HELOISE: Messy drips from candles come clean

Dear Readers: Candles are a beautiful accent. However, they can leave an ugly mess when they drip on the tablecloth and carpet. First, try to keep candles in holders with bobeches (plastic or glass collars) to contain the melting wax. Then use these hints:

To get candle wax off a tablecloth, put it in the freezer for several days to dry the wax until it is brittle. Scrape wax off with a dull knife. Place paper towels on both sides of the stain, and use an iron on the warm setting. Then, launder as you normally do.

On carpet, freeze the wax by putting a metal pan filled with ice cubes over the candle wax. When it is hard, take a small hammer to hit the wax, breaking it up. Vacuum or pick up the pieces. If there’s some wax left, cover with paper towels and press with an iron on the “warm” setting. If there’s some color left, apply a bit of dry-cleaning solvent and blot.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have found numerous uses for cereal bags, which in return saves me money:

Use for freezing hamburger patties and other varieties of meats obtained in bulk bundles.

Use for packing lunch items such as potato chips, cookies and brownies.

Use as wax paper for homemade cookies and desserts to cool on.

Store items for children when traveling in the car.

Donna in Texas

Dear Heloise: Recently, I had to attend a funeral, and I bought a pair of pants to match the shirt I planned on wearing. I discovered the pants were too long. I turned the pants inside out and used duct tape to make them the right length. It worked!

Mike in Laurel, Mont.

Dear Heloise: I always pack an extension cord in my luggage. It comes in handy if you need more cord to operate a clothes iron, hair dryer or curling iron.

I like to sit on the bed or chair and do my hair, and usually the outlets are in the bathroom or behind a piece of furniture, and the cords do not reach. The extension cord is an easy solution.

Nila in Pennsylvania

King Features Syndicate Inc.