HELOISE: Washing knives: Tips up or down?

Dear Heloise: In a recent column in The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, you published a hint (from a reader — Heloise) about putting sharp knives together in the same bin in the dishwasher silverware holder, tips up. You said they should go tips down “as a safety precaution.”

The whole point is that the knives’ tips are UP because they’ll get cleaner, and they are all together in one place so that they WON’T accidentally stick anyone. I’ve been doing the same thing for years, using the silverware compartment farthest to the back. When I put knife tips down, the tips often got broken off or bent. Fork tines also can get bent, and they certainly do not get as clean as when they are placed business ends up.

A.D., Fayetteville, N.C.

Many people do this even though the manufacturer’s manual clearly states to place sharp objects such as knives, forks or skewers point down, handle up. It’s certainly your choice, however you want to place them. If there are children or even curious pets in the household, I vote for safety and say points down.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I used to throw away empty candle jars, until I needed a container for hamburger drippings. I couldn’t find an empty pickle jar or coffee can, and I looked at the empty candle jar I was going to throw out. I used it, and it was perfect, because it was used to the heat from a burning candle. When it was full, I put the lid on and simply tossed it in the garbage!

Alexia Conger, Henderson, Nev.

Dear Heloise: I wanted to let you know what wonderful results I got cleaning calcium deposits out of my teakettle with vinegar. It was very thick and appeared hopeless, but after numerous treatments, it’s totally clean. I purchased this kettle as an antique, and I didn’t know if it could be cleaned. It’s now like new. Thanks for the hint.

Helen Payne, Fort Worth, Texas

Helen, so glad you tried good ol’ vinegar! For those who want to know how to clean a teakettle, fill it with full-strength vinegar, let boil for 20-30 minutes, then let it cool down. Scrape the bottom of the kettle with a wooden spoon to remove as much of the icky stuff as possible. That’s all there is to it! It is truly amazing the things vinegar will clean! Want some more great ways to use it? All you have to do is send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (61 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Vinegar is a green cleaner, and is cheap to buy, too! Do you have a decanter with hard-water stains? Pour in enough full-strength warm to hot vinegar to cover the stains. Let the decanter sit for several hours or overnight, then scrub, and the deposits should flake right off!

Heloise

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