HELOISE: Hints help clean ivory

Dear Readers: How many of you have ivory jewelry, chess pieces, figurines or piano keys and don’t have a clue how to clean them? We looked at several sources in researching how to care for ivory, and here are a few hints:

Ivory will darken or yellow as it ages, and it stains easily because it’s porous.

You should wash your hands to remove the oils and dirt, or for special pieces, wear white cotton gloves when handling ivory.

Liquids, including water and cleaning solutions, may damage ivory and should be avoided.

Dusting or gently wiping the object with a soft, clean cotton cloth or very soft brush is best.

If you want to “clean” ivory, simply dampen a clean cloth or microfiber towel with only water, and wipe over the surface. Don’t soak the ivory, and dry it thoroughly. Of course, if your ivory is broken or frail, refer to a professional conservator.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Some of the supplement bottles I buy have a flip-top lid, which I save and interchange with those bottles that don’t.

Also, I put a dab of red fingernail polish on the topside of my phone charger cord because it was hard for me to see which way it connected. I also use it to mark the open ends of my compacts.

Susan in California

Dear Heloise: I have a couple of hints that I use all the time. When I have an important date or an appointment, I write it on my bathroom mirror with a dry-erase pen. No one sees it but me, and it cleans up with a damp cloth.

When I get a white glass or cup ring on a wooden table, I spray it lightly with a petroleum-based lubricant, and wipe it with a soft cloth. Works every time.

Susan, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: During our two-week trip to Italy, we stayed at seven hotels. Before we left, I purchased an over-the-door vinyl shoe holder with mesh compartments for our toiletries. It worked out great, since many of the hotel bathrooms had vanity sinks or very little counter space.

Also, when it was time to pack up, all I had to do was roll the shoe holder up with the toiletries still in the compartments and slip it into my carry-on. Upon arrival at the next hotel, I would just unroll it and hang it over the bathroom door. It saved so much time by eliminating packing and unpacking at every stop. I plan to bring the shoe holder on all future vacations.

Christine Garcia, Edison, N.J.

Dear Heloise: I keep an empty tissue box next to the fresh, newly opened box. It becomes a handy receptacle for used tissues that might otherwise get left on the coffee table or bedside table. It goes in the trash when the next box is opened.

Jo Migliavacca, via e-mail

King Features Syndicate