No aerosols in cars

DEAR HELOISE » Today’s paper had your column about what you should keep in your car. I agree with everything except an aerosol to fix tires! I live in Texas, and there have actually been towns here that have reached 120 degrees in the shade, and where it almost always gets above 100 in the summer. I had a thermometer in my car, and sitting in the sun in the summer it reached 150 regularly!

Do not put any aerosols in your car! A good spare tire is a great choice, and there might be a battery powered pump device that can handle our temperatures, but I would advise looking at the label. Do not keep anything in your car that can’t handle at least 150 degrees! Thank you for your time!

— Tanda Rasco

Reusing newspaper sleeves

DEAR HELOISE » I have some more hints for reusing newspaper sleeves.

-- They are great to put in your glove compartment or luggage to use as travel trash bags.

-- Place food scraps in the sleeve and keep in the freezer until garbage day.

-- Use a sleeve when you need to fish out something that fell into the garbage disposal.

-- You can also use them when you clean anything gross, like the underneath side of the disposal rubber gasket. When you’re done just pull them off inside out and toss.

— Linda Webb, Roland, Arkansas

Baking soda solution

DEAR READERS » Gym bag smelly? If you put your sweaty exercise clothes in it, this will happen. After you have exercised and before you put your clothes inside, sprinkle baking soda over the bottom of the bag to help absorb the odors.

Baking soda also can be used for cleaning, deodorizing and cooking. To learn more, check out my pamphlet “Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes.”

Get one by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (78 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 782795001. FYI: Need to freshen your carpet? Sprinkle baking soda over it and leave on for 30 minutes, then vacuum.

Automatic ice cube makers

DEAR HELOISE » I occasionally used to forget that I had set the automatic ice cube maker to “on” on our later model refrigerator. It wouldn’t be until much later that I’d remember. As you can imagine, there would be overflow ice cubes throughout the freezer. So now I attach a refrigerator magnet to the front of the appliance, when ice cubes are “in progress,” and this serves as a noticeable reminder. Of course, it’s just as easy to set the timer on the stovetop or microwave oven.

— Diane, Woodland Hills, California

Oatmeal recipe

DEAR HELOISE » I saw your column about different ways to enjoy oatmeal, and I would like to add that there is also the savory option. I like to drizzle a little olive oil on my oatmeal with a couple turns of fresh pepper and then sprinkle some fresh Parmesan cheese and walnuts on top. It’s a healthy alternative to the sweet versions of oatmeal, especially if you’re trying to avoid sugar.