Taking clothes to the dry cleaner

Heloise

Dear Readers: Sometimes removing spots from dry-clean clothing can be tough. Often the stains just don’t come out for a variety of reasons. When you go to the dry cleaner, be certain to identify any stains on your garments so the store employees can take the right steps to clean them. Chat with staff about cleaning solutions and outcomes. Here are examples of some problems that can’t be solved:

Fabrics can shrink during dry-cleaning because manufacturers may not have preshrunk materials used in making the garments. Colors may bleed in dry-cleaning because some manufacturers may not have tested the dyes completely.

Some stains simply can’t be removed because efforts to do so will ruin the garment. Also be aware that if insects have damaged fabric, the tears or holes might appear only after the dry-cleaning process. — Heloise

Tearing or cutting salad greens?

Dear Heloise: We are having an argument in our family that we want you to settle. When preparing a salad, how should I handle greens to make a better salad Ñ by cutting or tearing the greens? — Peggy from Virginia

Dear Peggy: Food experts recommend that you should gently tear whatever greens you are using, rather than cutting them with a knife or kitchen scissors. Here’s why: The metal can cause the browning of the edges of the greens faster than if you tear them. Also, be aware that torn greens will hold the dressing better. — Heloise

Polishing brass

Dear Readers: Brass fixtures need care to keep the surfaces clean and to maintain the shine. How you clean it depends on whether the surface is lacquered or unlacquered brass. Use these cleaning hints for each type:

For lacquered brass, just wipe the piece with a soft, damp cloth Ñ don’t use any type of household cleaner. For unlacquered brass, squeeze a dollop of ketchup on a cleaning cloth and rub over the surface. Carefully wipe off any residue with a damp cloth and then buff dry. — Heloise

Hairspray removal

Dear Heloise: How can I remove all the hairspray that’s baked onto my curling iron? — Debbie from Georgia

Dear Debbie: Here are two methods that work: Pour several drops of rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball or you can make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water (distilled or tap). Cool the iron completely and then rub the surface of the unplugged iron with a water-dampened cloth. — Heloise

Ripe pineapple?

Dear Readers: You can tell if a pineapple is ripe first by picking up the pineapple and smelling the bottom, which should have a sweet smell. Then pull out a leaf from the top, which should come easily, and that indicates the fruit is ripe and ready to eat. — Heloise

Transform old bread

Dear Readers: If the bread in your pantry is several days old, don’t toss it out! Instead, dip the slices into sweetened condensed milk and roll in flaked coconut. Place the slices on a baking sheet in a hot oven and cook until the coconut turns brown. You now have cookies! — Heloise

Household Hints