HELOISE Steps help remove bathtub appliqu & eacute;s

Dear Heloise: We just bought a home where the previous owners had applied bathtub appliqu & eacute;s to the bottoms of the bathtubs. What is the easiest and quickest way to remove these? R.S., Pasadena, Texas
Well, it might not be quick, but it's easy. Here are some steps to help you lift them away:
Pull up on the edges of each appliqu & eacute; and spray underneath with a petroleum-based pre-wash spray or a spray lubricating oil. Let it work for at least 30 minutes.
Then firmly pull up on the loosened edges (for stubborn areas, apply more spray and let sit awhile longer) until all are removed. FYI: You can also try pouring boiling water directly onto each appliqu & eacute; to loosen the adhesive. Then, wearing rubber gloves, pull up on the loosened edge (while still warm) and peel up.
If you have some adhesive "gunk" left behind, just use a nylon-net scrubbie and some paint thinner or denatured alcohol to scrub it away.
Wash and rinse the bathtub well to completely remove any oily residue. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I travel quite a bit and have a tip for fellow travelers to ease the process of going through security checkpoints.
Put your change, keys, lighter, metal pens or anything else metal in a small, self-sealing bag. Put the bag in a small tray and put the tray on the conveyor with the rest of your bags.
After going through the metal detector, retrieve the self-sealing bag, and when you get on the plane, take all your items out of the bag. Daniel Havens, Springfield, Va.
Dear Heloise: How about an automatic coffee maker in the bedroom? Fresh coffee while you are getting ready for the day.
Nothing gets me out of my bed like the smell of fresh coffee brewing in the bedroom. Therese Schuerman, Avon, Ind.
This would also be a nice touch in a guest bedroom. Also, they now have small, two-cup coffee makers that would be just right! Heloise
Dear Heloise: My mother taught me a great tip for recycling plastic plant containers.
Take them to a local farmers' market and give them to farmers who sell flowers and plants. The farmers are extremely happy to take them off your hands, since it saves them a substantial amount of money.
I also recycle egg cartons and plastic berry or fruit containers to farmers in this manner. Kathleen Hartman, Indianapolis
Dear Heloise: Last summer, my father was in the hospital several times. Instead of phoning everyone every day to give a progress report, I compiled a list of e-mail contacts, including friends my father writes to regularly. I posted a short letter detailing what was going on and how he was doing. When things started getting better, I included pictures. D. Beauregard, Katy, 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.
King Features Syndicate