the infusion’s color to see how strong I want it!) After I pour the cooled water over clean, shampooed hair, I squeeze out the excess water from the teabag and keep it in shallow bowl for boiling again next time. After several uses (maybe four or five times), when I notice the boiled water has become very pale, I discard the contents and put fresh scoops of the herbal mixture.

Cool home tips @http://www.whollymollytips.com/tips.html. Easy recipes @ http://www.whollymollytips.com/Recipe_Cache.htm. E-mail queries to ask@whollymollytips.com.