Use napkins instead of towels to save
DEAR HELOISE: I want to share a few ideas I’ve found useful. Instead of using paper towels for minor spills, I buy the cheap napkins in bulk size. They work just as well as the more expensive paper towels.
I also use these napkins to wrap lettuce and line berry containers (turn berries upside down on napkin). They wick away moisture and keep the produce from molding.
Another money-saver is with liquid dish detergent. Instead of squirting from the bottle, I pour it into an empty hand lotion pump, label it and keep it on the counter. With just a pump or two, much less liquid is used to do the job. I hope your readers will find these tips useful.
—Ruth M., Aka "Nana Cleans"
DEAR HELOISE: After losing our beloved dachshunds within three months of each other, we were devastated and grieving. We had agreed to no more dogs. But that just isn’t who we are and knew we had to adopt a new dog. Through one of local rescue groups, we applied for adoption and were blessed to give Bia her forever home! She is the sweetest, smartest mix.
We didn’t want an ordinary name, so after lots of research we selected "Bia." In Greek mythology, it means "goddess of power, force and might" and was the personification of raw energy. Bia was sister to Nike (victory) and was one of the winged enforcers of Zeus who stood by his throne! That’s our Bia! And she enriches our lives every day.
—Lisa m., Haymarket, Va. DEAR LISA: Rescue dogs are special and make wonderful, loving pets.
— Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: To stop the flood of spam in your email account, just set up a dummy garbage-mail account specifically for those sites that ask for your email address. That way, all your spam goes to your garbage email account.
— C. Kieley, Niles, Ohio
DEAR HELOISE: I just read the advice about learning beforehand how to operate an extinguisher. My workplace used to organize training for us, and there are things I remember.
First and foremost: call 911 before looking for the extinguisher. If you cannot get the fire under control, you will be happy to know help is on the way. Second, there are three types of extinguishers: for electrical fires, for oil and grease, and for the rest. You need to know what you have and when and how to use it.
Finally, you need to have a maintenance contract so that the extinguisher is checked yearly and refilled when needed.