Stand-alone oven perfect solution

A MUCH enjoyed recent gift of a diffuser – a scented liquid which you pour into a glass container holding a bundle of thin sticks, which absorb and release the pleasant smell into the room – was knocked over. It left a slightly oily stain on my beige bedroom carpet. How can I remove this mark? I have absorbed as much as possible with paper towel. – KE, Port Elizabeth.

So far so good, but now you need an absorbent powder to go to work for as long as it takes to remove the rest of the oily substance. Apply a generous layer of talcum powder to the stain. Cover this with a piece of towel and place a heavy weight on top. Leave in place for several days.

The powder, helped by the towelling, should absorb the residue of the substance. Vacuum up the surplus powder, and hopefully the mark will be gone.

We have moved into a house which has only a two-plate gas stove, and no oven. The gas is great considering the frequent power outages. However, we decided to purchase one of those small two-plate/oven stoves to cope occasionally with things such as browning cottage pies and the odd cake. The gas ovens are rather pricey. What about convection ovens? Do you have any advice on them? We've heard conflicting opinions. – CH, Seaview.

I spoke to Dianne, a knowledgeable dealer, and also to a family member who is an excellent cook.

Dianne strongly recommended a thermal multi-function oven. All the main manufacturers produce them, and Defy gives a two-year guarantee. She was very positive in her recommendation that this type of oven would be adequate for you.

The family cooking enthusiast said he had recently fitted out his new kitchen and was encouraged by a friend to buy an LG Solar Dom. This multi-function, standard-sized oven is just plugged in to a 15-amp socket. It has all the bells and whistles, like clocks and timers, and is truly versatile in that it is an oven, a griller and a microwave. It has a turntable, so food receives uniform heat.

I cannot find washing soda (for use in your silver cleaning method) anywhere in Uitenhage. I would like to know where it is sold. – VS, Uitenhage.It is available at Our Super Spar in Main Road, Walmer, labelled MX19, so the best bet may be to ask a Spar in Uitenhage to get it for you.

I noticed that people were asking you about mould stains. It's Amway bleach to the rescue! My daughter-in-law used it for towels with black mould stains on them, and I have used it on my net curtains. It's a brilliant product, and reasonably priced, too! – MB, Port Elizabeth.

Thanks for the timely reminder. Amway, available through agents, is an excellent product.

I love lacquer items and have several little decorative boxes. Some of them have become a bit dull. What is the best way of polishing them up? I'm sure you shouldn't wash them. – JW, East London.

Washing is not recommended, but one of my old books says you can dip them in warm water to which you have added either lemon juice or sour milk. Rub with a soft cloth, dry in a warm place and then polish up.

To restore the gloss, make a paste of flour and olive oil, and rub in well. Wipe off and then polish with a smooth, soft cloth. Silk is actually recommended, so an abandoned silk scarf would be ideal.

Alternatively, you can apply a little soft wax polish, and then buff up.

- At Your Service, with Gwen Bisseker