Essential oils create uplifting mood in the home

Dear Readers: A wonderful aroma can make a home feel so inviting, and it’s so easy to create a relaxing or uplifting mood with just a few drops of essential oil.

Essential oils are more than just fragrance; they are pure and come from plants, so they share some of the same characteristics. For example:

•A drop or two of eucalyptus oil can make your shower feel like a spa. Turn on the hot water, put a few drops directly into the spray of water coming out of the shower head, and the eucalyptus scent will mix with the steamy water to relax you. Just don’t get it in your eyes!

•Put a few drops of lavender oil on a dryer sheet or old face cloth, and your laundry will have a fresh, flowery fragrance.

•Place a drop or two of peppermint oil on a paper towel or tissue and tuck it in your running shoes or work boots to keep them fresh-smelling.

•Oil of cedar is a great freshener for a pet’s bed when placed on the underside of the pillow.

•Keep a small bottle of lemon oil by the kitchen sink to add a drop on your sponge to wipe the sink after rinsing.

Look for essential oils in the pharmacy section of your favorite store or online. Remember, it takes only a drop or two. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I am writing to suggest one more way to use old keys — make a “key chime.” When I was teaching elementary music, I made one for my classroom. The children enjoyed playing it along with the other instruments.

It takes a board about 18 inches long, 3 inches wide and about 1‚Ñ2 inch thick. Drill small holes along the length of the board about 11‚Ñ2 inches apart. String a piece of fishing line in each hole (different lengths work fine), and tie as many keys down each string as desired, being sure to mix up the sizes. To play, hold the board and tip it from side to side so the keys hit each other, making a musical sound. Naomi Hembree of Spring, Texas

Dear Heloise: We’ve all heard about the importance of cutting up old credit cards to dispose of them, but I realized that sometimes when I cut them up, I still left the top magnetic strip mostly intact. To solve this problem, I use the edge of the scissors to scratch off the magnetic strip as well as the signature line on the back before cutting it into small pieces. This way, the information is really destroyed. C.Y. of Oregon

Dear Heloise: I live in Ohio, where we get our share of snow and ice. I keep a large, 30-ounce plastic coffee container filled with ice-melting salt under my sink or basement step. It doesn’t hold moisture or clump up. The can has an indented handle for easy pouring, and it’s great for the steps and porch. J.B. from Ohio

King Features Syndicate