Gummed-up clothes dryer can be salvaged

Dear Heloise: Help! Chewing gum melted all over the inside of my clothes dryer. What can I do to get rid of it? I don’t want to buy a new dryer. Lorraine S. from Utah

This cleaning hint works on melted crayon as well as gum: To soften the gum, pop two or three old towels into the dryer on warm for five to 10 minutes. Then make a paste of 1 tablespoon powdered laundry detergent and a little water, and scrub off the gum with a plastic scrubbie. Next, use a damp rag to wipe out the inside of the dryer. Don’t dry any clothes in the dryer until you run one cycle with several damp rags. Don’t forget to check clothing pockets for gum before putting items into the dryer. Heloise

Dear Readers: Do you have tired feet? Here’s a pick-me-up hint. Put a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil in a trigger spray bottle with water (about 8 ounces). Give your feet a spritz of the quick refresher and then let dry. They will feel great! You can even do this through stockings. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Have you heard of cutting a cake with dental floss? You can cut a sheet cake very easily and neatly with floss. Kathy McCoy, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Just be sure it’s the plain variety, not dental floss that is flavored! Heloise

Dear Heloise: You know how difficult it is sometimes to put a fresh pillowcase on a pillow? Well, I’ve discovered how to do it in a snap! Have you ever seen what they call “satin pillow protectors”? Of course, they are not satin, but polyester. They are not expensive. They have a zipper in them. So, when you change pillowcases, they slip right on with no fighting. Been doing it for years. Joan Edge, Plano, Texas

Dear Heloise: I’ve found a great way to organize all my earrings. Go to an office-supply store and get a small organizer with drawers in it. The one I got has about six drawers with a lift-up lid on the top.

I bought some foam rubber at a fabric store and cut it to fit inside the drawers. Then you can stick the earrings into the foam, backs and all. This way, you can group by color, size or however you’d like. Sure cuts down on the clutter, and now I can see at a glance what I have. Lois P., Port Republic, Va.

Dear Heloise: When doing laundry at a self-laundry facility, I measure detergent into zipper-top plastic sandwich bags. This is cheap and disposable, or just put the empties back in the bottom of the laundry basket and use them again next trip. Freda Harness, Little Rock, Ark.

X 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