HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR READERS: Summer boating season is in full swing. Let’s look at possibly the most important piece of equipment you and your kids need in the boat: a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
You may think you don’t need a life jacket; you are a good swimmer, and the jackets are bulky, ugly and unflattering. Think again.
Today’s life jackets are lightweight and accommodating; they form to your body. And you can’t count on your swimming skills in an emergency.
A life jacket should keep your head above water so you can breathe. Each person on the boat must have a life jacket.
An adult life jacket cannot work on a child. The child needs his or her own — a child’s chin and ears must not slip through the life jacket.
Each state has regulations on life jackets. Make sure you know yours. You may need a throwable device, too.
Safety is always the most important element when it comes to a day of boating. Make sure you are prepared.
DEAR HELOISE: I have been noticing my dishes are coming out of the dishwasher with stains on them.
Anything I can add to take care of this problem? — M.B., via email
DEAR READER:
Fill a cup with white vinegar and place it in the top rack of the dishwasher. Load the dishwasher and add your regular detergent as always, then run the machine.
DEAR HELOISE: You advised people to microchip their pets. I agree. However, the chip must be registered in the owner’s name — usually on the chip company’s website. Your vet should give you a paper explaining how to register.
— Shelley P., via email DEAR READER: Ask your veterinarian. Many will register the chip for you. But if you move or change your phone number, call to update the information.
DEAR HELOISE: Microwave ovens do not heat food evenly. Letting the food stay in the microwave after cooking allows the heat to spread more evenly.
— Earl B., Medway, Ohio
DEAR HELOISE: When I help my wife plant her flowers, I put half a brick in the bottom of the pot. It helps them stay upright during the occasional windstorm.
— Rich K., La Vista, Neb.