HELOISE: Soda battles coffee, tea stains

Dear Heloise: How does one remove coffee and tea stains from clear glass cups? They look dingy and dirty. The dishwasher is of no help.

Harriet K. in Texas

It does happen, and sometimes it’s because we are in a hurry and just sort of rinse out rather than wash! Once again, our great friend, baking soda, comes to the rescue. Sprinkle some onto a damp sponge and rub it over the stained areas. Rinse the glasses, and check to see if the stain is gone. If necessary, scrub with a little more. For other great money-saving ways to use baking soda around the house, just send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (61 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Keep baking soda handy by placing it in a shaker-top bottle. When it’s not in use, place the shaker under the sink, in easy reach.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: We have to push our trash bags down a chute that ends up in the basement of our four-story building.

We worried about cutting our hands on sharp lids, so we now put them in a sturdy, used, supersized soda-pop container we get at a drive-through. When we get home, we place the container on the counter near the can opener for when we need it.

Patricia, via e-mail

Patricia, this is a double-duty hint: reuse and safety. One note, though. Please be sure there are no little ones who could possibly get hold of the cup by mistake. For other readers who recycle, this is a perfect way to hold those lids until it’s time to put them in the recycle bin, and it just might help prevent a nasty cut.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: We had to keep replacing the metal poles holding the shelves for our shower caddy because they rusted so quickly. Then I tried protecting the pole with several coats of car wax before installing it — no more rust!

Larry in Houston

Dear Heloise: After you finish applying a home hair-dye kit, take the hair-conditioner tube and, using a permanent marker, write the future date it recommends for reapplication of another dye kit. Also jot on the tube the color number, such as “116A” or “3B Med Red.”

Since most people keep the conditioner in the shower, you’ll have a daily reminder that you can take to the store with you.

When you take the tube with you, you’re not likely to misplace it with papers or in your purse.

D.N., San Antonio

Dear Heloise: Photo Christmas cards are too precious to discard. I have a decorated box in which I file the photo cards by year. It’s great fun to watch the children grow — and watch the rest of us age!

Robin Moseley, Irmo, S.C.

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