Space solves

Roger Oates sells 100% wool flatweave narrow-width runners (01531631611, rogeroates.com ). Made on a loom and not hemmed, they are available in a 60cm or70cm width (which is around 27in, give or take). The companyspecialises in runners with dramatic bold stripes or subtle lines,but it has recently launched a range of single-colour runners withself stripes of herringbone and rib to add texture. This range isavailable in Grenadine, a rich red, among other colours, includingpink.
Oates' runners can be fitted on to straight stairs, winders, halfturns and even laid as wall-to-wall carpeting on landings and inhallways. The style is called the New Hadley and costs £88.50a linear metre - so one flight of 13 steps will cost yourmother-in-law around £620.
Breaking the mould
We have had some boxes stacked indoors (but against an outsidewall) for three months. We recently moved them to clean behind, andto our horror there was mould on the wall and carpet. The place isnot very well ventilated, and we also get mould around the windowsupstairs. We have cleaned the wall and painted it, but cannot getrid of the mould on the carpet. Do you have any suggestions?
Our cleaning expert, Stephanie Zia, says, 'Oxygen bleach isnon-toxic, environmentally-friendly and colour-safe, can be used onmany types of carpet, fabric and upholstery, and, unlike chlorinebleach, is compatible with other household cleaners. Always test ona hidden area first, though, especially if the carpet has woolcontent. You can buy 100% pure oxygen bleach on eBay ( stores.ebay.co.uk/Mistral-Cleaning-Products , £3.99). Mix the powder with water to make a paste, apply tothe stain and leave for several hours. Mould spores are a healthhazard, so you must wear gloves and a mask. It mustn't dry out, socheck it regularly and moisten with a damp cloth or extra paste ifnecessary. Rinse off by dabbing with a damp cloth or kitchen towel- never rub carpet stains or you could permanently damage thefibre. You could try Oxi Clean (£2.99, from supermarkets),but it won't make such a smooth paste.
'If the carpet has a high wool content or the test wasn'tsuccessful, the National Carpet Cleaners Association suggestsdiluting one quarter of a teaspoon only of carpet shampoo and oneegg cup of vinegar in two litres of tepid water. Blot over thestain, cover with five or six layers of kitchen roll, put a phonedirectory on top and allow to dry over 24 hours. This will absorbany stain at the base of the fibres. If that doesn't work, you'llhave to call in a professional.
'If you don't find out the cause of the mould, it will return.There are three types of damp: condensation, penetrating andrising. Rising damp would affect only the ground floor. Your dampis coming from an outside wall, so it may be penetrating dampcaused by a problem with a leaky roof, pipe or guttering, and theseshould be checked. Inefficient loft and cavity wall insulationwould also contribute to the ventilation problem. '
Solution for a knotty problem
We recently had all our internal doors dipped to remove many layersof paint. They have come out nicely, apart from a couple that stillhave the orange knotting solution (presumably applied before it waspainted many years ago) spotted all over the knots in the doors. Isthere a way to remove this?
'Knotting is painted on to the knots to prevent the sap fromweeping into the wood and forming a stain,' says our DIY guru,Bridget Bodoano. 'Shellac was probably the knotting of choice atthe time your doors were made, and it dries to form a hard lacquerwith an orange tinge. If dipping hasn't removed it, you will haveto settle for reducing its impact on the surface. The man atStrippers (020-8366 4111, londondoorstripping.co.uk ) reckons sanding it should do the trick. Richard at Old Timbers(01604 720203, oldtimbers.co.uk ) suggests gently scraping the surface with a triangular paintscraper, then sanding down. If you plan to wax or varnish thedoors, any residual stain should blend in and become lessnoticeable.'
You respond
Re Bed Linen Fit For An Emperor (March 29) and You Respond (April26), I agree: more than £200 for a duvet cover is insane.However, even if your reader is handy with a sewing machine, theymay find it hard to get fabric of the right width to make theirown. But no need - I also have a 2m x 2m bed and I buystretch-cotton fitted sheets in a great choice of colours from LaRedoute for about £20 - 'king plus' size. And they sell duvetcovers, 'Superking' size, from £15 to about £60 in allsorts of patterns and colours.
Refia Sacks London N5
· Send us your questions - all those niggling home orshopping-related conundrums - and we'll do our best to answer them.And please write in to add to our answers, sharing with otherreaders your top interiors tips, fabulous finds or DIY victories.Write to Space, Guardian Weekend, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R3ER or email space@guardian.co.uk . Please include your full name and postal address (not forpublication).