HELOISE Reader needs cure for wooden bowls

Dear Heloise: How do you "cure" a wooden salad bowl? I am giving one as a gift, and there are no instructions regarding this. Also, do you ever use soap on wooden bowls? Beverly Thrift, New Braunfels, Texas
A wooden salad bowl should be seasoned or cured before it is used, and every so often after that. Here's how:
First, wash the bowl in warm, soapy water using a mild liquid dishwashing soap, then immediately rinse and dry well. FYI: Never put wooden bowls or utensils in the dishwasher or let them soak in water.
Using a paper towel, apply an even coat of mineral oil to the entire surface of the bowl, inside and out. Let sit overnight, then use clean paper towels to wipe off any excess mineral oil.
A wooden bowl or utensil will need to be re-seasoned when it becomes dry or dull-looking. Heloise
Dear Readers: During long airplane flights, when you can get up and move around the cabin freely, take advantage of it and do some stretching and walking up and down the aisles, or do some seat exercises.
This will help reduce swelling in your hands and feet, backaches and that "just tired" feeling. It's also good to drink water so you won't get dehydrated, and try to refrain from drinking alcohol on long flights. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I use facial cleansing cloths, and I have discovered another use for them when I have finished washing my face. They work great to wipe up the bathroom sink after morning use, for toothpaste, soap holders, etc. Might as well get your money's worth out of everything you can. Roni, Benton City, Mo.
Reuse is all the news -- and this will help save cleanup time later on. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I get really bad static cling on my clothing during the winter.
A good way to fight this without using smelly, aerosol static sprays is to carry a dryer sheet around. When you get static, rub the sheet on the inside of your clothing (be aware that some white powder might come off, so be sure to rub on the inside).
The static cling will go away and leave you with freshly scented clothing. It's small enough to fit in your pocket and works great! Helen W., via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I purchased the plastic cups that fit onto the bottom of chair legs to prevent scraping my new floors. However, they were very loose and wobbly.
I fixed this by winding rubber bands around the chair-leg bottoms. The rubber bands added just enough to the diameter of the chair leg, which helped the cup to grip it. Diana Chapel, Manhattan, Kan.
Dear Heloise: One more way to recycle 35 mm film containers: I do a lot of painting on small articles and constantly need a color I don't have, so I mix it in one of the containers, put a little dab on the lid and when I need it again, it is still good. This keeps me from having to buy a full bottle that I might not ever need again. Eve Walzel, Jasper, Texas
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax: (210) HELOISE; e-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate