QUESTION: My deck is under pine trees and is covered with little sap spots. They are hard to scrape off because the drops tend to splash and are very thin. How can I remove them? How can I keep the sap away?

ANSWER: Soften the spots with denatured alcohol, then wipe or scrape off. There is no way to keep them from coming back unless you take down the pines (a ridiculous idea) or relocate the deck.

QUESTION: Of 15 people who entered my basement for a party, two or three smelled gas. What should I do?

ANSWER: You should be concerned. Open windows for good ventilation, and call the gas company. They will come a-running, or they should. And don't let them go until they give you a good explanation of why there is the smell and what you should do about it.

QUESTION: I am trying to get a small air conditioner for my mother, who lives in a big house in California and has no intentions of moving. She lives mostly in the big family room and the adjoining kitchen.

There is a casement window in the kitchen where I could put a unit, but there is poor air circulation into the family room. The windows in the family room are not conducive to the purpose, and Mother doesn't want one through the wall, which is high-quality paneling.

I was looking into a portable air conditioner. Could the duct (required for all portables) be located through the fixed slider door, then into the screened porch? Could it be ducted into the hot air furnace ductwork or flue?

ANSWER: No to all questions. The slider glass is tempered, and will explode if you try to cut a hole in it. You might be able to put new glass with an opening in it in the slider, but I get the feeling this would be unsatisfactory. You might be able to duct the portable air conditioner through the roof, but the water that these ducts carry could be a problem; it would be like it was raining in that duct. A central air conditioner for the whole house would be practical because the ductwork of the hot air furnace is already in place, but not practical because only two rooms are lived in.

Which brings us back to the kitchen, the casement window, and the air conditioner for that window. Install one in that window and put a fan on the counter to get cool air moving into the family room.

QUESTION: My dark green plastic lawn chairs remain outdoors all year and have developed a whitish scum that will not come off with detergents or Simple Green. Any suggestions?

ANSWER: It may be discoloration from the sun, but if it is really a scum as you say, it should come off on your hands. I think it is mold, which comes in many colors other than black. Wash with a strong solution of Spic and Span and water to which a cup of bleach has been added. Wear skin and eye protection when working with bleach. Or treat with one part bleach and three parts water.

QUESTION: My dishwasher is 25 years old and for some years (it is really bad now) the dishes have brown stains that can be only cleaned by using a mild scrubbing agent. My husband says that it is only the town water or maybe some filter needs to be replaced. I don't think so because my clothes are not stained following clothes washing. Is my husband just saying that because he doesn't want to buy a new dishwasher? Should I call a repairman? Should I just go out and buy a new one? I hope you are enjoying the summer.

ANSWER: Yes, I am enjoying the summer, and even more since I read your question, especially the part about just going out and buying a new dishwasher.

There is no filter on a dishwasher that I know of, and the brown spots are possibly from rust and old age. You could try running the dishwasher through a cycle with Dishwasher Gleam, but this is likely to work only temporarily. A repairman would tell you not to waste your money, and he would charge you $40 for the call, although he might take pity on you.

That machine is 10 to 14 years beyond its life expectancy and deserves a decent burial after long service. Be nice to your husband, give him a hug, and take him to the appliance store, where you can both pick out a new one. If he refuses, go alone and have a ball.

QUESTION: We have granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms of our new home. I was never advised on how to care for the granite. Are special cleaners necessary? I saw a Web site offering a package of granite countertop cleaners for $80. Is this worth it?

ANSWER: Use detergent and water to clean your countertops, and polish with a soft cloth. The only other thing to use on granite is a granite sealer, once a year; it should be available at the place where granite tops are sold. In my opinion, that $80 package is a boondoggle.

QUESTION: I had white cedar shingles dipped in bleaching oil before installing. The nails are galvanized 5 penny; will they bleed?

ANSWER: They will not bleed or rust or anything else because they are blind-nailed; the nails in the first row are covered by the second row of shingles, and so on on each row. The only exposed nails are those holding shingles just below the eaves, and under windows. But a good galvanized nail like yours will resist rust for many years. Some of mine, exposed for 20 years plus, are dark but not rusting, and they do not bleed.

Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is available 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions. Call 617-929-2930. Hotton also chats online about house matters from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursdays. Go online to www.boston.com. Hotton's e-mail is photton@globe.com