Q The ten-year-old stainless-steel cutlery set we use every day – and put in the dishwasher – is perfect apart from the bowls of the spoons, which have turned dark grey. How can I get their sparkle back?
A Although stainless steel is tough and relatively stain-free, it still needs a bit of care. The staining is probably caused by food left on the cutlery while waiting to be washed. Put a teaspoon of biological washing powder into a mug of hot water and soak the spoons overnight. If that doesn’t work, try Oust Crockery & Cutlery Cleaner, £1.39 (020-8663 4295 for stockists). Dissolve in hot water, soak the spoons for 30 minutes, then rinse well. To stop it happening again, rinse cutlery before loading the dishwasher and never use the rinse-and-hold cycle as the humid atmosphere can cause staining.
Q The wooden draining board around my Belfast sink has black marks in the grooves. Is this mould? No matter how much I scrub it, I can’t shift it – and now it’s spreading. What should I do?
A Yes, it’s mould caused by water penetrating the wood, probably because you haven’t been oiling it enough. You need to scrub the grooves with very fine grade (0000) wire wool, dipped in lots of white spirit. Stubborn marks may need teasing out with fine sandpaper. Allow to dry (no need to rinse) and re-oil with a mixture of one-third boiled linseed oil to two-thirds white spirit. Apply with a soft cloth and leave it to soak overnight, then remove any excess. Re-oil the wood every six months to prevent it happening again.
Q I spilt sugar on my ceramic hob and it got caught underneath a pan. Although I’ve managed to clean it, I’m left with tiny pits on the surface. Is there a remedy?
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A The manufacturer may be able to polish out the marks, but most will want to replace the top (check with your insurer to see if you’re covered for accidental damage). The pitting won’t affect performance and should fade in time. If hob cleaner gets trapped in the marks and makes the hob look messy, rinse with water and buff dry.
Aggie MacKenzie co-presents How Clean is Your House? Send your questions for publication to aggie.mackenzie@thetimes.co.uk