Must food workers at State Fair wear gloves?

Q Our family enjoyed the State Fair this year, but we have a lingering question. Are the workers supposed to wear gloves when preparing and giving you food? Some did and some did not.

A The State Fair requires their food and beverage concessionaires to keep their hands clean and sanitary, and to comply with Minnesota Department of Health Rules. The state does not require food handlers to wear gloves.

"Except when wounds or lesions are present, single-use gloves are not required if proper hand-washing is undertaken."

Not requiring food handlers to wear gloves can seem a mistake, but it's not. Frequent and thorough hand-washing is a more efficient deterrent to the transmission of illnesses.

The trouble with wearing gloves, health officials say, is that many workers believe gloves are magic. They put them on and then forget to wash their gloved hands or to change their gloves after they've handled raw meat or used the bathroom.

No squirrel squatting

Q Squirrels got into our cabin last winter and did extensive damage. Is there some type of repellent that will keep them out?

A Squirrel repellents are available. They're usually sold in spray cans at nursery and hardware stores. However, repellents weather away and need to be re-applied regularly to remain effective, so they won't work in your situation.

Your best bet is to keep the squirrels out:

• Remove all temptations (food, birdseed, etc.) from the cabin.

• Find and seal any holes, gaps or spaces that allow them to enter. Pay particular attention to roof, eaves and vents. You may have to climb a ladder for a good look. Otherwise, use binoculars from the ground. Replace wood; use screening material or caulk for your repairs.

• Be sure screening is in good repair on windows and vents. Be sure the chimney cap is in good repair or install one if there is none.

• Trim tree branches so they're well away the roof.

• When possible, check on the cabin over the winter.

Killing germs gently

Q Can you tell me what I can use around the house to kill germs besides those nasty, toxic cleaners sold in stores?

A Vinegar kills germs, and so do hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol.

Consumer Reports' greenerchoices.org

Getting rid of china

Q Can you tell me who buys a full set of 40-year-old china? I never used them and want to get rid of them.

A People will want this china, more or less so, depending on the pattern.

• Sell it to a china replacement service, such Replacements Ltd. (1-800-737-5223, ask for the purchasing department). Other replacement services can be found on the Web.

• Sell it at a garage sale, on Craigslist.com or eBay.com.

• You can give it away at Twin Cities Free Market (www.twin citiesfreemarket.org).

Send questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av., 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. Fixit appears daily except Fridays.

Recent Home + Garden stories

DO IT NOW - October 24, 2009

DO IT NOW - Most annuals and vegetables got zapped by our early cold and snow, so go ahead and pull them out of the garden. Toss the spent plant material in the composter, unless it shows signs of insects or disease. Then you'd be wise to bag it for commercial composting. (Unlike most home composters, commercial composters can get hot enough to kill whatever had been ailing your plants.) More

Project Funway - October 24, 2009

Project Funway - A laminate evening gown? A skirt made of carpet tiles? Anything's possible when interior designers harness the tools of their trade for an offbeat fashion fundraiser. More