HELOISE: Consider a caterer to handle big event

Dear Readers: If you are hosting a wedding, family reunion or other large event, you may be considering hiring a caterer. Call family, friends and business associates for recommendations. Here are some hints to help you if you meet with a caterer:

Take notes on the details of the foods and beverages being suggested. How will they be prepared, presented and served? On site? Fixed ahead and brought?

Determine the per-person price. What does this include: an open bar, wine, dessert, service, tips, cleanup and tax?

Establish a date for you to give the final head count. Set a cutoff date for last-minute guests, if you can. Will you be billed for no-shows?

Who provides tableware, table linens, trays, serving utensils and centerpieces? For a casual gathering, who gets leftover disposable plates, cups and napkins?

Finally, what cleanup does the caterer do? And who gets the leftovers?

When you have agreed on everything, get a written contract, which covers all details, large and small. Go over it carefully before signing.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: The plastic containers that floor-cleaning cloths are packaged in can be used for storage of all kinds of things, such as:

hobby supplies

pet toys

pet medications

coupons

receipts or paid bills.

Margarette Mattern, Temple, Texas

Hi, Heloise: I read something a little bit nerve-racking today. It was a note from a reader about power-washing area rugs at the carwash and/or putting them in the washing machine. This may be a suitable way to clean some types of rugs, but it definitely is not the way to go for many others.

Colors sometimes run and may leave your beautiful carpet looking like a tie-dyed mess, so please make sure you warn folks about hosing down all area rugs.

Katie M., Kensington, Md.

Katie, calm your nerves. The reader clearly stated these are area rugs that she would normally put in the washing machine if they fit, not carpet or expensive rugs. She also previously had cleaned them with a scrub brush and garden hose.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Recently, you had hints for using pantyhose that were no longer wearable, but you left out one of my favorite uses: as a paint strainer. Cut off a leg and stretch it over the rim of a clean paint pot. Then pour the paint from the original can through the nylon paint strainer into the paint pot — voil ! No lumps.

Doug Treadway, Baton Rouge, La.

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate