Bleach is bleach, so why not save money?

Dear Heloise: Settle a dispute I am having with my mother over name-brand bleach versus store-brand bleach. I’m trying to convince her that they are identical products, the only difference being that the brand name is more expensive because of marketing expenses. I even have had her compare the ingredients listed on the bottle. She won’t believe me —or her own eyes. Maybe you can get through to her. D.B. of Laconia, N.H.

This is a very good question. If a store brand is cheaper and does the job, why not save money? According to experts we checked with, chlorine bleach is chlorine bleach. The label must list the amount of the active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, in the bleach. Try a Heloise hint: Buy one of each and test them for yourself! Heloise

Dear Heloise: I travel regularly. When checking baggage, it is easier to write my cell-phone number than to fill in my name, address and phone number. When traveling, I often take some address labels with me. Completing the little airline luggage tags has never been easier. I write my cell-phone number on the tag, then peel and stick a label on the tag. A piece of cake. Rob Negrin, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: This is how to wash a car in less than five minutes. I bought a dust mop with a swivel head and all plastic parts. I now wash without bending or reaching over the roof and hood. The mop swivels around and into all the nooks and crannies, making it impossible to miss a spot. Replacement mop heads are available. Both dust mops and handles are very inexpensive. It saves time, money and my back! Anthony Verotti, Marco Island, Fla.

Dear Heloise: While visiting our son, we decided to paint the interior of his condo. We learned that you should get the paint can stirred at the paint store. Some of the cans sit on the shelf for months and need a good stirring by the machine. It keeps you from having to do it, from having thin paint or the wrong color, and from a trip back to the store.

One last hint: When we travel and visit folks and stay with them, I bring along a recipe from home and make dinner one night while we are there. It is easier than going out to eat. It’s fun to share the recipe, and our hosts love to come home after work to a home-cooked meal with friends. Corrinne Berkland, Universal City, Texas

Dear Heloise: For soft snow, I use my leaf blower on my stairs and walkway. I leave it at the door to keep ahead of the fresh-fallen snow. I thought of this one time when the snow was so high that I couldn’t open the door. I use the real snowblower for the tougher jobs. Cindi from Eliot, Maine

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