HELOISE: Dead mouse leaves big stink

Dear Heloise: Please help me! I had a dead mouse in the ceiling of my walk-in closet. I have tried everything to get rid of the terrible odor.

Mary Reist, Warren, Pa.

Mary, this odor is one of the worst! The odor will not go away until the mouse completely decomposes. Yuck, I know!

You can try masking the odor with essential oils. Put several drops of an essential oil (such as peppermint or clove) on a paper towel or cotton ball and set on a plate on a top closet shelf.

If you have an attic fan, turn it on to circulate as much fresh air as possible. As a last resort, you can rent or purchase an ozone machine, which will help “clean” the air of the smell.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: When a family member dies or is moving to a nursing home, there are many places you wouldn’t necessarily think of that can help with downsizing and house clearing.

Vintage clothing stores often will send someone out to look at items and buy things. And they take them away the same day. This way, you have a better idea of what should go to charity and what can be making you some extra money, with no effort on your part but a phone call!

Many antiques dealers do the same thing for furniture and glassware; they will come out, appraise and buy on the spot. This is especially helpful when you have a whole houseful to deal with and have no idea where to start. It is a shame to just throw old things away because there is no perceived value, when they can be reused by people who will really appreciate them.

Kellie in Minnesota

Dear Heloise: To keep earrings organized for traveling, buy plastic canvas (found at craft stores), cut into 1/2-inch squares and put one pair of earrings in each square. If the canvas has big-enough holes, you can thread the ear wires through them, too.

Sharon, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I was getting some items together to give to a charitable organization and came across a two-pack of those stretchy-knit, one-size-fits-all gloves.

I had purchased a feltlike plant dusting mitten, and it occurred to me that these gloves would be perfect for dusting plants and furniture as well. I used it on my dining-room chairs with carved spindles, and it worked great. I was able to dust all six chairs faster than using a rag.

Of course, I still save my hubby’s socks with holes for dusting, too.

Kaye Robinson in Thaxton, Miss.

Dear Heloise: You know that webbing material they put around Asian pears and other fancy fruit? Take it off and put it on your dish detergent bottle, and it makes a nice slip-proof grip.

Tom, via e-mail

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