Hints made bachelor's pad neat and tidy over the years

Dear Heloise: As a teenager, I started to use the information I had gleaned from the books to help my hapless friends remove stains before their moms caught wind of them, saving many a behind in the process.
Now, I'm a 37-year-old bachelor, and none of my friends (or my girlfriend, for that matter) has any idea how a young, single guy can keep his place as clean as mine, especially my kitchen and bath. So, I just wanted to say & quot;thanks & quot; to you and your mom for the awesome hints you've given me through the years. You've made my life easy and kept my bachelor pad tidy. Oh, and my girl is thrilled that she doesn't have to look forward to marrying a slob! Thank you sooo much! Who knew it would be cool to be tidy? J.P.Z., Scranton, Pa.
John, thanks for the kind words. What a day-brightener. You can keep things clean and orderly if you clean as you go, do one little job daily and put things back in their places. Heloise
Fast facts
Here are five simple steps you should always follow when trying to get stains out of your clothes. Different stains often require different treatments. Sometimes soap and water work best; other times it's alcohol or vinegar. But whatever the stain, there are five removal rules of thumb that apply every time:
UTest for colorfastness. Blot your selected stain-remover in an inconspicuous place with a white cloth. If the fabric's color comes off, the remover isn't safe for that fabric.
UThe longer the stain sits, the harder it is to get out. So act quickly.
UBlot -- never rub -- to avoid damaging the fabric. And work from the outside of the stain inward so you don't end up with a ring around the stain.
UDon't use more chemicals than you need.
UPlace an absorbent white towel under the stain as you clean it to absorb the stain and prevent it from spreading. Be sure to move the towel frequently to provide a clean area underneath. Heloise
Sounding off
Dear Heloise: A reader sounded off about the bottom sheet coming out when you turn down the bed in a nice hotel or motel. This always bothered me also.
One day, I mentioned it to the hotel when I was making a reservation. The clerk assured me that the hotel would provide a fitted sheet if I asked for it. Since then, I have always asked and always been satisfied at any hotel. Dolores Tray, Delano, Calif.
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