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| My grill is a crusty mess. What’s the best way to clean it? —Craig, Destin, FL | |
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To ensure the best possible grilling experience, it’s imperative that you clean your grill grates after every use—especially if you have a charcoal grill. Grill grates that aren’t clean will only lead to more food sticking to them, so keeping them free of food particles is really important. A stiff wire brush is generally all that is needed to do the job (my favorite is the Grill Daddy, which is available for $14.99 at www.buygrilldaddy.com). Wait for your grill to cool first before taking your brush to it. Then, use the brush to scrape off any remaining food particles. Finish up by using a paper towel to brush some vegetable oil onto the grates. This step will keep the grates in proper working order. Keep in mind that if you have a gas grill, using the clean setting isn’t the best way to clean it. The purpose of the clean setting is to preheat the grill, not to clean it (although this setting will burn up anything that has fallen into the grill, it doesn't actually clean the grill). Clean a gas grill as you would a charcoal grill, but also make sure you brush off the sides and lid following every use. The cooking grate should be removed and cleaned off on a routine schedule, too. |
| My wife and I need to redecorate our bedroom, but we’re having a hard time choosing fabrics—bed linens especially—that appeal to both of us. She likes floral, feminine things and I prefer a much more traditionally masculine look. What would achieve a good happy medium?—Mike, Brooklyn, NY | ||
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For bed linens that will appeal to both sexes, you can never go wrong with the classic hotel sheeting look, which features embroidered bordering on a classic white background. It’s classic yet luxe, and these days comes in colors and styles that coordinate with nearly every décor. Some of my favorite versions are Restoration Hardware’s Italian Satin Stitch Hotel Collection and Pottery Barn’s Morgan Duvet Cover and Sham ($14 to $449, www.restorationhardware.com and $39 to $229, www.potterybarn.com). Check-‘em out—I bet you’ll both find them perfectly acceptable, if not beautiful. |  |
| Every night when I come home from work I empty my pockets onto our dresser, which has become a mess of coins, papers and eye drops. Is there a good way to keep that area neater while still having a place to dump all my stuff?—Dave, Santa Barbara, CA | |
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What you need is what’s commonly known as a valet tray. Usually made of very masculine-looking leather or wood, this desk or dresser-top accessory has all sorts of compartments where you can stash the contents of your pockets or hold essentials like your watch, wallet and receipts. Coach makes an exceptionally good-looking one (it’s called the Large Valet Tray), which retails for $148 at www.coach.com. |
| For more from Chelsea, go to her blog, “I'm Somebody's Mother?” |  |
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