Prepping the kitchen before making a meal

Dear Heloise: When I go into my kitchen to either bake or make a meal, I first do a little kitchen prep before I start cooking/baking:

• I place my composting bucket on the counter so that it’s ready for use.

• I put a dinner plate on the counter to rest various cooking implements, to keep them handy for reuse and to keep the counter cleaner. The dinner plate can go into the dishwasher. Standard spoon rests are often too small and do not do well in a dishwasher. I often have two plates, as my husband eats meat and I am a vegetarian, and I frequently prepare variations on the entrée to suit our individual dietary preferences.

• I get out one of my small, soft material rags (or something like an old cut-up dish towel) to use for various spills so that I do not use paper towels. These rags are used only for these specific projects and go into the laundry after one use.

Keep up the good work in your column. I especially appreciate your suggestions that support the care of our environment. — Judith MacLellan, Bedford, New Hampshire

Cloudy water glasses

Dear Heloise: Please share with Neil Dougharty in The Woodlands, Texas, that cloudiness on water glasses may be removed by gently rubbing them with a damp cloth and a paste made of baking soda. Note that this will not work if the glass is etched. P.S.: Never put fine glassware in the dishwasher! It should always be handwashed and dried. Thank you. — P.J. Wertime, Greencastle, Pennsylvania

Dear Readers: Baking soda is also excellent for cleaning and deodorizing. For more on this, check out my six-page pamphlet “Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes” by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. — Heloise

Tea and coffee stains

Dear Heloise: I soak my tea- and coffee-stained pots/ pitchers in hot water and powdered dishwasher detergent. The pots come out sparkling clean. — Diane Kirwan, via email