S.H., Brockton

A. Ah, those smokers; they'll smoke anywhere and probably douse their butts in the bath water. Oh well. You can try two things: Have the tub refinished by a professional; you can find one in the Yellow Pages under Bathtubs & Sinks -- Repairing and Refinishing, and Fiberglass Repair. It is expensive.

You could also try painting the damaged area yourself, using Filon Nuglas High Gloss Refinisher, sold by dealers who sell Filon fiberglass panels.

Q. A hot lid was dropped on the oil cloth on my kitchen floor and made a round scorch mark the size of a plate on the floor. I tried turpentine to remove it without success. Is there any way to save that floor?

A.P., West Roxbury

A. Oil cloth? That is a word from the past. You mean sheet vinyl flooring. As for removing the scorch mark, if it has not bubbled up from the heat, you can try this: Scrub with Brillo or SOS pads, or sand lightly with fine sandpaper to take off the very top finish of the vinyl. If that lightens up the mark enough, apply a floor wax on the entire floor.

If that doesn't work, your only recourse is to double-cut a patch. Find a similar sheet vinyl a little bigger than the mark, tape it over the mark and cut through both the patch material and the original. Remove the patch. Apply heat from a hair dryer on the original vinyl and pry it off the floor. Scrape off any glue residue. The patch will match the cutout portion. Glue it in place with an adhesive caulk or vinyl adhesive.

Q. My Formica counter top was badly scorched. Is there any way I can clean it or fix it? Can I cover it with Contact paper?

A. M., Dedham

A. A severe or heavy scorch is impossible to remove; the plastic is literally burnt, just as wood is burnt. A light scorch can be lightened by scouring with a soap pad or Ajax or other abrasive cleaner, using plenty of water.

So, if it is a severe scorch, replacement is the only solution. But your idea of Contact paper is good; it will certainly disguise the scorch, and the new Contact paper is easily taken off when the old gets dirty or beat up.

Here's another idea that may or may not appeal to you. Place a cutting board (wood, plastic or glass) over the mark. I know the mark is right in the middle of the counter (isn't it always?), but what the heck. You could glue it down or let it stand free. Letting it stand free would be better, so you can clean under it.