An easier way to remove wallpaper

photo by nate

DEAR SARA: There is wallpaper in one area of the house, and that is the stairs to the downstairs family room. It’s a small set of stairs, but the paper was peeling, so we want it off. We don’t want to spend the money to rent a steamer, but we don’t know what else to do because what we’re using isn’t working. This stuff is on there tough! Do you have any tips or tricks for removing wallpaper? — Amy B., New Jersey

DEAR AMY: Look for a scoring tool called Paper Tiger. It has a flat handle and a razor blade. You run it over the wallpaper, and it scores it. As far as tips for removers, try either vinegar or fabric softener with hot water in a spray bottle. Spray it liberally on your wallpaper and let it soak. It will peel off. Any stubborn areas can be scraped off.

DEAR SARA: I just got a huge bulk container of oats that I wanted to cook up with a touch of sugar and cinnamon or a little maple syrup. Is it possible to cook up a bunch in advance and leave it in the fridge for the week and just reheat some in the mornings, or will it get too rubbery or go bad? I want to start eating oatmeal daily, but without spending the 10 minutes to make the oats. Thanks! — Jen, New Jersey

DEAR JEN: I would portion out your oatmeal and your stir-in ingredients into baggies or an airtight container for the week and microwave it versus cooking on the stovetop. If you don’t want to use a microwave, you can make your own instant oatmeal by placing some old-fashioned oats into a food processor or blender, and pulse until the oats are powdery. Depending on how much oatmeal you eat, a starting point can be to combine a couple of tablespoons of the powdery oats and your stir-in ingredients, such as cinnamon and brown sugar, to 1/4 to 1/2 cup of regular oats, and store in plastic baggies. When you’re ready to eat, place your “instant” mix into a bowl. You can then pour boiling water over it. The powdery oats help shorten the time it takes for the oatmeal to cook.

DEAR SARA: I hope this doesn’t sound like a dumb question. I’ve stopped wasting money on kitchen sponges with the scrubby surface on one side. I cut up some old dishrags instead. It’s better for the budget and the environment, and they don’t harbor bacteria. But sometimes, when the pots are hard to scrub, I need something more abrasive. What can I use to cheaply scrub the pots and pans? — Mari, Delaware

DEAR MARI: You can use baking soda to scrub. Try a paste with baking soda and dish liquid. You can use mesh bags from onions, aluminum foil and even pantyhose to scrub, too. Liquid and sheet fabric softener works well. Add a few squirts or a dryer sheet to your pan filled with hot water, and let it soak.

DEAR SARA: My daughter’s birthday is coming up, and things have spiraled out of control! We have 26 kids attending. Usually, I spend $3 to $5 per goodie bag, but that is out of the question with so many kids. I need to keep it at $2 max. We are using brown lunchbags that my daughters decorated with stampers. There will be both boys and girls at the party, ranging in age from 4 to 8. — Karen, e-mail

DEAR KAREN: I know small toys are popular for goodie bags, but it seems like such a waste of money. I suggest the kids do a project that they can take home with them. One idea is to have them plant a bulb, seeds or plant. You could provide supplies to decorate the containers. You can also ask each guest to bring a new or used book, and do a book exchange at the party. You can then provide supplies to make homemade bookmarks. Another idea is to have the kids decorate cookies to bring home.

Posted by Sara Noel on January 23 2008. Filed under Home & family, Question & Answer.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook