HELOISE: Polish up on sweet oil

Dear Heloise: Would you please tell me what sweet oil is, and where do I find it to make your furniture-polish recipe?

Sheila, via e-mail

Happy to! Sweet oil is simply olive oil without any odor or color, and usually is sold in the pharmacy or cosmetics sections of grocery stores or drugstores. This longtime Heloise homemade furniture polish is simple, safe and cheap. Just mix 3 parts sweet oil/olive oil to 1 part vinegar, and voila! You should use this polish only on finished surfaces, not on unfinished wood.

Of course, vinegar is a favorite cleaner of mine, and it works great on chrome faucets. Just spray undiluted vinegar on the surface and let it stand for a few moments, then wipe off. You can find other recipes for how to clean various metals like brass, copper and aluminum in my vinegar pamphlet. Send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (61 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Vinegar not only is great for cleaning, but it can help eliminate the smell of cabbage or fish. Just add a bit of vinegar to the cooking water.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: This is my good hint about how not to lose all those small items in the refrigerator. I use a plastic, two-layer spice-rack turntable. I put it on the top shelf, put all the small containers, jars and packages on it, and voil ° — you can spin it around, and you have everything right before your eyes. I love it! I always enjoy reading your helpful hints in The Washington Post.

Lorraine Price, Williamsburg, Va.

Dear Heloise: As a frequent traveler and a grandparent, I always have my camera with me. I have found that it fits very nicely into a cell-phone case. This is compact, light and adaptable, with options of a wrist strap, belt clip or neither. Much less bulky than a camera case.

Jean Milici, Torrington, Conn.

Dear Heloise: In the laundry room, nail up a 1-by-6-inch board about 6 feet up, parallel to the floor, and screw in a ladder hook (garage hardware) for every person in the family. These ladder hooks come coated in colored plastic and are perfect for hanging hangers. Hang all hangers in the same direction, and it’s a cinch to carry them when full to each person’s closet.

Sherry in California

Sherry, how smart! Ladder hooks are sturdy hooks that extend about 6 inches from the wall, and would be perfect for holding lots of hangers. Nice hint!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Thanks for the advice to clean a plastic shower curtain by placing it in the washer with a couple of white towels. I didn’t have any white towels, so I used a light blue and a green one, and they got the job done.

Doug Johnson, Watson, La.

King Features Syndicate