HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Today is Thanksgiving Day, a time of family, friends, feasting and football. Be sure to take a moment to really count your blessings and to appreciate everything you have.

Things may not be perfect, and despite the problems we all face, there is still a reason to be thankful and hopeful.

DEAR HELOISE: I’ve found an easy way to clean my stainless steel appliances. The best cleaners are those eraser-type sponges. I just wet one and wipe back and forth. I dry with a soft cloth. I’ve loved your hints for many years.

— Sharon in Ohio

DEAR HELOISE: I came up with a good bedtime snack. I usually don’t finish my glass of milk at dinner, so I save the milk in the fridge and then add some cereal into the glass. A crunchy snack, and no wasted milk.

— Heather P., age 9, Texas

DEAR HELOISE: When I get good service from a company, I call and report the great experience. Everyone is always in a hurry to complain, but I like to call out good workers to their boss.

— Jackie W. in New York

DEAR READERS: To give your home a warm, seasoned scent, add 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to 1 cup of water, and microwave on high until the water boils, usually around three minutes. The aroma will remind you of a bakery.

DEAR HELOISE: I had some furniture with scratches that I thought was ruined. I discovered wax sticks can fill in and hide the scratches. These are available at the hardware store, and they come in many colors.

— Belinda E. in Florida

DEAR HELOISE: Brown sugar can get rock-hard. I’ve found that putting a few apple slices in the container with the sugar will soften it.

— Maddie T. in Pennsylvania

DEAR READER: Leave the slices in overnight.

DEAR READERS: To make a unique centerpiece, a wineglass with a stem, when turned upside down, can become a stand for a short candle. Adhere the candle to the glass with some melted wax. Place some pine cones, pretty mini ornaments, dried flowers or holly under the glass. Don’t let the candles burn too low. The glasses can get too hot and crack.