Household cleaners may remove oil stains from driveway

Dear Readers: For fresh, wet oil stains on a driveway, pour a lot of claytype cat litter, cornmeal or sand over the stained areas to absorb the oil. For dry stains, make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Scrub with a brush, then rinse and dry.

To get rid of oil stains from an asphalt or concrete driveway, try household cleaners first. Mix a detergent, such as laundry detergent concentrate, and water. Apply the mixture to the stain and allow to sit for some time, then scrub the stained area and rinse well. You might have to do this several times. If this doesn’t work, try this next hint.

Use trisodium phosphate (TSP), which is a strong cleaner. It can be purchased at hardware stores. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. Mix 1/2 cup of TSP with 2 gallons of water, pour over the stains and leave on for 5 to 15 minutes. Then use a long-handled brush and scrub well. Rinse completely. CAUTION: Before using the TSP, rinse close foliage with water and rinse it again with water after cleaning.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: When purchasing new white sheets and towels, read the care labels in the store. Some mightsay that you cannot use chlorine or even oxygen bleach when cleaning them. This is because fabrics are now manufactured differently with an optical brightener inside the material. It’s important to know that if the care label says no bleach, if you spill products containing hydrogen peroxide or bleach onto the fabric, it will turn yellow. This could include toothpaste, mouthwash, fruit drinks that contain citric acid and acne medication.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: With daily use, hairbrushes get dirty by accumulating hair and skin debris. Here’s how to give them a quick clean. First grab a comb to remove hair from the hairbrush. Then pour a bit of rubbing alcohol on the brush and brush out with a smaller hairbrush.

— Heloise