Don’t leave garage-door opener in car in driveway

Dear Heloise: I just read your article on garage-door openers. As a suggestion, do not leave your garage-door opener locked in your car while it’s in your driveway.

Thieves can simply break the car window, take the garage-door opener, then access your house through the garage. They close the garage door, and no one is the wiser. They can get into your home even if the door from the garage to the house is locked (most people store power tools in the garage that make it easy for a thief to get in — skill saw, etc.). Then they can take their time in the house, load up the car (that’s parked in the garage), open the garage door and leave with your possessions.

If your garage door is compatible with a key fob opener, attach the opener to your car keys and you’ll always take your garage-door opener in the house with you when you get out of your car.

My husband learned this at a brief when he was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, and I’ve passed this information along to everyone I know. Julie, Omaha, Neb.

Good point, Julie, and a security hint we all should be aware of. While we are talking about garages and security, if your garage door faces a public street, leaving it open is like advertising to thieves what’s available to steal! Heloise

Dear Heloise: I always use the 2.5-gallon jumbo plastic disposable bags with zip closures when packing for travel. Underwear in one, sleepwear in another, etc. Reuse them for dirty clothes and wet bathing suits on the return trip.

On a recent trip, I discovered another use. I had forgotten to pack a shower cap. I took the clothes out of bag, put it on like a shower cap and zipped it tight. It actually worked better and was more watertight (no wet elastic band) than a shower cap. Carole T., Bellevue, Neb.

Dear Heloise: Another way to guarantee fresh-smelling and germ-free kitchen sponges: Wash the sponge before doing dishes, and place it in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds. This will kill all the bacteria on the sponge and will keep it fresh. Stay-at-Home Dad, via e-mail

Many people do this, but there are some things you need to know.

We checked with sponge manufacturers, and here is what they had to say about sanitizing and cleaning a sponge. If you boil sponges in water for at least five to 10 minutes, that will sanitize them. The sponges can be put on the top rack of the dishwasher (use a regular heat cycle and secure the sponges so they can’t float around the dishwasher).

NOTE: Microwaving a sponge could be a potential fire hazard. Heloise

Dear Heloise: When watering plants in pots too heavy to lift, I use a turkey baster to remove the excess water from the saucer. Margaret Schumacher, La Mirada, Calif.

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