HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: In the parking lot of a shopping center, I pulled into a spot near another car with two ladies smoking in the front seat, windows down and a small boy strapped in a car seat in the back of the car.

I spoke to them about the dangers of secondhand smoke and told them it’s against the law to be smoking in a car with those under the age of 18. They both put out their cigarettes and thanked me for letting them know.

I hope they take it seriously and will not do it again or never smoke in the presence of anyone who could be affected, especially children. Their lungs are small and can be forever affected by smoking.

— Susan R., Lima, Ohio DEAR READER: Thanks for speaking up for the little boy. Currently, nearly 30 states have laws that address secondhand smoke. The U.S. surgeon general agrees: Secondhand smoke IS a cause of lung cancer.

Readers, smoking is addictive. If you or someone you know needs help quitting, call the American Lung Association: (800) 586-4872.

DEAR READERS: Want a cheap and effective way to scrub out your kitchen or bathroom sink? Reach for one of my favorite kitchen go-tos, baking soda. Sprinkle a generous amount in an empty sink and add enough water to make a paste. Scrub gently with a damp sponge throughout, up the sides and in the drain. Rinse thoroughly.

DEAR HELOISE: Before I freeze an item that is at room temperature, I put it in the refrigerator and chill it thoroughly before it goes in the freezer. Freezing an item at room temperature warms the items around it in the freezer and takes more time to freeze.

— Mary H., via email DEAR READER: Placing a room-temperature item in the freezer can raise the temperature of the foods around it, disrupting the freezing environment.

A full freezer saves money; the cold air doesn’t have to work as hard to circulate.

Label all foods in the freezer, or else you may wind up being a detective, with a big mystery on your hands.

DEAR HELOISE: I was having difficulty opening a bottle of water when my aunt told me to turn the bottle, not the cap. Worked great. My aunt is 87 years old, and I am 76. Just shows that you’re never too old to learn … or teach.

— Judy P., Boerne, Texas