Home briefs | Scrape old SpongeBob out of the tub

Oust those worn, tired decals from your bathtub with a few tips from cleaning expert and author Linda Cobb, better known as the Queen of Clean.

Lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the decals, and heat with a blow dryer set on high. Use an old credit card or similar dull straight-edge to work up the edge of the decal, continuing to apply heat as you pull. If the decal is stubborn, lay the foil down and heat again.

Once you get the decals off, Cobb recommends removing the residue with petroleum jelly, denatured alcohol or nail polish remover.

If you need more oomph, solvents such as Goo Gone, mineral spirits, WD-40 and Goof-Off might work. Whatever remover you choose, test it in a small and preferably inconspicuous area of the tub first.

Can't talk now — we've got a carpet stain

Nothing puts a damper on a dinner party like a food stain on your carpet. But once a spill occurs, there's no time to waste fretting over the accident.

The key to removing a carpet stain is to act as quickly as possible with a spot and stain remover. The longer the stain goes untreated, the greater the chance it will become permanent.

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when attacking a carpet stain.

• Test: Pretest a spot-removal product if possible. You want to make sure the stain remover won't cause further damage to the carpet. Apply several drops to the test area, and then hold a white cloth on the area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change or damage to the carpet.

• Blot: Once a fresh carpet stain is discovered, blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white paper towels. Work from the edges of the spill to the center. Don't scrub the area. Use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry.

• Lift: Scrape up semi-solids with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed.

• Clean: Apply a small amount of cleaning solution on the stain with a white cloth, and allow the solution to sit for about 10 minutes. Continue using the cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. Removal of the spill mayrequire repeating the same step several times.

• Rinse: Use a cold-water rinse on the area once the stain is gone. Blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Apply a ½-inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down the paper towels with a flat, heavy object. Change the paper towels as needed.

Carry your own custom corsage

A dainty, special-occasion handbag covered with fresh flowers could be an elegant outfit's perfect accessory — albeit a short-lived one.

Saundra Parks, a New York-based florist who runs her own business, Daily Blossom, is known for custom floral design. She also makes floral handbags: one-of-a-kind pieces using flowers to transform a functional fashion accessory into a delicate bouquet for special occasions — say, weddings or Mother's Day. The bags may bloom with hydrangeas or orchids, cactus or roses, or whatever plant each design mandates.

The bags, which last at least a day, would also look lovely as a centerpiece. Daily Blossom (www.dailyblossom.com) needs about a week's notice for a special order. Prices start at $300.

Compiled from the Associated Press, Akron Beacon Journal and McClatchy Tribune News Service