HELOISE Help sought for plastic melted to toaster

Dear Heloise: How do I remove a plastic bag that has adhered to a hot metal appliance, such as a toaster? Noreen Schwartz, Via E-mail
Noreen, this happens more than you know! The good news is that the plastic is usually fairly easy to remove. Turn the toaster on so that the surface warms and the plastic softens enough to be carefully scraped off with a wooden spatula or spoon. Remove as much of it as you can without scratching the surface.
Next, let the toaster cool, then sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge and rub the area to get off any residue. Then go over the area with a clean, damp sponge.
Still there? Apply a little nail-polish remover to a cotton ball or paper towel, rub on the spot, then wipe with a damp cloth and dry. FYI: Nail-polish remover is flammable, so unplug the toaster and be sure the work area is well-ventilated and all traces of the remover are gone before using the toaster. Heloise
Dear Heloise: A helpful hint: I didn't have any place to hang my bird feeders, so I hung them on an umbrella-type clothesline I didn't use anymore.
I can even stand in one place, swing the clothesline around and fill the feeders using different kinds of seed and suet. Leola Atkins, Sugar Grove, Pa.
Dear Heloise: Since I have several tall houseplants, I discovered that using a small funnel directs water to the center of the plant. Also, there are no water splashes.
It's a nice way to fill hummingbird feeders, too! Fay Vargas, Fulton, Mo.
Dear Heloise: I recently saw something very funny at my parents' house, but in between laughs, they explained that it works.
Dad could not find a rubber snake to scare the birds away from his tomatoes (in pots), so he used some toy dinosaurs instead! The birds will not come near. It also works to keep the barn swallows out of their front porch. Here's the funny part: He put a nasty-looking toy lizard on the windowsill of the window above the front door. It scares the heck out of the birds, but when the housekeeper went to clean the window, she nearly fell off the ladder.
I love your work. God bless. Jeff Martin, Dallas
I'm glad she wasn't hurt. Many of us have caught our breath when coming across rubber snakes and other critters that manufacturers have made so real-looking. I don't blame the birds for staying away, too! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Just an idea I use: When I buy a garment at the store (slacks, skirts), it often comes on a cheap hanger with clips at each end.
I break these clips off and use them to close snack bags (chips, pretzels, etc.). Works great and saves me from buying other clips. Mary Sibert, Via E-mail
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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