HELOISE Proper care will keep mattress in good shape

Dear Readers: Let's test your Heloise hint IQ. With the proper care, what is the normal lifespan of a mattress?
A. Three to five years.
B. Five to seven years.
C. Eight to 10 years.
A mattress should give maximum support and comfort for eight to 10 years. And here are some good hints from the Better Sleep Council to keep your mattress in good shape:
A good-quality bed frame is very important. Larger mattresses (like a queen or king) need to have extra center support to keep the mattress from sagging in the middle.
Turn the mattress regularly to balance wear. Turn it end to end and turn it over. Note: Some mattress types don't require turning, so check to see what category your mattress falls into.
Don't let anyone jump on the bed!
Use a washable pad on the mattress to keep it clean and stain-free.
Keep the tag attached -- it has important warranty information on it that you might need if you have a problem with the mattress. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Since I have limited use of my right hand and no grip, I have found a simple seam ripper so handy. I use it on cereal-box liners or anything that requires the grip of my right hand. The seam ripper is very sharp and easy to handle. Karen Dickey, Mechanicsville, Iowa
Dear Heloise: Here is my travel hint: Always take one day's worth of clothes in your carry-on luggage. Maggie MacDonald, Via E-mail
And here is another short travel hint from a reader, via e-mail: "Wrap perfume bottles in plastic bags and stuff in shoes for protection." Heloise
Dear Heloise: With long, dark hair and a cream-colored tile bathroom floor, I stand inside the bathtub to brush my hair every morning. The bathtub catches all the stray hairs that fall out and makes cleanup a breeze. Just use the shower to spray the tub, collect the hair into a drain strainer and dispose of it in the trash. It's also great for when you are visiting family and friends. Mary Maxwell, Jamestown, N.Y.
Dear Heloise: My children love macaroni and cheese, and we have it several times a week. To make it a little less fattening, I use plain yogurt in place of the margarine and milk. It tastes creamy, and the kids don't even notice the difference. You might have to experiment a little to get the consistency just right. Barbara J., Gretna, La.
Dear Barbara: I love mac and cheese, too, but it can be high in fat! This is a great and tasty way to save a few calories. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I discovered a year or so ago that the gray ash from your barbecue after burning briquettes is great for absorbing oil and grease. Just sprinkle it on the area and, with a push broom or regular broom, sweep it back and forth, then gather up with a dustpan. If used on concrete, the gray color really helps get rid of the stains. Shirley K. from North Carolina
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
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