Q: My bedroom radiator, with verdigris on the pipes, leaked on to my pale carpet, leaving a nasty green stain. I’ve tried carpet cleaner, but to no effect. Any other suggestions?
A: Try using Magical Rust Remover (£10.30 for 8fl oz, including p&p) from Kitchen Economy (02920 451222), which is safe to use on most surfaces (but not glass or ceramic). Spray on to the affected area - you don’t have to rub - and rinse off. If the stain is bad, you may have to repeat. And if it doesn’t disappear, then it probably isn’t rust. Always test on a discreet area first for colourfastness. And get those pipes sorted!
Q: I have a very beautiful, but not very PC, pair of antique snakeskin high heels; unfortunately the snakeskin is starting to peel off. How can I stop this?
A: Snakeskin is very fragile, so once you get those shoes looking pristine again, save them for best. Now, as strange as it sounds, you need to feed them. Although you won’t be able to repair the damage, you can stop further deterioration with Chelsea Dubbin (£1.99 for 100ml), available from most sports shops. It will nourish the snakeskin and make it water-repellent. Apply with a soft cloth in a circular motion and leave overnight. Then buff with a soft clean brush and apply your usual polish. (If the shoes are very shiny, the food may not penetrate - in which case, there’s not much you can do.)
Advertisement
Q: How can I remove stains from a marble countertop? There are ring marks as well as greasy patches - it looks awful.
A: At the risk of sounding like a press release from HG International, here goes: clean with a specialist marble cleaner, such as HG Marble Stain Colour Remover (£7.45 for 500ml, 01206 795200; www.hginternational.com). This will deal with discoloration from coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and red wine. For other stains, use HG Spot Stain Remover (£5.95 for 500ml). Marble is very porous so once it’s clean, seal it with HG Top Protector (£7.95 for 100ml). For day-to-day cleaning, never use washing-up liquid - it causes smearing and attracts dirt. Instead, use HG Marble Wash & Shine (£6.95 for 1 litre).
Aggie MacKenzie is co-presenter of How Clean is Your House? Send your questions for publication to aggie.mackenzie@thetimes.co.uk