HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: I bought a chest at an auction. It has the smell of mothballs, though, which I can’t remove. Needless to say, everything I store in it smells like mothballs. Is there anything I can do about this problem?

— C.D., Monroe, La.

DEAR READER: You can bank on this tried-and-true Heloise helper: Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and vinegar OR lemon juice. Moisten a cloth with this mixture and wipe out the inside of the chest. Important: Leave the lid open until the chest dries, and for a couple of days after that.

Another hint to try is putting a big bowl of baking soda inside the chest, along with some crumpled newspaper. Keep the chest closed for one week.

These hints should help lessen the smell of mothballs in your new-to-you chest! Thanks for writing in!

DEAR HELOISE: This time of year, there are lots of items on sale, marked down so they can sell and retailers can clear their inventory. I’ve spent my career in retail; I ought to know! Here is a partial list of items marked down in January and February:

Appliances, art supplies, baby accessories, bedding, bicycles, boots, carpets, preowned cars, curtains, furniture, luggage, men’s clothing, toys and TVs.

Have fun hunting down bargains!

— Ken S. in San Antonio

DEAR HELOISE: My cat likes his litter box immaculate. Most cats are very clean. I’ve found that a thin layer of baking soda under his cat litter keeps the box fresh-smelling.

I still clean it every day and scrub it once a week, but the baking soda helps a lot. — Carrie W. in Pittsburgh DEAR READER: Carrie, baking soda is a workhorse in the home. It’s cheap, safe and readily available.

DEAR HELOISE: To check the efficiency of your fridge, close the door on a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out, your seal is loose, and it’s time to replace it.

— Rodney the Refrigerator

Man in Illinois

DEAR HELOISE: I use the extra rinse cycle on the washer, and therefore don’t need fabric softener or dryer sheets. My ironing time is cut down, too.