How to keep heating bills in check
DEAR HELOISE: Our heating bill is so high. What can we do to lower it? We need your hints.
— Eleanor in South Dakota
DEAR ELEANOR: During the winter months, conserving energy and controlling high heating bills is good for family budgets. Here are some steps you can take to help, including turning the heat down when you leave a room or go to work during the day. Here are more:
Double-check the insulation in your house to be sure that you have enough, and make certain your heaters are operating at maximum efficiency. Have your heating systems checked by a pro annually. Think about installing programmable thermostats, which will automatically turn down temperature settings when heating needs are less.
DEAR READERS: If you notice that your plants have outgrown their pots, you can repot them. But use these hints to do the job in a way that the plants will thrive in a new pot.
First, dump out the dirt and clean the pot thoroughly, because you don’t want plant diseases to spread. Mix a squirt or two of dishwashing detergent with hot water and give the pot a thorough cleaning. Then soak the pot for a couple of hours in a mixture of one-part chlorine bleach to eight-parts water. Rinse well and dry completely before adding the dirt and plant. DEAR HELOISE: All the bed pillows in my home need to be cleaned. What’s the best way to do it? — Stephanie in New Jersey
DEAR STEPHANIE: To refresh and clean bed pillows, first do this: Determine the content — foam, down or polyester — read the care labels and then do the following:
■ Foam pillows: Wash this type by hand in a large sink. Apply mild detergents (dissolve first) and use just warm water. Airdry, because the foam might disintegrate in the dryer.
■ Down pillows: Place in the washing machine on the gentle cycle. Agitate for only two minutes and put into the dryer with a fabric-softener sheet. Check the seams to make certain they are secure.
■ Polyester pillows: Put two at a time in the washing machine. Use the gentle cycle and agitate for only one or two minutes. Rinse until detergent is gone and then dry on low.
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