HELOISE Heat does the trick to remove outdated bumper stickers

Dear Heloise: Do you know of any way to remove bumper stickers from cars? Mine has been on there for about five months. D.W., via e-mail
Try this: Heat a corner of the bumper sticker with a hair dryer, and carefully lift it using the edge of a knife. The sticker should start peeling up. Keep using the hair dryer as you go to help soften the adhesive underneath.
Also, boiling water can do the trick. Just pour slowly (be careful) over the bumper sticker to soften the adhesive, and immediately try to lift the sticker from a corner. Continue pulling it up, but you might need more boiling water for areas where the adhesive proves to be stubborn.
Once the sticker is removed, it might leave a sticky residue, which can usually be removed by spraying with a prewash spray and scrubbing with a nylon-net scrubbie. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I travel quite a bit (domestic and international) and use a man's handkerchief for a washcloth. It's big enough and dries quickly. I carry it in a sealed plastic bag in my cosmetics case. R.G., Boise, Idaho
Dear Heloise: I recently built an in-ground fishpond in my garden with concrete blocks. I really like the look of the pond, except the new blocks were way too bright. For some instant aging, I brewed some strong iced tea and then applied it with a pump sprayer to the blocks. It toned down the intensity of the blocks beautifully. James Kunzelmann, Fayetteville, Ark.
Well, this is a new one for me -- I've used brewed tea to color fabric, but not concrete! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Here's a tip for making your house "homelike" before the real estate agent brings over a prospective buyer. Baking bread or apple pie in the oven has been suggested, but a fire burning in the fireplace, soft background music and candles make a nice impression. A pot of flowers at the door or a colorful hanging basket gives a welcome feeling. The front door and porch are the first impression and should be clean. Replace that worn-out welcome mat with a nice, colorful one. Straighten those closets and bookshelves, too. Patsy, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: To solve the problem of knowing whether or not the dishes in the dishwasher are clean, I put a glass jigger in the silverware tray. If water is in it, they've been washed. If not, get busy! Laverne Nix, Beaumont, Texas
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