Monday, December 29, 2003
Dear Heloise: A while back, you ran a "recipe" for making fire-starter blocks or cubes out of cardboard egg cartons. Can you please repeat the recipe in your column? Judy Held, Savage, Mont.
Consider it done! It's been more than two years since this was printed, so it's time!
The fire starters are easy and inexpensive to make. All you need is a cardboard egg carton (Do not use a plastic or plastic foam egg carton), paraffin or candle pieces, and clothes-dryer lint or sawdust.
To make, fill each compartment of the egg carton about halfway with dryer lint/sawdust.
Put paraffin or candle pieces in a coffee can, then put the can in a pan of water and set on the stove over low heat. Note: Any higher-heat setting can cause the wax to ignite, so please be careful. When melted (be very careful handling the hot can and wax), pour the hot wax over the dryer lint/sawdust in the egg-carton cups until they are full but not overflowing.
Carefully stir each "cup" with a wooden stick and then let sit to harden as they cool.
When cooled completely, simply cut the egg cups out to separate, and you'll have fire starters to be used in a fireplace or campfire. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I just wanted to write to share a packing hint I have been using for years.
Roll whatever clothes you can before putting them in your suitcase. Socks and undergarments roll easily; T-shirts can be rolled by folding in the sleeves and then rolling the shirts from the hem up. For pants, just fold in half lengthwise, then start rolling from the hem. You'll be surprised at how much you can pack this way, and my clothes don't have any fold marks -- an added plus. D.B., A Louisiana Reader
You are so right -- rolling does wonders for making things fit. I do the very same and slip each "roll" in a plastic newspaper bag for easy packing.
To other fellow travelers: If you have a travel hint you'd like to share with others, don't hesitate to send it in. I'll make sure it gets in a future column. Send it to: Heloise/Travel, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000. Heloise
Dear Heloise: A wonderful timesaver and energy saver is to recycle inexpensive battery-run toothbrushes that you buy at the drugstore. While they do a great job brushing your teeth, the bristles seem to run out of oomph before the batteries die. In our house, we have "spent" toothbrushes that still have a lively battery!
We use the old brushes to clean all those hard-to-get-at places around the sinks, faucets and other places that get gunky. Just apply some cleaner, turn on the switch and hold the brush wherever you need to scrub and shine. Yvonne Molloy, Allentown, Pa.
Dear Heloise: Another use for your coffee-filter file -- they are excellent to use in flowerpots, both small and large, to cover the drain holes. They allow water to drain out without losing soil.
I use one in small or medium planters and several in larger pots instead of covering the holes with rocks. Y. Strong, Dunnigan, Calif.
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