Vinegar, baking soda eradicate shoe stench

Dear Heloise: I heard an ad for your college tour, and the mention of a "stinky sneaker" cure really caught my attention. If I heard right and you can help us deodorize our footwear, it might be of benefit, since you might live within smelling distance of us. Scott Mabrito, San Antonio
Is that what I smell? Seriously, a similar question was asked by a student during my Life Skills 101 presentation at Texas State University recently. It seems her boyfriend had rather stinky feet.But, as I told her, don't worry -- there is a cure, and it's an easy and inexpensive one. Since the source of the stinky footwear can be the feet, here's a solution to put the brakes on foot odor:
It's vinegar! First, start by washing and drying your feet, then use a cotton ball or tissue soaked in regular, white or apple-cider vinegar and apply to every inch of each foot (don't forget between the toes) and let air-dry.Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that kills odors on contact, and there are a bunch of odor-eliminating hints in my six-page vinegar pamphlet that you can have by sending $4 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (60 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.
For stinky tennis shoes, if they are washable, wash them following the manufacturer's directions. You might also benefit from replacing the insoles with new ones! For nonwashable shoes, try sprinkling the insides with baking soda or a commercial shoe-deodorizing product, and place them in a well-ventilated area so they can get good air circulation. Also, sprinkle baking soda in shoes after taking them off, and don't wear the same pair day after day -- they don't have time to air out properly! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Santa has been coming to our home for many years, first for our children and now for the grandchildren. Of course, this mom/grandma has been doing the honors for him by wrapping all the gifts. I wrap Santa's gifts in Sunday's colored comics pages.
This way, I know the little ones will not recognize the paper that might be under the tree. I also use a felt-tip marker to write the name on the package.
This has made it easy for me to tell the difference between the gifts that go under the tree and which ones go into the Santa bag. Granny Arlene from Bath, S.D.
Dear Heloise: I turn my mattresses every six months at the change of daylight-saving time, along with changing the batteries in my smoke detectors. I remember which way to turn them the same way I remember how to turn my clock -- "spring forward" for the time, "spring swing" for the mattress. Just swing the mattress 180 degrees from head to foot. In the fall I "fall back" on the time, and I "fall flip" my mattress. Just flip the mattress over from side to side. Laurie McGilvery, Wells, Maine
King Features Syndicate