HELOISE Ice cubes can help whack away wax from carpet



Dear Heloise: I saw you on television showing a new way to remove wax from carpet. Can you please print this information for me? I have a wax stain on my carpet, and all I remember is ice. Sophie R., Omaha, Neb.
This is the improved method to remove wax from carpeting, according to our good, longtime friends at the Carpet and Rug Institute.
Step one: Place plenty of ice cubes in a large metal pan on top of the wax.
Step two: Smack the now-hard-as-a-rock frozen wax with a heavy object, like a hammer or such, to break it apart.
Step three: Vacuum up as much as possible, or pick up by hand. Any wax left? Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a clean, white cloth, and blot, blot, blot. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I never travel without my sarong -- a very large rayon scarf. Mine is vibrantly colored, hand-painted in Indonesia and very beautiful. It measures about 4 feet square but is lightweight and folds into a small, flat square. I use it for covering myself when I'm sleeping on a plane; it's not as heavy as the blankets they provide. Other uses: a head wrap, a neck wrap, a shawl, wrap around your waist for a swimsuit cover-up, a tablecloth, a wall hanging, a room divider, a satchel for gathering fruit or seashells, for covering food so flies won't get it, covering a steering wheel in a rental car so it doesn't get hot, and covering valuables in the car. Sarongs hand-wash easily and dry in no time. Dalis Davidson, Barnesville, Md.
Dear Heloise: I'm a senior citizen who does some traveling, so I know this is a tip that could help in case of an emergency. Most people have the name of their spouse as a person to contact -- what happens if both parties are involved in an accident? Whom do emergency personnel notify? I have the names of both sons, their wives, addresses and home and work phone numbers in both of our billfolds.
Also, when we are out of town, whether staying with friends or at a motel, if I go out and my wife stays, I put a note in my billfold with either the motel or the friends' name and number, so one of them can be reached immediately. If the emergency people go the normal route with the info that I usually carry, they would try to first contact my wife, then both our sons and would still not know how to reach her. James Swartz, Winchester, Va.
Dear Heloise: When measuring liquids -- e.g., tablespoons or teaspoons, etc. -- don't hold the measuring spoon over the bowl or pot. Instead, measure the ingredient over the sink, a plate or the counter. This way, you won't accidentally add too much and have to adjust the recipe. Ken B., Phoenix
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