HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Today’s Sound Off is about advertising on the internet/ webpages:

“I get annoyed at websites where pop-up ads say, ‘Get a free, no-obligation quote.’ Life insurance, for example: I understand asking smoking and health questions, but why do they have to ask my name? This is only one example of a large number of sites that want contact info. Why? Asking my name is an invasion of my privacy. If I’m interested, I’ll call them.”

— Vicki B., via email

DEAR READERS: Here are a few suggestions for water conservation to prevent waste:

Boiling pasta? Save the water and, after it cools, use to water plants.

Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth.

Make sure your dishwasher and clothes washing machine are full before running.

Water your lawn late in the day or early in the morning to reduce evaporation.

Water is a precious commodity. Let’s not waste it.

DEAR HELOISE: Is it proper to ask people to attend a wedding shower but not the wedding?

— Richard B., via email DEAR READER: Richard, there are some hard and fast rules for wedding etiquette that deserve repeating:

If you’re invited to a shower, it is generally understood that you also should be invited to the wedding. An “office shower” might be the one exception to this rule.

The bride/groom sends out handwritten thank-you notes for each gift, making certain to mention how they plan to use it. These go out as soon as possible after the honeymoon.

The bride and groom personally thank everyone for attending their wedding, while at the reception.

No one but the bride should wear white to the wedding. Don’t put the bride in an uncomfortable position by asking if you can wear white to her wedding.

DEAR HELOISE: I have dog hair and dust on my lampshades, and even though I vacuum them, the dust still clings to the shade. What to do?

— Lydia M., Nebraska DEAR READER: If the lampshade has a flat surface, you can use a lint roller to remove nearly anything. If your shade is fluted with ridges and valleys, take it outside and use a clean paintbrush to brush the dust off in downward strokes.

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