Try airing out items with mothball odor

Q I was given some Christmas ornaments, tablecloth and napkins that had been in storage. They reek of mothballs. How can I get rid of the odor?

A It takes time, but air will do it for you. Mothballs change from a solid to a gas. (It's the gas that makes them an effective insect repellent.)

The fastest way to get rid of mothball odor is to expose items to fresh air and sunshine. That can be hard to do now at this latitude.

Meanwhile, you can try washing the linens, wiping off the ornaments and placing them in an unused room or basement to let the odor dissipate. You may have to wait until next Christmas to use them.

Bury deep in Minnesota Q In Minnesota, how far down do water lines have to be buried to not freeze?

A Typically, water lines in Minnesota are buried 7 to 9 feet deep to prevent freezing.

The depth of frost varies from year to year but averages 36 inches, according to the state's climatology office. But under certain conditions, such as lack of snow cover and bouts of severe cold, frost can go to 4 to 5 feet, as it did in some parts of Minnesota last year.