HINTS FROM HELOISE

PRACTICAL, DEPENDABLE TIPS FOR TODAY’S BUSY CONSUMERS

Dear Readers: The dishwasher in our homes is an essential kitchen appliance for many of us. We use it daily and fill it with pots, pans, cooking utensils and just about everything we use for the preparation of our food. But it can also be utilized to clean a variety of other items you have around your house.

The following can be placed in the dishwasher for cleaning, but wash them separately from dishes: flip-flops, small plastic toys, brushes and combs (with hair removed), and cotton baseball caps (not old or valuable wool ones).

You also can put in sink stoppers, sponges, stove grates and removable shelves from the refrigerator. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: This is Dobby, a flame-point Siamese, with his BFF and constant playmate Taffy, a Chiweenie. Both were rescues.

— Sue Walsh, Kingwood, Texas

Readers, to see Dobby and Taffy, go to www.Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

— Heloise

Dear Heloise: My husband has multiple medical issues and many doctors. My best idea was to make file folders with labels like Heart, Knees, Vision, Hearing, Back/Spine, Skin, Prostate, Medications, etc. On the file folder cover, I staple the doctor’s business card. Also, on the cover I write the date of surgery or procedure and a brief note about each office visit. Inside each folder I put all the paperwork, results, notes and referrals.

— Sue Langan, Whittier, California

Sue, congrats on setting up these files to handle all the medical information. This organized information would be easy to enter on a computer, too.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: If your face needs a good scrub, grab a box of baking soda.

Mix three parts baking soda to one part water. After you wash your face with your normal cleanser, apply the baking soda mixture and lightly scrub. Then rinse, pat dry and put on your normal face cream.

Baking soda is indispensable around the house, and because it’s an inexpensive product, it also saves you money. For more helpful hints about baking soda, order my six-page Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes pamphlet by sending $5 and a long, selfaddressed, stamped (75 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. FYI: To clean your fingernails, sprinkle a bit of baking soda on a small nail brush and brush gently. — Heloise