Get dust under control

Dear Readers: Dust in our homes is a never-ending problem. It seems that we've just dusted and it's back! Here are some hints to help control dust:
When you dust, don't just move it around. Instead, remove it! Using a dry cloth or feather duster only rearranges dust and pushes it into the air. So, depending on the surface to be cleaned, you need to use a furniture polish, multipurpose spray cleaner or slightly damp cloth to pick up and hold the dust. I like to put clean, old socks over my hands and spray them with furniture polish, then dust, dust, dust. The new dust wands with replaceable dusting cloths work well, too.
Microfiber cloths do a super job of removing dust from furniture, computer screens and even pets!
Stand in the middle of the room and look at all surfaces -- dining room, coffee or side tables and nightstands. During the week, do a five-minute quick dust. My mother called this "top cleaning." It will help control the dust until you have time for a more thorough cleaning. Heloise
P.S. Mats at each door will help keep dust from coming into your home.
Dear Heloise: When I iron, I keep a spray bottle of water, lint remover (roller) and pair of scissors on the ironing board. I use the scissors to snip stray threads from items I am ironing and "store" those loose threads on the lint roller.
Also, when a tissue box is empty, on the top of the box, I cut diagonally to each corner and then fold the four parts down inside the box, stapling each. I apply tape to the staples so the sharp edges don't become a problem. I have used these boxes for storage and as cheap organizers. Kathy Tagoda, San Antonio
Dear Heloise: Whenever I start to plan a trip -- vacation, amusement park, etc.-- I get a notebook and label it with the trip name. I put all the reservation information, sites to visit, activities, contacts, etc., in this notebook. When I have a question or need to check something, I simply pull out the book, and voil & aacute; -- all the information is right at hand. Upon return, I put receipts in it so that I can check them against my card statements. Works great! K.M. in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Dear Heloise: I read a question from a reader about removing broken glass out of a stone vase on her husband's tombstone. She should try cutting off the end of a potato and sticking a wooden dowel in the other end, then with the cut end facing down, push it into the glass and then pull it up. I hope this helps her solve her problem. Linda Duffy, Midland, Mich.
Send 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