HELOISE Easy recipe makes great bath crystals

Dear Heloise: Some time ago, you published a recipe for homemade bath crystals. I purchased all of the ingredients but have lost the recipe. Please run it again. Thanks. Carol, Kernersville, N.C.
This is one of the most frequently asked-for Heloise recipes. We haven't printed it for two years, and it's time. Keep in mind that this also makes a great gift, and all the items can be purchased at your local drugstore.
To make the bath crystals, you will need:
3 cups Epsom salts
1 tablespoon glycerin
food coloring
perfume or cologne
Using only a glass or metal (not plastic) bowl, pour in the 3 cups of Epsom salts. (Heloise update: You don't need to use two bowls.) Now add 1 tablespoon glycerin, a few drops of food coloring and some of your favorite cologne or perfume. Keep stirring and stirring until all of the color is distributed.
Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid to keep the aroma in and moisture out.
Just add 1/2 to 3/4 cup to a bath for a lovely, relaxing time, and that's all you need! Heloise
Dear Heloise: In regard to a discolored coffee-maker basket, placing the basket in a bowl of warm water and then adding two denture-cleaning tablets should do the trick. If brushing is needed, it won't be much, but a 1-inch stiff paintbrush will get into the corners and edges. Angel Brown, Temple, Texas
Dear Heloise: I have a glass bird collection on the sill of the picture window in my oceanside cottage.
Recently, when expecting visitors and not having time to wash the birds, I used a baby towelette. How they shined, and no "after mess" caused by water seeping out of the insides of the figurines. N. Weston, New Harbor, Maine
Dear Heloise: I washed a favorite blouse of mine, only to find that a stain remained after drying it in the dryer. I tried several methods to remove it, but it remained, no matter what I tried.
Since this was a favorite, I didn't want to throw it away. So I went to the craft store and bought a really pretty floral appliqu & eacute;. Once applied, it looked like it was supposed to be there! Hooray, I have my favorite blouse back! Ginny Thompson from Arkansas
When all else fails, cover it up! We've also had readers say that they placed a large decorative pin over the spot, and nobody even knew the stain was there! Heloise
Dear Heloise: It's amazing sometimes how the simplest things can make a real difference!
My husband and I were faced with bagging a huge pile of leaves when I hit upon the idea of using an inexpensive, plastic paint-roller tray to use as a scoop. It cut the job in half! I've enjoyed your columns for years -- keep up the good work! Cherallynne Forcella, Carrollton, Texas
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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