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How to stop birds from nesting behind shutters
Q. We are having our house painted, and this seems an ideal time to deal with a big problem we had in recent years. Birds perch/live behind our shutters on all sides of the house, and their poop has created streaks on the house that look terrible. Before the shutters are put back up, is there anything we can do to stop them from moving back in? Our painter suggested carpet strips. Any help would be appreciated. K. JOHNSON, Lexington A. Since the shutters came off easily for painting, I think they are hinged, in the old-fashioned way, and can be opened and closed.( 05/22/2013 6:00 PM )
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Removing blood stains
Globe handyman Peter Hotton is here for your dilemmas. Q. How can I get blood out of a rug? Ice water did little good. SCRUBBER A. One answer is to use your own DNA (saliva). Easier is to soak with hydrogen peroxide. Q. I put a hot pot on my laminated plastic table top, and now there is a black burnt spot where the pot stood. Can I clean or sand it off? A. If it is Formica Brand Laminated Plastic or similar material, a store worth its salt can take off the top and put a new one in. Or, cut a wood top and stain and varnish it for a new look. Or put a piece of granite on it. ( 04/11/2013 1:23 AM )
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How can he prep and repaint his old radiators?
Q. I have a number of cast-iron radiators on the first floor of my house (circa 1929). For those that are in the bathrooms, where there really isn't room for a radiator cover, the paint is in tough shape. Short of removing them, and sending them out for refinishing (would this involve sandblasting?), what is the best way for a homeowner to prep and refinish? Obviously, there are many hard to reach areas on a radiator that would make prep and re-painting difficult, so any tips are welcome. Also, any thoughts on how to clean (or make more presentable) the steam pipes that come up from the floor into the radiators? ED HUDSON, Natick ( 04/04/2013 1:36 AM )