Straightening out old photos that have curled while stored

DEAR READERS: If you have boxes or bins of photos that you are going to sort through to put in albums, you may notice that the edges and corners of some have curled up. Here’s how to safely solve that problem.

If the photos are newer, place them between the pages of a big, heavy book. You can carefully iron them on a LOW setting. Put the photos picture side down and press for just a couple of seconds.

But if the pictures are fragile, old or brittle, take them to a professional photo shop for help. And if many of the photos are meaningful or valued, it’s a good idea to scan them or make copies.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: Take note that plastic toys should be sanitized regularly, depending on use. These toys will end up in your baby’s mouth, so you want them to be clean.

Here’s what to do.

1 First, wash plastic toys in soapy water.

1 Then let them soak in a mixture of 1/4 cup bleach and 1 gallon of water for five minutes. Rinse well and air-dry. But don’t use this solution on toys that have metal parts, because the bleach might cause them to corrode.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: Refrigerators are used so much every day, and we often stuff them full. Then we forget what’s in those containers and take-out cartons. They get shoved to the back of shelves because we place new items in the front. When the fridge is crammed, you will know it’s time to clean it out.

Give the fridge a smell test to find out what’s causing the odor. Toss out outdated or old items and anything stinky or with fuzz on it. Put leftovers in zip-top bags or plastic containers. Clean the shelves with hot, soapy water to remove spills and then wipe the walls with white vinegar.

To help control odors, pour baking soda in a plastic margarine tub, poke holes in the lid and place in the fridge. Replace every three months. You can place small dishes of lime or lemon slices on different shelves as well.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: If your artistic child has left crayon artwork on the wall, here’s how to remove the marks. Pour a small amount of dry-cleaning solvent on a terrycloth towel. Wipe this over the crayon marks. The scrawls should come off.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: When you bring home dried pasta, if you are worried about bugs, you can place the pasta in sealed containers. Dried pasta has a shelf life of around two years if it is stored in a cool, dry place.

Heloise

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you fax it to 210-HELOISE. Email heloise@heloise.com.