Protect furniture from fading, and stop fruit flies from invading

Q: In shopping around for new windows, I was surprised by all the options. Will any of them help prevent my furniture from fading?

A: There's more to today's windows than meets the eye. For starters, most units consist of multiple panes of glass filled with an invisible insulating gas. Manufacturers also offer windows with low-emissivity (or low-E) coatings, which help block out solar heat. Low-E glass was developed with energy efficiency in mind, although it also offers some fade protection.

There's a relatively new product on the market called ClimaGuard SPF that is specifically designed to prevent fading. When applied to glass, the organic coating is said to absorb 99.9 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays. ClimaGuard SPF is always paired with a low-E coating, resulting in windows that should minimize fading and reduce energy bills.

Even if you are not in the market for new windows, you still have options. You can apply ultraviolet-resistant plastic film to existing window panes. You can also hang solar shades, which let sunlight through but block ultraviolet rays. Depending on your budget, there are even motorized models that can be programmed to lower and raise with the sun's intensity.

Remember that other environmental factors, including temperature, wear and humidity, also contribute to fading, so you will need to address those, too.

Q: Is there any way to get the musty smell out of old cabinets?

A: Try placing a glass or ceramic dish filled with plain white vinegar in your cabinet and leaving it there overnight, or until the smell vanishes.

A more aggressive approach would be to wipe the insides of the cabinets with a solution of one part vinegar and one part hot water. Once you've eliminated the musty smell, you can help prevent its return by keeping a sachet of dried lavender — or any other flower with an aroma you find pleasing — inside the cabinets.

Q: How does Parmigiano-Reggiano differ from Pecorino Romano?

A: The primary difference between these Italian hard cheeses is that Parmigiano-Reggiano uses cow's milk, while Pecorino Romano is made from sheep's milk. Both cheeses carry a Denomination of Protected Origin certification, which means they're produced in a specific region in Italy using techniques regulated by that nation's government.

It should be noted that other countries produce versions of Parmesan and Romano using similar techniques, but they cannot be labeled Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano. Cheese connoisseurs prefer the Italian originals, much the way Champagne buffs choose real bubbly over sparkling wine.

Pecorino Romano cheese is aged for less time than Parmigiano-Reggiano. The former is sometimes referred to as "the people's cheese," because, on average, it costs several dollars less per pound.

Both cheeses have a lot of value in the kitchen, however. With its crystalline texture and rich, nutty flavor, Parmigiano-Reggiano is the more versatile of the two. It can stand alone on a cheese plate, and it's best for adding complexity to dishes, whether a risotto or an arugula salad. Salty, pungent Pecorino is too dry and crumbly to eat on its own, but it is delicious as a finishing element in cooking, as the final layer on a brick-oven pizza, for example, or grated over a bowl of pasta.

Whichever cheese you choose, always purchase it by the block, and freshly grate or shave it as needed.

Q: My home is being invaded by fruit flies. How can I get rid of them?

A: Eliminate the flies' breeding ground by discarding any overripe fruits or vegetables. Do a thorough job, and the pests should die off in a week or so.

To hasten their departure, Mike Potter, an entomologist at the University of Kentucky, recommends this simple trapping device: Fold a sheet of paper into a funnel, and insert its point into a narrow-neck jar that contains a banana slice or a drop of cider vinegar. Once lured into the jar, the fruit flies won't find their way out.

For a drawing of the trap, go to www.uky.edu and type "fruit flies" into the search box.

Questions may be sent to mslletters@marthastewart.com. Sorry, no personal replies.