Can this sticky situation be solved?

Dear Heloise: My husband helped me out with the laundry, only he left gum in his pocket, and now I have gum on a 100 percent polyester sweat suit that he bought for me. Is there any way to get the gum out?

I love your column. You can’t believe all the hints I use. Lisa H., via e-mail

Try putting the garment into a plastic bag and then into the freezer for about an hour or so, just to harden the gum. Carefully remove the gum using a dull butter knife (don’t use a sharp knife because you may damage the fabric). If any residue remains, treat it with prewash spray, or sponge cleaning fluid onto the back (be sure to test on an area that won’t show first), then launder as usual. Don’t put the clothing in the dryer until the gum’s all gone. Heloise

Dear Heloise: For traveling, I find that the daily medicine containers from a drugstore or department store work great for putting your earrings in. For necklaces (especially chains), a flat container with double-sided tape in the bottom works great. It keeps chains from sliding around and tangling. Wilma G. Littlerock in California

Dear Heloise: By accident, I discovered a great way to grate an onion easily. I had cut an onion in half, and instead of hacking off the end before peeling off the papery layers, I pulled them up and away from the white portion. This ended up being a knoblike handle, which I could easily hold and grate the onion right down to the end without any loss of onion or fingertips. Dave, Poway, Calif.

Dear Heloise: I paint canvases and walls. This hint applies to both types of painting and to oil-based paint, as well as acrylics. When you have to stop your project before finishing, don’t bother to clean up the brushes, paint tray, rollers and/or pallet. Just put them in plastic bags and store them in the freezer. They’ll thaw back out to the same condition. Parrish Hirasaki, Dickinson, Texas

Dear Heloise: I’m a needle crafter and use my scissors often, and I have to search through the bottom of my bag for them. I cut a 2-foot piece of bright-colored yarn, weave it through the scissors handle, tie a knot and then weave it through my bag handle, so when I need them, I can fish them out of my bag in a flash. Joanne K. Paulich, Hammond, Ind.

Dear Heloise: I program into my cell phone numbers for things like refrigerator filters, vacuum-cleaner bags and belts, etc. When I’m at the store, I don’t have to try to remember the numbers. Cathy, via e-mail

SBlt 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