HELOISE Solution helps make cleaning chandelier easier

Dear Heloise: Having saved so many of your hints to make life easier, I am now in need of one you had in the newspaper years ago that is not among the ones I have collected.
A very dear friend has a beautiful chandelier and is just about ready to take the crystals out one at a time to clean them. I remember that you had a hint about cleaning a chandelier without removing one crystal at a time. H.P., Hollywood, Fla.
Here ya go!
Make a solution of 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup non-sudsing ammonia and 1/2 cup isopropyl alcohol. Pour into a clean spray bottle and mark the outside with a permanent marker.
Use a clean white cloth, or wear white cotton gloves that are washable. Spray with just a little cleaner, then rub each crystal. Have several clean cloths or pairs of gloves close at hand, especially if the chandelier is very dusty.
Caution: Please be very careful with very old or valuable chandeliers -- you might want to consult a professional before attempting to clean these yourself.
FYI: For anyone who prefers removing all of the crystals, here's how to clean all of those crystals at one time:
Carefully remove the crystals and place in a dishpan of warm, sudsy water. Clean each with a dishcloth, rinse, and lay out on a soft dish towel. Dry with a clean, lint-free cloth and buff to a sparkle. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When housesitting for neighbors, have them put a thermometer in a window. Then there will be no need to enter the house to check if the air conditioning or furnace is running. Just look at the thermometer to see that the temperature is OK.
This has saved me lots of steps. M. Taylor, Via E-mail
This is a great idea for daily checks. However, it's probably best to go inside periodically and make sure that there are no air-conditioning or plumbing leaks. These can be expensive and yucky problems to clean up if they happen. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I discovered that a bottle of children's over-the-counter liquid had been overturned and had leaked all over the bottom of the plastic box I keep similar items in. While scrubbing it out, I had an idea. I put the bottle (and all the others) individually in a "snack size" resealable bag. It fit absolutely perfectly! It's wrapped, it can stand up straight, and if it does leak, it's sealed in that bag. Meredith Miller, Fort Worth, Texas
Dear Heloise: Here's a useful way to use those way-too-big T-shirts that are given away by organizations that believe the one-size-fits-all myth.
In an inspired moment, I donned one with a holiday theme over my clothes, using it as a big coverall while cooking. It was great to wear in the kitchen, covered more than the usual apron and was easy to whisk off. A Reader, Cincinnati
King Features Syndicate