The Ask Anna Blog

How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell

Source Question: I have a question that I don’t think you have blogged yet. Some of my towels smell mildew-ish! After I wash them, they smell good. After they get wet the first time, they smell awful! How can I get this smell out of my towels? Answer: I know exactly what you are talking about and I hate that smell, it’s awful! If this is an ongoing problem for you start by making sure that your towels are hung well after each use, so that they can dry out quickly. If your bathroom is musty or damp,… Read More

Dorm Room Organization Tips

Question: “I was hoping you could help me. My daughter is moving into her dorm room and we need ways to fit things into a small space. We can’t hang things on the wall because they are cement so we can’t go up with ways to organize. If you could help us that would be AWESOME!!!” Answer: This is such an exciting time of year for many students! Packing up, buying new bedding and moving away to college is a fun time in our lives. Here are a few dorm room organization tips that will get your student organized for… Read More

Laundry Room Makeover

This week I am so excited to show you my laundry room makeover! I’m not quite finished yet, I still have to buy and put in the light fixture, but other than that I’m done. Here’s the light fixture I’m going to buy. It’s from IKEA so I need to plan a trip down to Sacramento to pick it up. Here is what the laundry room looked like back in April: This is what it looked like after we painted the cabinets in April: Here’s what it looks like now: I painted it last Sunday and then this week I… Read More

How to Clean a Stone Fireplace Surround

Reader submitted photo Question: How can I clean the stone that surrounds my wood burning fireplace? Answer: We have a brick fireplace surround in our home but we have never used the fireplace so I haven’t had to clean it yet. However if I were going to clean it here is what I would do. Step 1: Purchase a stiff-bristled brush like one of these, pictured below. If you click on the pictures it will take you to the details about the brushes. You can purchase them on Amazon.com or you can find very similar brushes at your local Lowes… Read More

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

If you don’t have time to make “The Best Chicken Enchiladas” but you’re still craving enchiladas, here is a quick and easy recipe for chicken enchiladas. This recipe comes from my all time favorite cookbook America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, and you would never guess that this is a 35-40 min meal {including cook time}! Ingredients: 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (I usually just boil 2-3 chicken breasts) 3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (I buy the “Mexican Blend” combo pack of cheese and use 1/2 of it.) 2 1/2 cups enchilada sauce 1 4oz can of chopped green chiles,… Read More

How to Clean Countertop Stains

Ever wonder how to get stains out of your countertops? Here are a couple tricks that will work for getting stains off your laminate, granite, and most other types of countertops! I’m going to give you two answers, listed in the order that I would use them. Some countertop stains will lift off easily and won’t need a second treatment, but some stains are tricky and will need a little extra work to clean up. Step 1 Mix a paste of baking soda and water together so that it’s a little thicker than pancake batter. Pour the mixture all over… Read More