most recent 30 from http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com 2010-03-18T01:07:41Z http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/feeds http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/333/what-should-i-do-with-a-french-roast moe37x3 2009-11-24T17:13:17Z 2010-03-17T02:22:12Z

<p>I have a 9-lb beef "French Roast," and I'm not sure what the best thing to do with it is.</p> <ul> <li>Do you know what this cut is?</li> <li>What commonly-used cut is this most similar to (to help me with recipe search)?</li> <li>Do you have any favorite recipes that would work well on this cut?</li> </ul>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/215/year-round-tree-for-a-new-york-city-rooftop Matt S 2009-10-10T05:48:24Z 2010-03-13T20:22:12Z

<p>I just landed an apartment in NYC (relocating from the west coast) and have a nice little roof deck. I'd like to put a tree up there. What type should I get that will survive both summer and winter?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/60/how-should-i-take-care-of-my-reclaimed-wood-flooring Elan 2009-09-11T12:25:28Z 2010-03-12T16:22:13Z

<p>I have reclaimed-wood flooring that has been salvaged from an old warehouse and it looks like the wood has been treated in the past with an oil base finish. I have heard that water and vinegar will do the trick. Any other suggestions?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/16/how-much-should-i-tip-a-hotel-chambermaid-and-should-it-be-daily Tiffany 2009-09-05T09:37:23Z 2010-03-11T08:22:14Z

<p>How much should I tip a hotel chambermaid?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/371/how-should-i-clean-my-pizza-stone Breadknife 2010-03-03T01:38:10Z 2010-03-03T16:38:09Z

<p>I have a ceramic pizza stone that once upon a time was a clean, off-white color. After several months of use, it has become streaked and spotted with grease and ash. This doesn't bother me especially, as it sits in the oven or cupboard most of the time... but I've started to wonder if this is healthy.</p> <p>I've <em>been</em> just wiping it with a paper towel after each use. Should I attempt a more thorough cleaning? And if so, what should I use to avoid harming the stone (or future pizzas...)?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/320/can-you-tell-me-my-options-on-preschools-in-israel-in-the-herzliya-area A Curious Home 2009-10-29T11:17:24Z 2010-02-15T20:48:48Z

<p>Can you tell me my options on preschools in Israel (in the Herzliya area)?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/369/can-you-tell-me-what-my-options-are-in-finding-an-english-speaking-day-care-in-te Vanessa 2010-02-10T07:47:08Z 2010-02-10T07:47:08Z

<p>I am an American citizen currently living in Tel Aviv. We plan on being here for another year or 2 so I don't need my child to learn how to speak hebrew as we already have french in our home. It is really important to me that I find an english speaking day care, and if possible I would like to not have to drive all the way to Hertzilia. My son is 10months old. Please let me know if you have heard of anything in the Tel Aviv area.</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/12/how-can-i-smoth-the-curled-ends-of-my-oriental-rug Tiffany 2009-09-05T05:25:44Z 2010-01-14T14:22:13Z

<p>How can I smooth the curled ends of my Oriental rug?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/366/one-of-the-rooms-on-our-upper-floor-is-colder-than-the-others-how-to-warm-it-up BasicallyMoney.com 2010-01-08T15:33:43Z 2010-01-09T18:35:48Z

<p>I live near Toronto, Canada ... and it can get cold in the winter. Today, it's -10C outside, and I've seen it get as cold as -17C. Though it could be worse, I know people from Winnipeg!</p> <p>Anyway, one of the bedrooms upstairs in our house is colder than the other rooms, usually by about 2C. For instance, when the master bedroom is 22C, that room is 20C. I <em>suspect</em> it's because our home has a forced-air furnace system and that bedroom is the only room upstairs without a cold air return duct. (Darn builder didn't put one there!)</p> <p>So, aside from actually installing a duct &ndash; tricky &ndash; what else can we do to address the situation? </p> <p>I was considering additional attic insulation for the house (going from R-32 to R-50)... would that make a big difference?</p> <p>... or else replacing the window in that room; it's 4x3 feet, approx. and double pane, nothing spectactular, just builder typical. Would a good window make a big difference?</p> <p>Would removing the drywall and using spray-foam insulation have a marked effect? Two of the walls for that room are outside walls.</p> <p>I'd like to know what you think of the above ideas, as well as any I haven't thought of. Thanks!</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/365/how-to-remove-beer-stains-from-wool Rich Seller 2010-01-06T22:55:10Z 2010-01-06T22:55:10Z

<p>What can be done to remove beer stains from woolen garments?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/364/how-to-stop-pets-scratching-furniture Rich Seller 2010-01-06T22:53:24Z 2010-01-06T22:53:24Z

<p>What steps can you take to discourage cats or dogs scratching furniture?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/361/what-to-do-after-cutting-down-a-tree brandstaetter 2010-01-05T13:44:43Z 2010-01-06T10:19:18Z

<p>How can I help the tree roots to rot faster, or is there only the way of brute-force removing and ripping them out?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/360/cleaning-natural-paving-stone brandstaetter 2010-01-05T09:28:18Z 2010-01-05T09:28:18Z

<p>I have a newly laid pavement with natural stone (granite). Next to the pavement, there is a tree which drops tiny, cherry like fruits (I'm sorry, I'm not an english native speaker, so I don't know the correct name).</p> <p>These fruits burst and leave ugly stains which are very hard to get rid of. Is there a solution for cleaning these stains and probably preventing them to form as easily?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/255/purple-and-brown-spots-on-hydrangea-leaves OfficeQuestions.com 2009-10-13T13:02:22Z 2010-01-03T03:22:06Z

<p>I recently transplanted some hydrangeas from a friends garden to our back yard. They are in partial shade, and have been getting plenty of water, but they all are developing purple and brown splotches all over their leaves.</p> <p>I have tried Neem&trade; oil, thinking that it was fungus related, but it has not seemed to have any effect.</p> <p>Any gardening experts out there have any recommendations?</p> <p>Thanks</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/301/why-does-one-patch-of-grass-in-my-garden-grows-much-faster-than-the-rest Omar 2009-10-22T11:38:37Z 2010-01-03T03:02:15Z

<p>I've got a smallish garden but I've noticed that one patch of grass (About a metre square) in my garden grows at about twice the rate as the rest?</p> <p>Why would this happen?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/216/how-can-you-keep-cats-out-of-the-garden Rich Seller 2009-10-10T09:15:30Z 2010-01-01T14:34:25Z

<p>Following on from <a href="http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/73/luring-birds-to-the-backyard/93#93" rel="nofollow">this answer</a>, do you have any effective techniques for keeping cats out of your garden?</p> <p>I have tried an <a href="http://www.deteracat.co.uk/ultrasonic%5Fcat%5Fdeterrent%5Fsystem.htm" rel="nofollow">ultrasonic repellent</a> which I found fairly useless as it turns out a lot of the local cats are pretty deaf. Has anybody else had a better experience with one?</p> <p><img src="http://www.deteracat.co.uk/images/ultrasonic%5Fcat%5Fdeterrent%5Fsystem%5Flarge.jpg" alt="cat repeller screenshot" /></p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/197/organic-slug-deterrents Rich Seller 2009-10-08T11:49:31Z 2010-01-01T13:15:07Z

<p>I've got a small vegetable patch that the slugs absolutely love. As I'm keen to stay organic I don't want to use any pesticides, but at the same time I don't want all my veg being scoffed by slugs and snails.</p> <p>What suggestions do you have for keeping them away?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/208/will-strawberry-plants-survive-an-english-winter-unprotected Rich Seller 2009-10-09T07:51:24Z 2010-01-01T12:50:59Z

<p>I planted several strawberry plants in various pots and containers early this summer, they've mostly done very well and we had a bumper crop of tasty red things.<br /> With the nights drawing in I'm concerned about how they'll survive the winter in the north of England. Will they be ok? or should I be covering them, or putting them in a greenhouse/conservatory?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/335/fluffy-towel-that-wont-lose-its-fluff Rich Seller 2009-11-25T18:24:32Z 2009-12-31T19:42:00Z

<p>I recently visited a fancy hotel that had very fluffy towels. These were great except that, like with most fluffy towels I've tried, little bits came off (the towel) when I dried myself. I'm looking for a towel with a high fluffiness quotient that won't leave me with a Santa beard.</p> <p>Does such a product exist and where might I buy it from in the UK?</p> <p><strong>Update:</strong> I spotted some <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=bamboo+towels&amp;tag=home4film-21&amp;index=garden&amp;hvadid=4945211255&amp;ref=pd%5Fsl%5F31n5o5hl0m%5Fe" rel="nofollow">Bamboo towels</a> the other day that make the following claims:</p> <blockquote> <p>These towels are super-soft and three times more absorbent than cotton. Bamboo yields a soft, absorbent fibre that is great for making thirsty bath towels and because it's fast-growing, soil enhancing and doesn't require synthetic encouragement, it's a great environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative for your bathroom.</p> </blockquote> <p>If this is the case it looks promising from an environmental, fluffiness, and absorbency perspective.<br /> Does anyone have experience of these bamboo towels and can they substantiate the claims?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/278/how-do-you-clean-tea-kettles iamgoat 2009-10-16T02:47:34Z 2009-12-31T16:28:29Z

<p>I notice mine has a lot of white looking particles collecting in the bottom. Are those mineral deposits? Other than going in with a sponge and hot water, is there a better method? Also, is the mineral deposit bad for you?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/351/looking-for-not-so-complex-to-make-asian-spicy-beef-stew-recipe Onoez 2009-12-29T17:07:06Z 2009-12-29T18:56:48Z

<p>I'm a fairly mediocre cook, nothing advanced, but I know my stuff and I can cook if I want. Though I'm by no mean an expert.</p> <p>Anyway, I've bought about 1.5kg of good cow beef and I want to make some asian, spicy beef stew out of it.</p> <p>Anybody got any recipes which aren't too complex to make?</p> <p>If nothing Asian, anything western/eastern involving red wine would also do.</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/346/what-are-good-uses-for-leftover-turkey David Brown 2009-12-27T19:46:02Z 2009-12-29T16:39:51Z

<p>I have 5 lbs of leftover turkey mid-thaw. What are good uses for leftover turkey? (One of our favorites is turkey curry, especially good for frozen leftovers)</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/348/is-there-a-best-source-on-the-internet-for-tea-related-information David Brown 2009-12-29T07:18:39Z 2009-12-29T16:22:04Z

<p>Is there a best source on the internet for tea related information? E.g. brewing times and temperature, information about particular teas, equipment, etc.</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/322/there-is-a-sign-that-there-a-lice-at-school-how-do-i-recgognise-them Alice 2009-11-03T10:21:28Z 2009-12-23T17:00:00Z

<p>There are lice at school. How do I regognize if my child has them and what do I do? What do I have to clean? What should I pay particular attention to?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/343/how-can-i-clean-away-spilled-wax-from-laquered-wood-surface Petra 2009-12-19T08:47:33Z 2009-12-19T08:47:33Z

<p>How can I get rid of spilled candle wax from a laquered wood surface without scratching the furniture.</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/342/how-to-repair-the-valve-which-moves-the-water-from-the-tub-faucet-to-the-shower-h dacracot 2009-12-10T01:44:47Z 2009-12-10T01:44:47Z

<p>Not sure what this thing is called, but it is the stem you pull up on the end of the tub faucet to start the water flow through the shower. This valve no longer stops enough water for the shower to work. Can I repair it? How would I go about it?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/339/how-to-tell-if-a-lime-is-ripe Rich Seller 2009-12-07T12:47:01Z 2009-12-08T04:03:12Z

<p>I have a small lime tree that has produced 4 limes over recent weeks. I found yesterday that one of them had split open and was overripe.</p> <p>With my lemon tree it is easy to spot a ripe lemon as it turns yellow, but the limes stay green. Is there a reliable way to tell if a lime is ripe before picking?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/337/how-can-i-easily-de-crystallize-a-half-gallon-of-honey Breadknife 2009-12-07T02:10:47Z 2009-12-08T03:52:38Z

<p>It got cold here. My honey is... like honey <em>paste</em>. You can <em>chew</em> it.</p> <p>It's annoying.</p> <p>Any slick tips on easy ways to return this delicious stuff to its former silky luster?</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/330/how-can-i-get-rust-stains-out-of-cloth Petra 2009-11-22T07:50:42Z 2009-11-22T22:56:49Z

<p>I seem to have managed to get rust stains on a tablecloth. Is there a way to get rid of them. Normal washing powder will not do the trick.</p>

http://acurioushome.stackexchange.com/questions/329/simple-apple-press Rich Seller 2009-11-14T17:06:32Z 2009-11-22T08:50:23Z

<p>I've got a number of apples I'm thinking of pressing and turning to cider. My local homebrew shop used to rent out apple presses but they've recently shut down. Does anybody have some pointers for a home-made press?</p>