Home improvements: Tips for mark and stain removal

Marks and stains are inevitable when there are children around in the house, but there are ways to fix them.

To remove chewing gum on your carpet or clothes, apply something cold. For carpets, put ice cubes into a sealable freezer bag and place on the gum. When it has become frozen and brittle, break it into individual pieces using a blunt knife. Stubborn residue left in the fibres can be removed with a fine-tooth comb. Likewise, if you find gum on clothing, place the garment straight into the freezer.

When it comes to removing stickers, there are various solutions to choose from: heat, water and cooking oil. Start with a hairdryer. If the sticker doesn’t come off, try using hot water and a sponge, or a few drops of light cooking oil and a cotton cloth.

If the glitter fairy has been out and about, and you aren’t able to remove the stubborn particles by vacuuming, try using sticky tape. Wrap the tape around the palm of your hand, with the sticky side facing outward, and move over the affected areas. Or if you have a lint roller, use this instead.

* Courtesy of Kärcher, www.karcher.ae