HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Today’s Sound Off is about irresponsible drivers.

DEAR HELOISE: We all have turn signals with our cars, so why is it some people don’t turn theirs on when they decide to make a turn, or turn it on just as they are about to turn? I realize driving is an “overlearned” experience, but a stop sign means “stop,” not “slowly roll past the sign.” Now, with the roads becoming icy in many states, it’s important to drive with care. With the holidays comes drinking, and the police are cracking down on drunken drivers. A DUI can kill your chances of getting a good job or a promotion, and it might land you in jail.

It’s not just a vehicle for transportation; it’s thousands of pounds of steel and rubber. Drive with caution.

— Elizabeth W., Ohio

DEAR HELOISE: I have a glass-top stove and have been told not to use my cast-iron skillet on it. Nothing tastes the same as when it’s cooked in a cast-iron skillet. It was always my go-to kitchen item, so now what should I do?

— Betty D., Ohio DEAR READER: Don’t throw out your skillet just yet. You can use a cast-iron skillet, but there are certain precautions you need to take. First, the Cookware Manufacturers Association advises that you must understand the characteristics of cooking with cast iron on a glass-top stove. The skillet must have a flat bottom. Any burn areas or rough spots must be filed off before using. It’s best to place the skillet on the stove before turning on the stove, and use only medium heat. Lift the skillet to move it; never slide it across the glass surface. The skillet must fit the size of the burner.

DEAR HELOISE: My baby-fine hair is always “droopy.” I’d use a curling iron, but the volume and curl would seem to slide out halfway through the morning. Then a hairdresser told me to first bend forward when drying my hair with a hair dryer, and get the roots dry while my hair is dangling toward the floor. Next, I use a very light blast of hair spray where I plan to curl my hair and use the curling iron after the hair spray dries. No more limp hair.

— Karen B., Fairmont, W.Va.

DEAR HELOISE: When I’m shipping packages, I use tea bags as cushioning material, instead of air pillows or foam. This is an extra treat for the recipient!

— Gina A. in New York

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email Heloise@Heloise.com