HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Today’s Sound Off is about garbage cans left in plain view. We’ve had several letters, and here is one of them:

DEAR HELOISE: Why do people leave their ugly garbage cans out in front of their house not just on pickup days, but all the time? Not only is it tacky-looking, but it affects the entire neighborhood’s appearance. Many of us keep our homes painted and our yards maintained, but when someone parks a garbage can on the front porch or in front of the garage door, it makes the whole street look bad. — Walter D., Newport, R.I. DEAR WALTER: Judging by the letters we get every week, this is an annoying subject for many. If you belong to a homeowners association, perhaps it can ask everyone in the neighborhood to store garbage cans out of sight.

DEAR READERS: If you have an old toothbrush, don’t toss it out — clean and disinfect it, and use it for some of the following tasks:

As a dry brush for cleaning dust from knickknacks. Clean bathroom faucets. Clean jewelry (nonabrasive toothpaste works well here). Clean small, narrow-necked vases.

DEAR READERS: I received letters from readers who agreed with “The Rules of the Lake House” that guests need to limit their visits and come only when invited. Here are a few responses:

“It exhausts us to have overnight guests. We hear the same comments from our retired friends. Our children live out of state, and one of their visits means cleaning, shopping, baking and entertaining, and it wears us out!”

— J., via email “We love to have our family and friends over, but we also love to see them go. At our ages (74 and 76), we just can’t take more than two nights!” — Maryann H. in Denver “I’m a widower and love to have my daughter and grandkids visit. I just wish they’d leave after three days. Last year, my daughter wanted me to take the grandkids for a month in the summer, and I said, ‘Sorry, darlin’, I’m too old and too tired.’”

— Jake L., Florence, Ala.

DEAR HELOISE: I donate foam packing pieces to packing stores, and they’ll gladly accept them. In some cases, they’ll even welcome used cardboard boxes.

— Patty D., via email