Controlling odors in your kitchen

with white vinegar. Put a box of baking soda inside and change every three months. — Heloise

Rings on furniture

Dear Heloise :We ordered a pizza, and my children left the hot pizza box on a lacquered wood table. It left discolored spots on it! How can I remove them? — Rebecca from Ohio

Dear Rebecca :Mixa dab of non-gel toothpaste with baking soda to create a paste. Rub it gently over the stains until the paste feels warm. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. You may need to repeat this several times to lift the marks. Then buff with furniture polish or oil. — Heloise

Getting rid of dust mites

Dear Heloise: I have just discovered dust mites in my bedroom. How can I get rid of them? — Lorraine from New Jersey

Dear Lorraine :Be aware that these little creatures thrive in warm, humid weather, and they love to eat dead skin flakes from pets and people. The pieces land in carpeting, beds or furniture. Here’s what to do:

Vacuum and dust your bed and bedroom frequently. Wash bedding in the hottest water recommended for the fabric, and dry it well. You also can purchase dust-mite covers for pillows, mattresses and box springs. Substitute polyester fiber pillows for feather pillows. — Heloise

Making gourmet popcorn

Dear Readers: Does your family love to eat popcorn while watching movies at home? Well, you can surprise family members by jazzing up plain popcorn. Here are some fun and delicious ideas:

Sprinkle your regular popcorn with taco or chili seasoning mixes, seasoned salts or dry salad dressing mixes. Also, grate hard cheese like Parmesan or cheddar over hot, cooked popcorn. — Heloise

Other uses for empty detergent bottles

Dear Readers: I started to save liquid laundry detergent bottles. They can be repurposed in many ways. After cleaning them thoroughly to remove any remaining soap residue, I punch holes of different sizes in the caps (I used a hot ice pick to do this.) Then I fill my new, indestructible watering cans with water and sprinkle over flowers and plants. Use a serrated knife to cut empty bottles into different sizes for other tasks.— Heloise