Quality paint a sound investment in dining room upgrade

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/09/2012 (5004 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hi Reena,
I hope you can help me with a paint dilemma. I wanted to paint my living/dining room which currently has oil base on it. When I went to get my paint I asked what I would have to do to prepare the walls in order to use latex paint. I was told I had two choices: Go with a primer and then two coats of paint or sand the wall lightly to take the gloss off and then go with a paint that has the primer built in.

Because it was a large area I went with the latter and did all the right stuff including washing the wall after. I was told not to skimp on the paint and not to go back and rework any missed area as it dries very quickly. The paint went on beautifully, however, when I went to do the second coat I saw that in places there were areas where the paint had actually dripped and then stopped midway. It was very noticeable and so discouraging. I then had to scrape it off, patch and redo. I am using a brand new microfibre 10-millimetre roller, the size suggested. I was so frustrated that I stopped painting after one wall. Have you ever come across this before and if so what should I do differently when I get up the courage to finish the rest?

Unfortunately I have another full gallon, so I will have to use it up at this cost. Thanks for your help, Janet

Dear Janet,
I can feel your frustration because I have found myself in similar situations. Paint quality is often the culprit between a happy paint project and a screaming on the inside moment. If the paint is thin it will run and drip down the wall. If the paint is not adhering to the wall, it will also run down the wall. Paint experts often recommend preparing walls with a trisodium phosphate wash before painting, to remove greasy residue caused by cooking and everyday dust. Since you followed the advice given to you by the retailer, why not bring the paint back and talk to them about the issue that you are having. When paint projects work the way they are supposed to, they can be a therapeutic, fun experience. Don’t hesitate to confer with the paint specialist that sold you the paint (remember to bring your receipt with you).

Dear Reena,
I need an easy way to bake moist cakes. They always seem to dry out very quickly. Love your blog,
Joanne

Dear Joanne,
Substitute the milk or water in your cake batter recipe with buttermilk. If you don’t want to purchase buttermilk, simply make your own. Into a measuring cup pour 1 cup milk, the thicker the better. Add 1 tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice. Let stand for 5 minutes. Change this recipe to suit the amount of milk or water called for in your recipe.

Dear Reena,
Whenever I bake a double layer cake, I make the batter and pour half of it into my pan. I then bake the cake and it turns out perfectly. Then I remove the cake from the pan and wash it. I pour the second portion of batter into the freshly washed pan and bake it. The second cake never turns out; it always looks like a lump of unrisen cake in my pan. What am I doing wrong?
Sadie

Dear Sadie,
The answer will make sense to you as soon as you read this. Most delicious cake recipes call for a leavening agent such as baking powder or baking soda or self-rising flour (which contains baking powder). These ingredients contain carbon dioxide which is released when the batter is mixed, and air is incorporated into the batter (heat will also help the cake to rise). As the batter sits on your kitchen counter awaiting its turn to bake in the oven, the air bubbles relax and the chemical reaction is minimal during baking.

To avoid this, either purchase two baking pans and bake them both at the same time. Or purchase a heating strip, wet it and wrap it around the pan. While your baking time will increase, a baking strip leaves you with an evenly shaped and nicely baked cake. If you decide to pour the entire contents of the batter into one cake pan, make sure that your pan is large enough to hold the amount. Fill the pan no more than half to two thirds with batter.

Extra Tip: Always make sure that your cake pan is properly greased and floured before adding batter. After the cake has baked, remove it from the oven. Tent the cake with foil (to hold in moisture). Leave for 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and wrap it in plastic wrap. Store at room temperature until cool.  

Reena is a popular presenter and author of the national best selling series, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives. If you would like Reena to visit your area and present a workshop, please call 204 320 2757. I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Check out my website! www.householdsolutions.org.