Cherish that fine china, but enjoy it, too

Dear Heloise: I recently married and received some beautiful china. I want to give it the best care possible. Can you share some hints? Thanks. Debra B., Oscar, La.
You bet. To keep china chip-free, follow these hints:
UIf you stack china for storage, use felt pads, thin foam, napkins or even coffee filters to separate each dish. That will cushion the dishes and keep them from scratching one another.
UAvoid stacking plates more than eight inches high.
UAlways wash china with a mild dish soap or detergent. Rinse and dry thoroughly before storage.
UTo hand-wash, line the sink with a thick, soft towel or rubber mat and use a soft sponge or cloth when washing.
UWhen storing a delicate china pot, protect the spout by slipping a cardboard toilet-paper tube over it. Heloise
P.S. Use your lovely china -- don't save it for just special occasions.
Dear Heloise: Living in Ohio, we go through our share of ice-melting pellets each winter. I found an easy way to spread the mix evenly over the walk or driveway.
I had an empty, five-inch plastic flowerpot in my garage, the kind with drainage holes in the bottom. I pour the ice melter into the flowerpot then shake it gently from side to side. The mix is distributed lightly and evenly through the drainage holes. No more mounds where too much has been dropped. Best of all, my hands stay clean, because I'm no longer scooping out of the bag with a cup. Debbie Pringle, Youngstown
Dear Heloise: When you have a chance to get ground meat on sale and want to buy a lot to freeze, here's a really quick and clean way to prepare it for the freezer:
Divide the ground meat into serving-size portions and spoon each wad into one of those cheap, fold-over, plastic sandwich bags. With the palm of your hand mash the wad into a flat patty. Put the wrapped patties into a gallon-size storage bag, then pop the bag into the freezer. Take out as many as you need for a meal. Because they are already in patties, they can go right into the frying pan or thaw quickly for use in other recipes. This works well for bulk sausage, too. Peg H., Washington, D.C.
Dear Heloise: I haven't bought gift tags in several years. When I wrap a present, I use a piece of scrap paper to make a tag. Some paper even has a pattern that can be cut and used. Just fold and write the "to" and "from" on the inside. That helps use the little scraps, and you have a tag that matches the present. Joyce from Garland, Texas
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax to (210) HELOISE, or e-mail to Heloise@Heloise.com.
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