By Gene Austin
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Saturday, January 3, 2009

Q A couple of my dining room chairs have become wobbly because of loose joints. How can I fix this?

A Furniture joints sometimes loosen in winter because the wood shrinks when the humidity falls. There are a couple of ways to fix this without taking the chairs apart. The best solution is to inject wood glue into the loose joints. Drill a tiny hole in an inconspicuous place so that the tip of a hypodermic-like glue injector can be inserted in the joint. Glue injectors range from a plastic workshop version selling for about $4.50 to a high-pressure metal injector for about $25.50. Both types of injectors are available online from http://www.woodcraft.com; search for "glue injector."

A second method is to use a product called Chair-Loc, which is sold at some hardware stores and home centers and online at http://www.rockler.com. Chair-Loc causes wood to swell, tightening the joint. No matter which method you choose, allow plenty of time for the product to work before the furniture is used.

Our fireplace caused a lot of soot to accumulate on the ceiling and mantel. I tried several household cleaners without success. Can you help?

It is usually best to avoid "wet" cleaners when attempting to remove soot from surfaces such as walls and ceilings. Those cleaners often smear the soot around instead of removing it. Some experts recommend dry, chemically treated sponges for removing soot and smoke stains from sensitive surfaces. These are sold by janitorial-supply dealers or can be ordered online at http://www.baneclene.com (about $45 for a dozen sponges).

I have a tiled stall shower that has developed some leaks because of improper grouting and caulking. There is some water damage to the floor under the shower. Can I temporarily fix the shower by applying a waterproof paint or polyurethane?

I don't think paint or polyurethane will stop the leaking. You might be able to make a temporary repair by replacing damaged caulk and grout with clear silicone caulk. Scrape out any loose caulk and dig out damaged grout with an ice pick or beer-can opener. Apply the caulk to all suspect joints and give it plenty of time to cure before using the shower.

Questions and comments should be sent to Gene Austin, 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, Pa. 19422. Send e-mail to doit861@aol.com. Questions cannot be answered personally.