Old or new, both hints erase furniture rings

Dear Heloise: I have an older recipe for getting white rings out of furniture. I use mayonnaise with cigarette or fireplace ashes. It is about 1 tablespoon ashes to 1 tablespoon mayonnaise. Make a paste and rub it in, and let it sit overnight. Wipe with a clean cloth the next day. Thank you. I so enjoy reading your column on a daily basis. Maxine Ingold, Ventura, Calif.

Maxine, those white rings are pesky, and most can be removed if they are treated when fresh. The method you mention is one my mother, the original Heloise, printed in this column more than 40 years ago.

Here’s a new, updated Heloise Hint: Mix a small amount of nongel toothpaste with a little baking soda and rub it into the rings, going in the direction of the grain, until warm. Be patient, as it might take a while for the marks to go away. Once they are gone, wipe with a damp cloth, and give the furniture a good polishing. Heloise

Dear Heloise: We had a lot of shrimp in a freezer that accidentally got unplugged. After washing the inside several times with baking soda and everything else I could think of, the odor remained. I tried charcoal — no results. I then tried something I had read (perhaps in a Heloise column): I stuffed it full of wadded newspaper and left it for a few days, then changed the newspapers. All odor was gone. That was 18 years ago, and I’m still using that freezer. I.V., Brunswick, Ga.

This is a longtime Heloise hint and is still a winner! It seems to work because of the ink and absorbent paper. It’s a “green” hint, too! Heloise

Dear Heloise: Here’s a hint that can save a life, or at least a broken hip: Whenever I travel and have to stay at a hotel, I always bring along with me a small section of rubberized-grip drawer/shelf liner (which can be purchased in a roll from a supermarket or dollar store). An appropriate-size piece, cut approximately 21‚Ñ2 feet by 15 inches, can be placed on the bottom of a bathtub or shower. It makes the surface virtually nonslip. It takes up almost no space in the suitcase, is lightweight and dries in seconds when blotted with a towel. Louise Gilhome, Neptune, N.J.

Dear Heloise: Regarding baking-soda ideas, I have a pretty clay cheese shaker filled with baking soda that sits on the top of the stove in case of emergencies. It’s also handy for cleaning the metal sink. Thank you for your column and being an advocate for the betterment of the environment, and also for sharing practicality, showing young people a better and safer way! Jan Royse, Stayton, Ore.

Dear Heloise: To pack glasses and vases, the best place to get boxes is the liquor store. They aren’t heavy and stack well. Helen, Spring Branch, Texas

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