A brilliant idea: Here’s a recipe for jewelry cleaner

Dear Heloise: Thanks for your many hints. Do you have a recipe for a homemade jewelry cleaner? I considered using dish soap along with a little vinegar or something, but thought you might have something better. Gayle from Delray Beach, Fla.

You bet I do! It’s simple and cheap! To make your own jewelry cleaner (for only pennies), mix equal parts of sudsy ammonia and water. Soak only gold or diamond jewelry. Do not use it on jade, opal, pearl, turquoise, coral, malachite, amber, lapis lazuli or any other soft or porous stone (when in doubt, don’t).

After soaking the jewelry for a few minutes, gently brush away the built-up dirt with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush — don’t use the one you use to brush your teeth! Rinse in warm water, making sure the drain is closed, or put the jewelry in a strainer to rinse. Dip diamonds in rubbing alcohol for a real sparkle.

Store leftover cleaner in a jar with a lid, and be sure to label it. Leftover cleaner can be reused until it begins to look dirty and/or cloudy, and then don’t waste it — use it to clean a bathroom sink. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I found other uses for vinyl rolls normally used for shelf coverings:

• I cut small square pieces, and they will easily help with opening jars.

• My husband took a piece to remove a tight radiator cap.

• I use a square under my phone on a stand.

• I wrap it over clothes hangers so slacks do not crease in the legs.

Lauren Ehrle, Springfield, Ohio

Dear Heloise: You know those annoying sugar sprinkles that come on the tops of some yogurts (as if I need extra sugar for my healthy yogurt)? Well, if the ones you get are sealed, then save them for toppings on cookies or brownies. There are many varieties of the toppings, and you don’t have to buy a whole bottle. Bianca, via e-mail

Bianca, this is a fabulous idea! When you make sugar cookies, each one could have a different decorated top. It won’t cost you anything! Heloise

Dear Heloise: After 40 years of struggling to put on my clasp-style watch with one hand, I stumbled on a simple solution this week: I put lotion on my arm first! The watch stays put, and I can clasp it on the first try.

Another great hint for lotion that I learned: “Uncling” your static-cling skirt by rubbing a little lotion on both legs. This works instantly every time. Stacy J., Whitehouse, Texas

Sound Off

Dear Heloise: I get very angry at waiters and waitresses in restaurants who use the same cloth to wipe off the seats as they do the tables. With the fear of contacting all sorts of germs, I would think restaurant owners would take heed and use separate wipes for each action. Connie M., via e-mail

• 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