List who to call in case of emergency
DEAR HELOISE: In a recent column, you listed several important phone numbers that family members should have programmed into their phones. I would like to add one more: ICE (in case of emergency). A first responder might not be able to determine who to contact from a long list of names in your contact list. But the ICE listing would tell them immediately who they should call. I have ICE1, for my husband, and ICE2, for my daughter, programmed into my phone. I hope this additional listing will help someone.
— Brenda S., San Antonio, Texas DEAR HELOISE: When the salad dressing jar is almost empty, I put in my portion of salad for that meal. I put the lid on and shake it up. My salad gets coated, and I pour it out into my bowl, and none of the dressing is wasted. Obviously, this only works on salad dressing containers with wide openings.
— Tom Federlin, Saratoga Springs DEAR TOM: Great hint. I think many of us like to take steps like this not to waste anything in the jars of food we have.
— Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: Thank you for continuing your mom’s column and giving me 50 years of great advice. I’ve taken two of your laundry hints, combined them and had fantastic results. By using both baking soda in the wash cycle and vinegar in the rinse, my flannel sheets are hypoallergenic and as soft as new, with next to no pilling. The fibers have relaxed, keeping the sheets close to their original size. The same is true for the rest of the laundry. Additionally, I don’t need fabric softener and have very little static, which is amazing in semi-arid Colorado.
— Bobbie, Colorado Springs, Colorado
DEAR HELOISE: You ran a reader hint about using well-known and established online retailers. I try to buy from small and local businesses as much as possible.
Many small businesses are turning to online sales to survive these days, and they are well worth our support. You can often get more unique products and services from them. It might take a little more time, but it’s worth it to support them and their employees and build relationships with the folks who run these businesses locally, nationally and internationally.
— Will Fitzhugh, Rockville, Maryland DEAR WILL: I agree. We need to support our local businesses. They are important and integral to the success of our communities.