Homemade prewash is a cheap stainbuster

Dear Heloise: I lost the formula for a mixture of ammonia, dish liquid and another ingredient for stain removal on blouses. Could you reprint it again? Elba, via e-mail

The formula you’re referring to is Heloise’s homemade prewash spray. This easy-to-make recipe is a great alternative to expensive store-bought brands, and who doesn’t need to save money these days? To make your own, you’ll need to mix equal parts (for example, 1‚Ñ2 cup of each) of: water, household ammonia and dishwashing (not dishwasher) liquid.

Put the mixture into a clean spray bottle and be sure to label. Once you spray the garment, you must wash as soon as possible — don’t throw it in the hamper. Keep this money-saving stainbuster near the washer to treat those stubborn stains. For more hints to rescue your clothes, order a copy of my eight-page Handy Stain Guide for Clothing. It’s jam-packed with helpful hints and solutions to remove troublesome stains. You can receive a copy by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (61 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Stain, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. It’s always best to start with safe and easy cleaning products that you probably have at home before moving on to stronger, commercial products that can be expensive to buy. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Traditionally, the gift for a first wedding anniversary is a product made of paper. When our first wedding anniversary came, I was serving in the U.S. Navy, while my wife was living with relatives. I wanted to give her a gift that would be traditional and that she would continue to receive through the years. So I signed her up for a life subscription to a magazine. She passed away this year, shortly after our 65th anniversary, but enjoyed receiving it every month as a continuing reminder of our marriage vows. Perry Crabill, Winchester, Va.

Perry, my condolences on your loss, yet congratulations on the longevity of your marriage. We love your hint in our office. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Old, white athletic socks make great rags and dusting cloths. When a sock gets a hole in the heel, I cut a slit about 1 inch long in the top so that when I’m folding clothes, I can easily see which socks are still good and which are rags. If an old sock used as a rag gets too dirty for me to wash, I throw it away. In our household, we have plenty more where that came from. Wanda Franklin, Columbia, Md.

Dear Heloise: I keep a folder (as an icon) on my computer desktop titled “where to find it.” I have listed where we keep our wills (or trusts), property deed, insurance papers, auto titles, etc. — everything the executor of our estate would need to know. Helen G., The Villages, Fla.

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