Posted on: Friday, September 13, 2002

HOME HANDYMAN
Removing wax on carpet is a simple, two-step job

By Glenn Haege
Detroit News

Q. I'm moving out of my apartment next week and as luck would have it, last weekend I ended up having an accident on my carpet. Two candles (one red and one white) were knocked over onto the carpet. Now, I have two major wax spots on my carpet. Any suggestions on how to lift the wax (and probably red color) out of the carpet?

A. A product called un-du Candle Wax Remover should do the job. Once the wax is removed, Motsenbocker No. 1 should remove any color that remains.

Q. We have a concrete-block fireplace chimney, which was painted. Now it has moss growing out of the joints and is peeling. We know we have to kill the moss growth, but it may be impossible to get all the paint scraped off. Is there a paint remover that could be used for this purpose so that we could get down to the bare concrete? Any other suggestions?

A. Do a test area first. Try W.M. Barr, Citristrip. It is a very environmentally friendly product. Spread it on thick.

Put some plastic wrap over the product and let it work over night. Next day, scrape off the product. If that doesn't do a good enough job, Dumond Chemicals, Peel Away Paint Stripper, should take everything off. Dumond has some very specialized products. Check out their Web site at www.peelaway.com.

Just as important as stripping the paint is finding out why the concrete is so damp that it started growing mold.

Q. I have a detached garage, so my driveway runs entirely along the one side of my house. There is a considerable gap between my house and the concrete. What should I use to fill this? The gap is probably one inch wide by two inches deep but varies all the way. Any help would be appreci-ated.

A: Pour play sand down the opening and keep packing it down with an ice chopper.

You will find that a great deal of sand goes into the hole because water has probably excavated a cavity under the slab and you are pushing the sand into the cavity with the ice chopper. About 1&Mac253; inches from the top, stop pouring sand and fill the opening with backer rod. Buy backer rod that is a little thicker than the crack is wide. Push it down, then finish the job by pouring Quikrete Gray Crack Seal level with the concrete.

You can get the backer rod, play sand and Quikrete Gray Crack Seal at Lowe's, Home Depot and most other hardware stores and home centers.

Reach Glenn Haege at editor@flashcom.net, or visit www.masterhandyman.com.