Ban pesky pests from patch of veggie pride

HOW can I clear the cloudiness from an old glass perfume bottle that once belonged to my late mother-in-law? It has a tiny opening, so I cannot get to the inside. – CB, Plettenberg Bay.

Old-fashioned remedies seem to be appropriate. You can try filling the bottle with white spirit vinegar. Leave to stand overnight, and then rinse out. In my files on the subject, a strong solution of ammonia and water is given as an alternative to the vinegar, but it's unpleasant to use because of the fumes.

If the cloudiness persists, try to pour in some salt, cover with vinegar and swill. Persistent swilling is the name of the game.

If all this fails, try a solution of commercial denture cleaner.

Someone wrote in about soaking paper in water and making a mush instead of having to shred papers. When I was a child, I knew a lady who did that with newspapers. She added some kind of glue and then used the mush as one would with clay. She moulded it into shapes, left it in the sun to dry and then painted it. I cannot remember what she made but I think it was some kind of figurines. – MB, Port Elizabeth.

The lady was certainly turning her waste newspaper into papier mache, and making figures. Newspaper and white glue and wallpaper glue are the usual ingredients.

To make one litre of mush, tear four large newspaper pages into small pieces and soak them overnight in two litres of water. Next day, boil the mixture for 20 minutes. Then whip it up until the paper is soft and pulpy. Strain the pulp and squeeze gently until it is a soft, moist lump. Stir in 30ml white glue and then 30ml wallpaper paste. Stir until no lumps remain.

Papier mache can then be used to make a variety of things, such as figures and masks.

Do you perhaps have a solution for insects that are eating my vegetables? Before planting, how should I prepare the soil? – Cindy, East London.

Sight unseen, I cannot guess what kind of pests are attacking your vegetables. I suggest you take a damaged plant to your local garden centre, which should be able to identify the culprits and advise on how to eliminate them.

If the nursery is in your area, they should know about the type of soil you are dealing with, and how to prepare it. Deep digging over the whole bed is essential to improve the texture of the soil and remove stones and break up lumps.

Be sure to add plenty of good quality compost to ensure that the soil is fertile and retains moisture.

Something to bear in mind is that soil will deteriorate if you use it continuously for growing the same type of vegetables, so crop rotation is advisable. Divide your vegetable garden into three sections, one for root crops, such as carrots, onions and potatoes, one for leaf vegetables and fruit bearers (cabbages and spinach; tomatoes) and the third for legumes (peas and beans). Switch them each season.

What can I use to remove ballpoint ink from my genuine leather jacket? – Cheryl, Port Elizabeth.

Most ballpoint inks are soluble in methylated spirits, but you have to make sure it doesn't affect the colour and texture of the jacket, so test first in an inconspicuous place, such as underneath the collar.

If all seems well, you can go ahead with the meths, using a soft cloth, dabbing and mopping with a clean cloth as you go.

If you are at all unhappy about the test results, invest in a little tub of saddle soap, obtainable from specialist leather and saddlery shops.

- At Your Service, with Gwen Bisseker