HELOISE Tricks may remove gri me from inside a vase

Dear Readers: Narrow-necked bottles and vases can pose a challenge if they develop a buildup inside. A bottle brush might work fine, but if you don't have one that will fit or reach inside, grab a box of regular rice (not instant). Pour a couple of tablespoons of dry, uncooked rice into the vase, then follow with 1/4 cup of ordinary household vinegar. Shake the mixture around for a minute or two and then rinse. The process might just work when it comes to removing grime from the inside of a vase.
Another trick? Baking soda! Just sprinkle some into the vase and follow with a little bit of vinegar. It will foam when mixed together, but once the foam goes down, carefully stuff a thin cleaning rag into the vase with a skewer and swish it around (be careful to leave a corner of the rag sticking out of the vase so that it can be pulled out easily).
For dozens and dozens of other uses for inexpensive household vinegar, you can request my six-page pamphlet titled Heloise's Fantabulous Vinegar Hints and More. Just send $4 and a self-addressed, stamped (60 cents), long envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5001. Hint: Make a handy vinegar-based, multipurpose bathroom cleaner by mixing 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, 1 pint of rubbing alcohol and enough water to make 1 gallon. Mix all four ingredients well and put in a clean squirt/spray bottle that is labeled clearly. Start saving money on cleaners! Heloise
Dear Heloise: For years I have saved the tubes from bathroom tissue paper, then folded electrical cords into the tubes and labeled each for its respective appliance. Saves wondering which toaster or waffle iron they belong to. E. Miranda, Sherwood, Ark.
Dear Heloise: I'm a single parent of five girls and one boy. They are now all grown and married, but when they were all home, it was "fun" trying to get them to be responsible for their own clothes, toys and so on.
I got some fabric paint, and I had each of them pick a color, then everything they had (underwear, pants, socks, bath towels, toys, books, hangers, etc.) was marked with their particular color. The main rule was that if you let another borrow something, you were responsible for putting it back where it belonged when the other person was done. This eliminated a lot of "it's not mine, I didn't do it, she/he took it out" and so on. It sure made my life a lot easier.
Most of them still have something with their mark on it and remember their childhood every time they see it. Dolores Z., San Antonio
Dolores, your hints are good for all families, especially large ones. I bet your children carry on the family hints. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I have a hint that will benefit women everywhere. Before putting on your pantyhose or knee-highs, soften your hands by using a liberal coating of hand lotion or body cream on your hands and feet. This will keep chapped skin from snagging your hose. Mary Paux, Auburn, Wash.
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