Educational failure?

Heloise Here are some uses for it:

■ Place it on a desk and fill with pencils and pens.

■ Use to scoop out laundry soap.

■ Use to put dirt into a pot when planting.

■ Plant herbs in it and place on a kitchen windowsill.

— Heloise

They’re back! Dear Heloise:

areas are weakened by chlorine. — Brooke L., Syracuse, N.Y.

Cat urine Dear Heloise:

There’s no genteel way to put this except to say that I have four tomcats (all neutered) who have been spraying inside my house! The smell is getting to me, even though I scrub my floors and walls constantly. Any hints? — Bridget S., Rumson, N.J.

Bridget, a temporary solution is to use equal parts of vinegar and water to clean the affected area. But you need to start with why the cats are peeing or marking territory in your home. Are there health issues with your cats? Dirty kitty litter? Too few potty pans? Are the cats upset over changes or perhaps prevented access to the kitty litter box?

Also, use a black light (available in hardware stores or online) to find the urine spots. Cat urine glows under black light.

You’ll have to find a good enzyme cleaner to kill bacteria and rid your home of the urine scent. Above all, patience is the key. — Heloise