Potato masher is a useful kitchen tool

Dear Heloise: I read your column daily in the Houston Chronicle. A woman wrote of all the uses for a potato masher. I do similar things with my U-shaped wire pas- try blender, which I inher- ited from my parents. It is a wall hanging decoration in my kitchen, with its Bakelite handle. But I take it down and use it to mash guacamole, stir ingredients into meatloaf, etc. It is a vintage treasure that is also a useful kitchen tool. I don’t often make pastry or pie crust, but it sometimes is used for its intended purpose. It brings back great family memories. — Rusti Stover, Houston

Taking care of plants while away

Dear Heloise: Get a child’s wading pool, fill it halfway with water and place it under a tree. Set your potted plants in the water, and the plants will be in good shape when you return. I read your column in the Houston Chronicle. — Patricia Roberts, Bellaire, Texas

Vinegar to the rescue

After mopping a no-wax floor, add several capfuls of vinegar to the water to help remove any remaining soap film and to leave the floor clean and shiny.

Vinegar is such an indis- pensable and safe house- hold product that can be used for cleaning, deodor- izing and cooking. You can learn more uses for vine- gar in my vinegar pamphlet “Fantabulous Vinegar Hints and More.” Get a copy by visiting www.heloise.com, or by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (78 cents) envelope to: Heloise/ Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. — Heloise

Unknown phone numbers

Dear Heloise: Regarding the writer receiving calls from staff from their private phones about her mother in care: When she receives a call from one of them, she can save it in her phone as “Care Home.” Then, when she receives a call from any of the saved numbers, it will show up on caller ID as “Care Home.” She can save any number of calls under “Care Home,” or what- ever she chooses to name it. Maybe “News about Mom”? — Been There