Renting a car? Have a smooth ride

Dear Readers: With summer vacations and traveling coming up, here are some helpful hints if you will be renting a car. We checked with several rental-car agencies, and here are the hints they gave that will make renting a car go a lot easier and faster. Have this information ready before you call or go online for your rental:

1. Most agencies do not accept cash, checks or debit cards — you will need a credit card.

2. If you are a frequent renter or a member of the loyalty program, have the information ready. Also have the member number for any groups with which you are associated — e.g., airline membership — coupons or senior-citizen discount. It never hurts to ask for the best deal possible!

3. Know the exact location of where you want to rent. Large cities especially may have more than one location, or even several near the airport!

4. Be sure of the exact days and times you will be picking up and returning the vehicle.

Here’s to an easy car rental! Heloise

Dear Heloise: For your readers who suffer in apartments with cigarette-smoke odor from their neighbor, use “Heloise-famous” boxes of baking soda. The relief came within hours after I placed five open boxes of soda around my studio apartment. I placed them near vents and other places where smoke odor could enter. When I enter now, the apartment smells fresh and new. Smoke odor doesn’t linger. Bless you for reminding us about baking soda! Carol, Los Angeles

Thank you for the great baking-soda endorsement! It really does solve so many cleaning and odor problems for just pennies. If you would like some other budget-busting hints and recipes, order my Baking Soda Hints and Recipes pamphlet. Just send $5 for this six-page pamphlet to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped (61 cents), long envelope with your check or money order. Remember, for people who do smoke, put some baking soda in the car ashtray. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Here is my easy cleaning method. I make up a handy cleaning kit to use when doing housework. I bought a plastic carrier with a handle (used to hold cleaning supplies, etc.) at a store that sells stuff for a dollar. I can easily carry the supplies from room to room and save lots of steps, since I don’t have to go back and forth for a particular cleaning item.

I also keep a couple of small, plastic grocery bags so that I can throw things away as I go. Works great! Shirley Clark, via fax

Dear Heloise: To help save on dry-cleaning bills, I use rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth to clean those makeup stains around the neck and collar of clothing. It works very quickly. Thanks for sharing all your good hints. Pat Tharpe, Crowville, La.

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