Giving the trash can a clean

Dear Heloise: I just read the letter regarding the smelly outside trash can. What has worked well for me is simply washing the can out with a hose and some bleach spray. Or I put a little bleach mixed with some water in the bottom, then use my long-handled car-wash brush to clean the can. I follow this with a good rinse.

When the can has dried, I then take any of our used-up scented candles and melt out the remaining wax. I pour the wax directly into the bottom of the trash can where it hardens and remains for months, giving the can a nice scent. I now dispose all of our used-up candles in this manner.

P.S. To safely melt out the wax, I place the candle jar in a saucepan with an inch of water and heat it until the wax melts. Handle the hot glass safely with oven gloves or tongs.

— Dominic Connecticut

Garage parking

Dear Readers: Try these hints to help with parking and avoid nicking or denting your car or garage:

To help you aim the car down the center, paint luminous stripes or put reflectors or brightly colored tape on the rear garage wall. If you don’t have good lighting in the garage, stick reflector tape on anything that seems to be in your way at night.

— Heloise

Cat litter masks smells

Dear Heloise: I have found that a good way to eliminate garbage odor is to keep cat litter at the bottom of the trash can. It works for me. Have a good day. — Ron via email

Let the sun shine

Dear Heloise: I saw your advice to put vinegar-soaked bread in the bottom of the trash can. Here’s what I do:

After the trash has been emptied, I leave the lid off and let the sun shine on and in the can. This will dry it and remove the odor. Do this every time you empty the trash, and it will not smell.

— Karen McVay via email

Dear Heloise: This is CJ. We took him from a home where he was being abused. He is the happiest dog I’ve ever encountered. Despite his early upbringing, he gets along with cats, dogs and rabbits. He is also enamored by birds and loves to play. We are so lucky to have him.

— Jennifer Perna

via email Readers, to see CJ and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise. com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@Heloise.com.

— Heloise