Thursday, October 28, 2010
Dear Heloise: My daughter taught me something the other day. When rinsing out a shampoo bottle or dish-soap bottle to recycle, use cold water, not hot. The hot water just keeps making bubbles, and the cold water cuts the soap residue right away.
Alice Wells in Salem, Ore.
Alice, we tested your hint in our office and agree it’s a good idea.
Heloise
Dear Heloise: I use isopropyl alcohol (first-aid antiseptic) on a paper towel or napkin to remove gum stuck inside the clothes dryer and for removing sticker residue from ceramic, glass, metal and plastic surfaces. It’s quick, easy and economical.
Carol S. in Stephens City, Va.
Dear Readers: Here’s a Letter of Laughter from the Heloise Files:
A young mother wrote in to tell us: “To get rid of that little bulge around the middle, I have begun doing sit-ups. Not having the type of couch or chair to tuck my toes under to help keep my legs down, my little toddler volunteered her services.
“Now, at exercise time, she sits on my feet and helps me count my 25 sit-ups. This is helping her learn to count, too. The only trouble is, she’s learning to count: ‘one (groan),’ ‘two (ugh),’ ‘three (oof),’ ‘four (moan),’ etc.”
Heloise
Dear Heloise: If you have an ant problem, put some vinegar in a spray bottle and, before you go to bed at night, lightly spray all over your kitchen counter and around the wastebasket, or wherever the ants might appear. Vinegar acts like a repellent. It works! You might not like the smell of vinegar, but it’s much better than the smell of commercial repellents.
Barb K. in California
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