To find parts for pressure canners check local hardware stores that carry canning supplies or one of the major manufacturers of pressure canners. It may be difficult or impossible to find parts for some canners. Following are the phone numbers and addresses for three companies:

Mirro Corporation
WearEver Consumer Care, 196 Boston Ave., Medford, MA  02155
800/527-7727

National Presto Industries, Inc.
3925 N. Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI 54703-3703
800/877-0441

Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry Co. P.O. Box 246, Manitowoc, WI  54221-0246  920/682-8627

Presto has parts for some models of other brands-Kook Kwik, Maid of Honor, Magic Seal and Peerless.  Wisconsing Aluminum manufactures the All American Canner.

The setting selected for a freezer should maintain a temperature of  0 degrees fahrenheit or less. Check temperature occasionally with an appliance thermometer.

Here are four suggestions for removing the odor:

• Unplug the refrigerator and thoroughly wash the inside of the unit with a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in one quart of warm water. Wash the shelves, drawers, accessories and gaskets. Be sure to wash corners, crevices or grooves where odor-causing liquid may have settled. Dry thoroughly.
• Place activated charcoal or activated carbon in a shallow bowl and leave it in the refrigerator while it is running for several days. The charcoal or carbon is available where aquarium and/or plant and garden supplies are sold. It will become saturated but can be reactivated by heating in a 300 degree oven for one hour and then put back into the refrigerator. Try this for about 10 days.
• Place toothpaste (not the gel type) on small pieces of foil and set in several spots in the refrigerator.
• Lightly crumple sheets of newspaper and loosely pack a refrigerator shelf which has been emptied of food. Sprinkle the newspaper with water and close the door. Replace the newspaper every 1-2 days. In 5-6 days the odor should be gone.

If odor gets into the plastic lining or the insulation of the refrigerator, it can take a long time to dissipate.

Try one or more of the following methods to remove freezer odor:

• Unplug the freezer and wash the interior walls with a solution of two tablespoons baking soda per quart of warm water.
• Pour activated charcoal or baking soda onto jelly roll pans and place in the freezer in two or more areas. Run the freezer for several days. Activated charcoal can be purchased in stores that sell aquarium or greenhouse supplies. The charcoal will become saturated with the odor but can be reactivated by heating in a 300 degree oven for one hour. Try this method for about 10 days.
• Pack the freezer with lightly crumpled newspapers. Sprinkle the newspaper with a little water. Replace the newspaper every day or two. Allow the freezer to run for approximately five to six days.

If these methods do not remove the odor, it may be that wet drippings have seeped into the freezer's insulation. This problem requires service by a technician who may have to remove and replace the insulation.

Season a cast-iron skillet or griddle by rubbing it lightly with plain solid vegetable shortening. Coat the interior where food will touch. Do not use vegetable oil because it will leave the skillet sticky.

Then heat the skillet or griddle in a 250F oven for two hours. Add extra shortening if necessary to keep it from drying out.

After heating, let the skillet cool completely and wipe out any excess shortening with a paper towel.

Try one of these methods to remove an odor in your dishwasher:

• Use a lemon-scented detergent and/or rinse agent.
• Fill the detergent cup with baking soda. Select a short wash or run a wash cycle for five minutes. Unlatch the door to stop the dishwasher. Let stand overnight. In the morning, latch the door to restart the dishwasher and let the cycle finish.
• Select a light wash cycle and allow the dishwasher to fill. When it is filled, open the door and add 1/4 cup liquid chlorine bleach to the water. Close the door and allow the cycle to finish.

Consumers should only use plastics for their intended purposes. Always read directions, but generally microwave-safe plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags, parchment paper, and white microwave-safe paper towels are safe to use in the microwave. For more complete information regarding the safety of using plastic in the microwave, see the U.S Food and Drug Administration explanation at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/602_plastic.html.

Information related to cleaning and salvaging flood damaged homes and belongings see the Extension website: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/DisasterRecovery/flood.htm