HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Today’s Sound Off is about the phone bill’s added charges and taxes.

DEAR HELOISE: I recently moved into my first apartment and was shocked to discover that my phone bill, which includes a landline, my computer and cellphone, was 25 percent to 30 percent taxes! I called the phone company and asked for an explanation. The woman I spoke with didn’t seem to know what half of the charges were for, either. When I signed up for telephone service, no one told me about all these taxes and other charges. Why can’t the telephone companies tell us the truth about all these charges, and why don’t they pick up some of these expenses instead of burdening the public with them?

— Roberta G., Ohio

DEAR HELOISE: My sister and I have been wondering how to properly clean a mattress.

— Tanya M., Illinois DEAR READER: The first thing you can do is spray a water repellent on the surface of a mattress on both sides. Wait until it is completely dry before covering it with a good-quality mattress pad to help keep out dust, dander and dust mites. After you’ve done this, try the following:

Vacuum your mattress once a month.

Wash the mattress pad once a month in hot water and soap to kill dust mites.

If you spill any liquid on the mattress, soak up as much as you can with a bath towel or paper towels. Use upholstery cleaners to shampoo out the stain, but make sure your mattress is completely dry before putting the mattress pad on.

Most mattress manufacturers say we do not have to “flip” our mattresses every six months anymore, but I still like to rotate mine every other month.

DEAR HELOISE: I have an old recipe for outside plants that works to kill bugs and feed the plants. It’s simple and easy to use with a spray bottle that hooks up to a hose. Mix together:

One small can of beer — any kind

5 tablespoons of liquid dishwashing detergent or baby shampoo

2 tablespoons of commercial plant food in liquid or powder form

Once this is in the spray bottle and attached to the hose, water your plants as usual. The soap kills bugs, but not plants.

— Rhonda P., Lodi, Calif.