Make a list of essential passwords in case tragedy strikes

Dear Readers: I received a letter from a woman whose husband died recently. And she discovered that some of his accounts, at the bank and at his stockbroker, had passwords that she did not know. And it created problems for her.

So I recommend that you make a list of key passwords for all family accounts and websites.

Make several copies and put one in your safe deposit box and keep others in a secure place in your home.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: When you bring food home from the supermarket, be certain your freezer is working properly to keep food frozen.

Check to see what the recommended temperature is for your freezer.

If you notice that the temperature is fluctuating, it will cause the frozen foods to dry out, lose moisture and go bad.

Use these hints to help:

K Keep the freezer full to maintain the temperature.

K Don’t add too many non-frozen items to the freezer at one time because the heat given off could cause the freezer temperature to rise.

K Put food in moisture-proof containers with air-tight seals to preserve the taste and nutritional value.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: The pillows from family bedrooms or couches and chairs need regular cleaning, but they also occasionally need a more thorough cleaning. Launder those that can be laundered, but for others that cannot, use these steps to clean them and give them a good fluff:

1. Use the upholstery attachment of your vacuum to get rid of the dust from pillow surfaces.

2. Take pillows outside and beat them with your hand or a paddle to shake out all the debris. Allow them to sit in the fresh air for a while.

3. If you need more cleaning assistance, fabric sprays can be really helpful.

— Heloise