When you want to cut the spam
Dear Readers: Who gets spam email? Lots of you, right? “Spam” is unasked-for electronic advertising that is annoying, yes, but it’s also expensive in terms of wasting hours and, potentially, dollars.
Advertisers “blast” spam advertising to as many recipients as they can. They typically are hawking “get-rich” programs and other shady services and products.
How can you lessen the spam email that you get? Here are some hints, courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission (www.consumer.ftc.gov):
■ Your email shouldn’t be posted on your social media accounts.
■ When using a website, make sure it protects your information and won’t sell your email address.
■ Common email addresses are more susceptible to spammers — janesmith can be more easily found and used than jan3$m1th, for example.
These hints should help reduce the amount of spam email you receive. — Heloise
Safe fire
Dear Heloise: A fire is cozy this time of year, but I wanted to remind your readers not to toss anything into the fireplace except logs. Needles from pine trees are especially dangerous — they can heat up faster, which can create sparks that can shoot into the room.
Greenery also can cause creosote to build up. Creosote is a tarlike, oily residue that can irritate your skin and lungs.
Holiday cleanup should be complete by now, but another reminder is to not burn paper, especially wrapping paper. It can contain metallic particles. — Daniel S., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Jeans genie
Dear Heloise: My daughter taught me a cheap way to keep my jeans in nice-looking order. From day one, when I wash them, I turn them inside out.
If they fade, they will fade “back” to the outside. I’ve done this for years, and the jeans look as nice now as they did new.
I read your column every day in The Lima News. — Lee W., Lima, Ohio
Filter factor
Dear Heloise: There’s no outdoor gardening for me this time of year, but I still want to exercise my green thumb. When potting plants, I line the bottom with a paper coffee fil- ter. Excess water will drain out, but the soil and nutrients will not. Less mess! — V.H. in Ohio
Hint from him
Household Hints
Dear Heloise: An easy way to check car lights is in a closed garage. Go through the light cycle and check the rear lights against the door through the rearview mirror. — Merle C., Salem, Ore.
Of course, make sure the engine is off when you are doing this. — Heloise Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to He loise( at) He loise. com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.