HELOISE Here's a favorite hint for removing ink

Dear Heloise: How can I get ballpoint pen ink out of my favorite T-shirt? Jamie Lillard, via e-mail
For washable clothing, here's an old favorite hint to try: Place some paper towels under the ink spot and dab the area with a clean cloth lightly dampened with dry-cleaning fluid, rubbing alcohol or a petroleum-based pre-wash spray. Start from the outside of the stain and dab in a circular direction toward the center. Remember, it might take several attempts, depending on the size of the stain and the type of ink (some just won't budge!), but keep at it until all is removed, then apply some pre-wash spray to the area and wash according to the care label.
FYI: Don't spray an ink stain with hair spray to remove it. This worked in years past, but today there are so many types of hair sprays and inks that this "old" way might work one time but not the next. In fact, it usually just spreads the ink stain and makes it worse! Heloise
Dear Heloise: One of my dear daughters-in-law taught me this trick to identify a piece of clothing that has been worn once or twice and is still clean enough to wear again. Simply twist a rubber band around the neck of the hanger. This is especially helpful with winter clothing.
The same idea can be used for sweaters and blouses that are folded in a drawer. Just use a small safety pin at the neckline. Janet H., Chestertown, Md.
Dear Heloise: Fitted sheets do not usually fit snugly on my mattress after a night with a body or two tossing and turning. It is necessary to re-tuck them every morning when the bed is made.
I solved this annoyance a few months ago. I purchased a pair of men's suspenders. When I put sheets on the bed, I lift the mattress and gently, but firmly, fasten the two back-side clips to the edge of one side of the fitted sheet. Then I pass the suspenders underneath the mattress and attach the front-side clips to the other edge of the fitted sheet. I spread the clips so that the suspenders exert a small, constant tension, tugging the edges of the fitted sheet together. When the bed is made up each morning, the bottom sheet only needs to be smoothed out, and no re-tucking is required. Larry Gadeken, Houston
The beauty of this hint is that the suspenders are in place under the mattress and ready each time to attach to clean sheets. Heloise
Dear Heloise: My husband had heart surgery and was required to wear knee-high elastic stockings.
It was so hard for me to put them on him. He found a solution to our problem on the Internet -- put a little powder on his legs first and wear rubber gloves. It worked well, and the stockings went on much faster. Shirley A., Harrisburg, Pa.
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
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