HELOISE Question is asked on storage of vinegar

Dear Heloise: I do a lot of canning in my home and buy the gallon jugs of white vinegar. Since I buy such large quantities, I have to store the jugs in my garage.
I live in Texas, and it gets quite hot in the summer. Is it OK to store vinegar in the garage? Will the heat diminish the quality? Thanks for any help you can give me. Jill, Via E-mail
Vinegar, summer, heat, shelf life -- a very good question! We checked with our friends at a leading vinegar manufacturer, and here is what they had to say: It is OK to store vinegar in the garage. The vinegar might develop streaking or sediment settling, but both are harmless. If you just shake the product, it should reabsorb into itself. If it doesn't, you can simply filter it out. Heloise
P.S. This is good to know for when vinegar goes on sale!
Dear Heloise: I got a chuckle reading today's column in the San Antonio Express-News about putting your keys with the things you don't want to forget. Several years ago, I bought some refrigerated items at noon and put them in the fridge at work. Fortunately, I announced to my co-workers that I was placing my keys in the refrigerator so that I'd remember my food.
At quitting time, I began searching for my keys. I made several excursions around the office looking for them. Finally, the pastor called out from his office, "Didn't I hear you talking about the refrigerator?" Duh! So much for reminders! But at least I couldn't go home until somebody remembered. Barbara H., San Antonio
We really had a laugh here in the office, as this exact same thing happened to one of the secretaries while she was visiting her father. She spent at least 30 minutes looking for her keys until she finally remembered that they were in the refrigerator with her food. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Fresh potpourri can be quite expensive. If you want to freshen up your dresser drawers, try adding some bar soap. That's right, soap.
Just buy a multipack of deodorant soap, remove the outer plastic and place one bar of soap in each drawer. Keep the soap in the wrappers so the oils won't seep into the wood and damage it. Your clothes will absorb the scent of the soap and will always smell fresh. Replace these every few months for best results. Afterward, you'll already have soap to use in the bathrooms. Sophie from Baltimore
Dear Heloise: When the plastic quart container of creamer appears to be empty, we pour one cup of fresh-made hot coffee into the container. After a little shake, the heat dissolves and releases enough creamer from the bottom sediment to make another creamy cup of coffee. Maureen M., Carlsbad, 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