Friday, December 30, 2005
Dear Readers: Seemingly out of nowhere, you suddenly see an invasion of silverfish in your home. These wingless insects love to live in damp, warm places like the basement. They can enter your home along pipes or through cracks in walls and floors.
Silverfish love anything with starch, such as paper products that have been glued, like books, magazines and wallpaper, or foods like flour and cereals, and they will consume starched clothing or synthetic fabrics.
If you have pets, sprinkle the infested area with pyrethrum powder, which contains safe, natural chemicals. You can buy it at hardware stores.
To stop silverfish from getting in, keep your basement dry. Toss out old magazines, papers and books. Store food and valuable papers in sealed containers. Heloise
Dear Heloise: As a frequent traveler, I spend a lot of time living out of suitcases. To keep my suitcases fresh and ready for each trip, I give the inside a quick spray of fabric freshener before putting them back in their storage location. When I start packing for the next trip, they are always fresh and great-smelling rather than musty and stale. Tom in Maine
Dear Heloise: I was interested in the suggestion to the manufacturers to place a thread in the center of the top sheets and blankets. I solved this problem several years ago. I placed a small piece of tape on the top center of my solid headboard. Then I measured for the center of the top sheet and blanket. I put a small, gold safety pin there, and this makes my bed-making easier. My daughter-in-law asked us if the pins meant "my side/your side." Mabel Wymore, Prescott Valley, Ariz.
Mabel, I liked your hint. Speaking of sheets, here's another hint from Ms. Terry Wade of Houston. She says: "I have a set of attractive sheets that are very rough that I ordered from a catalog. I found that doing a second rinse and putting two caps of liquid softener in the second rinse water makes them nice and soft."
Terry, it can also help "soften" sheets if you wash and rinse them several times, as it might remove some sizing. Heloise
Dear Heloise: To check car taillights and turn signals, close your garage door, turn on the ignition (if necessary), but do not start the motor. Depress the brake pedal and see if the brake lights are working by using your mirrors to view the lights on the garage door. L.L. Solis, Columbus
Dear Heloise: We go camping quite often, and I keep a list on the computer of supplies, canned goods and spices that we keep in the camper. When we go camping, I print it out and take it with us, and as we use things, I circle them. That way, when we get back, I can replace them and be ready for the next trip. Doris, via e-mail
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate