Handyman on call

As for those tight sashes, raise the sash as high as you can, then rub candle wax on both sides of the jamb (the wood piece where the sash slides). Also, check the side stop on both sides of the sash, holding it in place. If it’s swollen from excess moisture, it may be too tight against the sash. You can remove a stop and renail it just a bit looser, or if it’s screwed in, unscrew it, plane down its edge, and reinstall it in the same holes.

Q. I have a heavy cast-iron sink in my basement that is an off-white color, and very, very dirty. Can I clean it up?

CAN I KEEP IT?A. You betcha, because it is strong and virtually unbreakable. That color is the porcelain enamel, and it is off-white because it is dirty. Clean it with Spic and Span and water, and let the solution stay on the sink for several minutes before scrubbing. After rinsing, if the finish is not beautiful, let it dry and rub with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. You could add a cup of bleach to the cleaning water. If all that doesn’t bring it up to snuff, try this: Make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar, and apply it to all sink surfaces. Wait overnight, then scrub and rinse. You might be surprised at how nicely it comes out.

Q. You wrote a while ago about magnetic covers for registers. Where can I find them?

TOM GEYER, Sturbridge

A. They are sold in the Improvements Catalog, 800-642-2112. The vents must be steel or iron for the magnet to work. You can cover heating ducts in rooms you don’t have to heat, or especially a/c ducts that may produce water from condensation in winter.