HELOISE Stick-on appliqu & eacute;s can be removed from bathtubs

Dear Heloise: I need to know how to remove those stick-on, no-skid butterflies and footprints that are in the bottoms of bathtubs. I think you answered this before, but I cannot find it anywhere. Nancy D., via e-mail
Don't fret -- the answer is in the Heloise Central files!
First lift up on the edges of each appliqu & eacute; as much as possible. Then spray a lubricating oil or a petroleum-based prewash spray under each one -- letting this sit to penetrate the adhesive for 30 minutes or longer. Next, pull up more on the lifted edges, firmly and steadily, until it comes up. You might need to reapply the spray oil to stubborn appliqu & eacute;s. Also, boiling water poured directly on each appliqu & eacute; can help soften the adhesive underneath long enough to pull up the appliqu & eacute; -- be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your fingers from burns.
Once you've removed all the appliqu & eacute;s, you might notice that they have left an adhesive residue behind. If so, use a nylon-net scrubber and some adhesive remover to scrub it away.
Caution: The oily sprays and adhesive removers will leave the bathtub surface very slippery, so wash and rinse the entire area thoroughly. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Here's a hint if you are planning on taking a trip with young children (I'm getting ready for a five-hour plane trip).
I never leave without packing my carry-on bag very wisely! Party-supply stores have aisles full of inexpensive party-favor toys. I stock up on these and then spend time before the trip wrapping each toy individually. My goal is to make it as difficult to unwrap as possible. Now, during our trip, I'll give the kids a "present" every 15 minutes or so for being good. It pays to prepare wisely. C., Vista, Calif.
When flying, because of new security measures, wrapped gifts might be opened by security personnel. This idea might work better for car or bus trips. Heloise
Dear Heloise: My husband and I both like to do the newspaper's crossword puzzle. I scan the puzzle onto our computer and print it so that we each have a copy. C.M. Stone, Houston
Crossword puzzles are a super way to stimulate the mind and pass time. I've just started doing them and am only a novice.
Save up a bunch from magazines, newspapers, etc., and carry them with you to work on when having to wait somewhere like the doctor's office, bank or even in line waiting to renew a driver's license! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Want to keep pesky birds away from your garden? Hang a few discarded CDs on a string and let them swing in the breeze. Not only do they keep birds, etc., away, they give off pretty colors when they rotate in the sun. Ted Sayce, Mirror Lake, N.H.
Dear Heloise: When a vase gets yucky, fill it with water and drop one or two dissolving indigestion tablets in the water. After a few minutes, the vase will be sparkling-clean. K. Bosacker, Minnetonka, Minn.
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate