HELOISE Ammonia may deter night visitors from trash

Dear Heloise: Neighborhood pets and other varmints are raiding my outside trash cans.
Is there anything I can sprinkle onto our trash bags to make the trash less appealing to these nightly visitors? P. Cane, Via E-mail
Well, the old-fashioned hint is to fill a spray bottle with 1/2 household ammonia and 1/2 water and just spritz a little on the bags.
You know how ammonia smells! Most animals find it obnoxious, and they will steer clear of the garbage bags or cans.
Note: Please do not overdo the ammonia, as you don't want to harm the people who pick up the garbage.
Also, make sure your garbage cans are in good shape, with tight-fitting lids -- if the lids are loose, try using elastic cords with the hooks to help keep the lids secure. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When we go on long trips, I do a lot of planning and have all these brochures and maps, plus our itinerary. I found a three-ring notebook works great for all of this. I have the itinerary, daily log, expense reports, addresses for my postcards (on labels), postage and phone numbers in the notebook. In the back, I put in a few sheet protectors to hold maps and brochures.
It's great to have this all together when you are planning a trip. Everything is at my fingertips whenever and wherever I want it. Peg Frankfurt, Fairmont, Minn.
Dear Heloise: Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks? I'm fast approaching 62 and have raised nine children.
Recently, one of those children was confined to home with a bad cough and sore throat. She needed a few groceries, so I decided to put together a selection of goodies to raise her spirits and help her get better. I kept puzzling on how I was going to get the groceries to her condo, which is a considerable distance from the parking lot.
Finally, my favorite invention popped into my mind -- a rolling suitcase. All of the canned goods and bottled juices, everything but the perishables, fit perfectly -- leaving my other hand free to carry the few things that were not appropriate for "suitcase delivery." Diane Parente, San Diego
Dear Heloise: I have a folding umbrella clothesline in my back yard that is made with coated steel arms. At the end of each arm is an opening, where the bees love to fly in and make nests.
I finally found a solution: I put white bottle caps from small water bottles over each hole --and there are 10 of them. D.M.G., Florida
Dear Heloise: This is my first time writing. I just wanted to share a tip with your readers.
I use my swiper sweeper to clean the floor, then I pick off the lint and dust, turn the cloth inside out and use the other side. Darlene Bassett, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate