HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Dogs and hot cars. This is a combination that should never happen. Dogs cannot survive in a hot car, even if you’re running errands and will be away from the car for just a few minutes. Leave the dog at home, or if it’s a smaller breed in a carrier, bring the dog in with you.

The temperature in a car on a hot day will climb rapidly. For example, if the temperature outside is 80 degrees, the temperature inside a parked car will rise to 100 degrees in only 10 minutes. Add another 10 degrees for another 10 minutes.

Dogs don’t perspire to cool down, like people do; they can’t cool themselves. They are susceptible to heatstroke. And parking in the shade and/or “cracking the window”? Pointless.

If you come across a dog someone has left in a hot car, stay by the vehicle and call 911 immediately. Check all doors to see if one is unlocked.

In Texas, the law states that a civilian can legally break a vehicle’s window if the animal is in “apparent distress.” Check the laws in your state.

DEAR READERS: Summertime means travel, and lots of travel can mean lots of laundry. Here are some hints:

Organization is key. Sort pieces by color and degree of soilage before you hit the laundry center. Put whites in a white pillowcase, and darks in a dark pillowcase.

Pick up detergent at the discount store — the soaps at the site can be expensive. A yogurt cup makes a good container, or you can grab some laundry pods.

When the washer is finished, shake out the clothes before popping them into the dryer. This will loosen up the clothes and allow them to dry more quickly.

Check the lint filter also. A clean filter will get the job done faster.

Take a magazine, book or puzzles to pass the time.

DEAR HELOISE: One hot summer afternoon, I took my wedding ring to the jeweler for cleaning. I retrieved my hand cream to make removing the ring easier.

However, my jeweler said he had something better, and he sprayed my finger with ammonia glass cleaner. The ring slipped off easily. He said it was easy to buff the ring, and there was no hand cream or soapy residue on the ring.

— Martha C., Springfield, Ill., via email Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email Heloise@Heloise.com