Don’t dog ear library books

Dear Readers: Here is this week’s Sound Off, concerning borrowed library books:

“I am an avid reader of books and a veteran user of public libraries. My Sound Off is about people who turn down the corners of pages to mark their place. It is so simple to use bookmarks. This doesn’t damage books, as when the corners are turned down and eventually break off.”

Ruth D., Colorado Springs, Colo.

Ruth, as a lover of reading books, I’m with you. Would you do this if a friend loaned you a book? I think not! It’s not hard to find a scrap of paper, a page from a magazine or, oh my goodness, an actual bookmark!

Heloise

Dear Readers: Hints for Christmas lights:

Use as decorations for an outdoor party.

Hang in a child’s bedroom for a night light.

Place in a fireplace instead of lighting a fire.

Put a small strand in a vase and use as a centerpiece.

Use in a bathroom instead of candles (safer) for ambience.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Can you offer suggestions for how to get a fresh beet-juice spill out of an oriental-type carpet? I have already tried soaking it up with white bread, blotting up as much of the red stain as possible, and using an oxygen-based cleaner, without much success. Is it too late for club soda? Would ammonia work, or would it ruin the carpet?

Dee K., via email

Dee, you seem to have tried the basic first steps. However, do let me clarify one “hint” that is rather old and, frankly, that I would not suggest or even waste my time testing. Soak it up with a piece of white bread? Someone has been drinking one too many “beet-juice cocktails” or mixed up some old hints. White bread is absorbent, but it won’t work as well as a handful of paper towels or an old bath towel. You have tried a commercial cleaner; therefore, a home remedy is not going to work at this point.

All that’s left is for you to attempt to “match” the stain by trying to “dye” the rest of the carpet with beet juice. You might be surprised.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: My mother, Barbara, spreads pet-friendly ice melt on driveways and stairs in the winter with a small plastic flowerpot that has holes in the bottom. Easy to scoop and sprinkle. No more globs in one spot.

Tamela W., via email

Good hint, but know that dogs or cats still should have their paws wiped off when coming inside. This product can be troublesome to small animals if ingested.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I use my old perfumes as bathroom deodorizers. One spray and the room smells delightful. The bottle lasts a long time and eventually gets used up.

Bonnie, via email

2015 King Features Syndicate