Thursday, September 23, 2004
Dear Heloise: I bought an extra bottle of perfume because my favorite fragrance is being discontinued. What is the best way to store perfume? Thank you. C. Mlay, Mansfield
I'm with you! I've been wearing the same signature scent for a long time (more than 25 years), and I stock up, too! Normally, perfume has a shelf life of about a year, according to the experts. For best storage, don't store near direct heat, sunlight or high humidity. Sometimes keeping it in the refrigerator is a good idea if your home doesn't have air conditioning. As perfume ages, it starts to change color, and the scent gets lighter. Once you start to see this, you need to use the remaining perfume. Good luck! Heloise
P.S. I've kept real perfume (not cologne) for many years in a dark, cool closet, and it's just fine.
Dear Readers: A good Christmas gift idea for the hard-to-buy-for person is gift certificates for a favorite restaurant, movie theater, grocery store, clothing store, beauty salon, etc. You can usually buy the certificates in any denomination. Almost any retail store sells gift certificates, even fast-food restaurants! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Now that vacation season is over, here's a planning hint for next year: Don't throw away your old underwear! Rather, set it aside for one last wearing, and pack it in your suitcase next year. Then discard it in your vacation motel, hotel or campsite trash. You'd be surprised at the packing space you'll save on the return trip -- perhaps room for new items you bought on vacation. And less dirty laundry to pack also. Ken Campbell, Cypress, Texas
Dear Heloise: I need some information on removing lipstick stains from clothing. I dried them in the dryer -- I didn't know whether I should have or not. Sharon Kinison, Blossom, Texas
First of all, you should never dry an item in the dryer until the stain has been completely removed. The heat from the dryer will make the stain harder to remove.
Fresh stains should be pretreated with plenty of prewash spray and then scrubbed with a soft brush from the back of the material. Then wash the garment in the hottest water safe for the fabric. If the stains remain, you can retry the prewash spray. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Whenever we go on a trip, I take a nylon puff and shower gel. I never knew where to put the puff when I was done using it. Then one day I noticed the plastic container that my facial towelettes were in. I set the puff in it, and the container snapped shut easily. Now, if I have to, I can still put the damp puff in the container and close the lid. Works really well! K.M., Cibolo, 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.
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