His 38-year-old refrigerator may need more than a new gasket
When the gasket in my 38-year-old refrigerator failed, I was able to get a replacement from my dealer, but when I installed it, it did not work very well, and the refrigerator is leaking air. Is there anything I can do? Also, there is a very bad odor coming from my bathroom sink. I treated the drain, which has a long run to the trap, with bleach, and cleaned it with a big bottle brush, without success. Now what?
BOB KING North Andover
If the gasket you installed was not a proper replacement, it will not work. I suggest you call your dealer for the proper gasket, or short of that, call George Washington Toma, an appliance dealer in Weymouth. He's been helping me for years. If he can't get a proper gasket, then it wouldn't hurt to get a new refrigerator to replace yours, which is way, way past its life expectancy.
For the smelly sink, drains often have a buildup of grease, oil, hair, and other odiferous goodies that indeed can stink. You did everything right, except maybe the overflow drain, usually at the front of the sink, rarely at the back. This drain can get plugged, and the stagnant water can smell pretty bad. So, pour water down the overflow to see if it goes into the drain. If not, it is plugged, so clean it out with a coat hanger wire, then pour a cup of bleach down that overflow. With luck, the sink will be sweet again. Do not mix bleach with anything.
My toaster oven caught fire and created a yellow stain under the white cabinets. I tried Soft Scrub and even Comet, without success. What will clean that stain?
SYLVIA Norwood
The stain can occur on any kind of cabinet, including vinyl-clad particleboard and painted wood, and the treatment is the same. If the stain is from smoke, try Simple Green, Simple Clean, or any of the citrus-based cleaners, or mechanic's hand soap, the gel that mechanics use to remove grease.
If the stain is a scorch mark from heat, try household bleach. There may be no other cure, but if it is on painted wood, you can sand off the scorch and repaint, or simply paint over the scorch. For vinyl-clad items, repainting with a latex primer-sealer and latex wall paint will cover the scorch.
I have a water stain on one of my ceilings, 12 feet long and 4 inches wide. I had the roof redone so there are no more leaks. The handyman suggested applying clear shellac before repainting, but the ceiling is heavily textured, making it difficult to apply anything. Should I use a brush or roller?
ARTIE CREAGER East Boston
A deep-pile roller will work, but with a small area to cover, a brush will do; buy a cheap brush, because you will ruin it by stabbing the shellac into the nooks and crannies. A throw-away sponge brush will do, too. For the ceiling paint, use a brush if you paint only the affected area. And here is a trick that you will like: Buy Glidden's latex ceiling paint that goes on pink and dries white. Weird? Crazy like a fox. This paint will allow you to cover holidays (missed areas) and make sure you cover everything.
If you have to paint the entire ceiling, use a deep-pile roller.
Check out the new Handyman on Call column beginning Jan. 25 in the Sunday Real Estate section. The column will continue in the new Style & Arts section on Thursdays. Globe Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Call 617-929-2930. Hotton also chats online about house matters 2-3 p.m. Thursdays. To participate, go to Boston.com. Hotton's e-mail is photton@globe.com. 
