For some, lavender scent helps with insomnia

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Many people swear by lavender oil to help them sleep. When I’m having a mild bout of insomnia, I like to put some lavender oil on a couple of cotton balls, then place the lavender-scented cotton balls inside my pillowcase. I can smell the clean scent of old English lavender and sleep like a baby.

Dear Heloise: One sure way to kill broad-leaf weeds is to place a shot of vinegar where the dandelion plant was. Be careful not to splash the other plants around the weed. This also works on Bermuda grass between cracks and crevices.

Dear Heloise: One of my favorite tools around the house is index cards. I make a list of items I need to pick up at the store, or make a list of places where I need to stop, or jot down something important someone said to me. I always have a couple of index cards with me. I also can leave messages for my husband or kids on an index card.

Dear Heloise: After a cold or flu, it’s always wise to disinfect items we’ve handled, such as a computer mouse, toothbrush handles, door handles, etc. It’s so easy to pass on germs that could be killed by disinfectants. —

Dear Heloise: There are many hydrating masks on the market, but for me, the best is one I make from natural products that are already in my kitchen. I blend together 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 2 teaspoons of sour cream, one egg yolk and half a cup of oatmeal, which has been made into a powder in my blender, and make a paste out of it. Then I apply it to my face with a wide artist’s brush and lie down for half an hour. I rinse off with warm water and see how nice my skin looks.

Dear Heloise: Since my job requires that I stand for several hours a day, my feet usually get tired by the time I get home. One of the best ways to give myself a foot massage is to roll my feet over a rubber ball, one ball per foot. Afterward, I soak my feet in a pan of water with 3 tablespoons of baking soda for about 30 minutes, then dry my feet off and use a little lotion on them. If my feet get very dry, I rub olive oil into them, slip on a pair of cotton socks and leave them on overnight. My feet feel great afterward. Helen B., Juneau, Alaska

Dear Heloise: My big complaint is about place mats. I used to be able to find place mats for my round table that were curved to fit the round edge. I have a hard time finding them now.

Dear Heloise: I bought soft bathroom tissue, but my husband said, “We can’t use that; we have a septic tank,” so I am filling up little empty square boxes of tissue with the roll.

The packaging should say whether the paper is safe for septic systems.