Q We have some patio chairs dating from the '80s. They are metal and very sturdy, but some of the plastic straps have come loose from the metal frame. Since these were installed at the factory, could just anyone reinsert them? Where would I look and what would be the approximate cost? I really hate to throw them in a landfill since they are otherwise in very good condition.

A You just need to replace the vinyl straps or webbing, said Bob Pieper, owner of Patio Furniture Refinishing in Shakopee. He can do it for you, or if you want to do it yourself, he has the supplies you'll need. Call 952-496-2494.

Q How do those new magic eraser pads work? I use them on painted wood. Does that damage the wood?

A The magic cleaning pads you ask about use no detergent or cleaner, just water to clean. Just moisten the pad with a little water and gently rub an area to remove dirt, grime, crayon marks and food stains from most surfaces -- tile, ceramic stovetops, doors, leather seats and automobile wheel rims.

But not all surfaces can be cleaned this way. Do not try it on surfaces that scratch easily or are varnished because the sponges essentially rely on ultra-fine abrasion to clean. Rather than sandpaper, they use melamine resin foam.

The chemical company BASF makes the melamine resin or Basotect used in Procter & Gamble's Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Upon curing, the melamine resin becomes almost as hard as glass, capable of rubbing particles of dirt from the surface being cleaned.

The magic is that, though Basotect is hard like glass, it remains soft and supple thanks to the fine structure created when the resin is foamed. What looks under an electron microscope like foam on bath water is actually a finely structured three-dimensional network consisting of extremely slender and therefore flexible plastic filaments. The large, almost freely accessible surface produced by this airy structure binds the abraded particles of dirt.

Check carefully to see if using the cleaning pad is damaging your painted surfaces, or ask the paint manufacturer for a recommendation regarding this cleaning method.

Includes information from www.corporate.BASF.com.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-7032, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.