HELOISE: Keep your wipers working

Dear Readers: April is National Car Care Month, sponsored by the Car Care Council (www.carcare.org), and it’s the perfect time to have your car checked out. Windshield wipers are important and a safety concern, but often they are overlooked.

There are some things that can make wipers not work correctly. Examples are: tar from the road, grime, dirt and even tree sap. So, clean the wipers occasionally to keep them in good condition. To do this, just wet a clean cloth (a terry towel or microfiber towel) with a good-quality window cleaner, then wipe and rinse with plain water.

If the wipers still don’t work well, they should be replaced! Most experts say that wipers should be replaced every six to 12 months, depending on wear and tear, etc.

There are many things that can affect the wipers, such as UV rays, changes in temperatures and exposure to the sun. All of these can cause the blades to crack, tear and become brittle. Also, windshield wipers can be vital for safe driving, especially in bad weather. Check them now before you are caught in a situation where you can’t see to drive!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: My son finds it amusing to bring me a souvenir back-scratcher from each of his many travels. So I have a few. I keep one in the kitchen and use it to reach things on the higher shelves. If something is at the back of the shelf, I can drag it forward with the scratcher and then be able to reach it. It’s helpful for closet reaching, too. That little hand on the scratcher comes in very handy.

Jan from Maine

Dear Heloise: My mother still checks her credit-card bills very carefully. She got tired of the messy pile of receipts and how long it took to hunt through them when the bill came, so she started writing the store and the amount in the day block of an extra calendar. Since she gets many free calendars, this doesn’t cost a thing, and it saves her lots of time.

Joanne in Pennsylvania

Dear Heloise: I love the lavender sachet bags that are sold for dryer use. Now I just use some lavender from the garden, put it in an old, clean sock and knot the end. I’ve also used dried lemon verbena. Great-smelling clothes (I have a teenager), and no expense! It’s heavenly on bedsheets and bath towels.

LeeAnn, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I work in a dental office. We go out for lunch and return for afternoon patients. We’ve noticed that even after washing our hands, the onion/food smell still remains on our hands. After washing our hands, we pour a bit of mouthwash over them, rub in, then rinse off. It works great.

A Reader, 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