Document valuables in home for family, insurance purposes

Dear Heloise: I walked around my home the other day and realized that it’s filled with new high-tech equipment (flat-screen TVs and computers), along with family treasures and heirlooms, like my jewelry. How can I document this so that I have a record for my family and for insurance purposes? Dear Maureen: Use your hightech equipment to document everything in your home in case of a flood, fire or burglary. Use your smartphone or digital camera to take pictures or videos of jewelry, antiques, paintings, computer equipment or anything of sentimental value.

Store one set of photos and videos on your computer and make copies for your safety deposit box or give to a relative for safekeeping. You will need these records for insurance claims.

And if you have treasured old photos, store them safely and make copies. Dear Readers: Watermelon is a summertime treat. Watermelon is aptly named because it’s more than 90 percent water and surprisingly, it’s a member of the cucumber family. When you are buying, pick the watermelon up — it should feel heavy for its size, which indicates that it’s juicy and fresh.

Store watermelons in a cool area until you slice them. The cut watermelon should be refrigerated. Dear Readers: You’ve just cleaned your stainless steel flatware and you notice it still looks spotted. Hard water may be the cause of the problem.

To eliminate these spots, lightly dampen a cloth with warm or hot vinegar and rub the cloth over the spotty areas, rinse well and dry quickly. When hand-washing flatware, don’t let it air-dry. Dear Heloise: After my family and I have a great day at the beach, it’s easy to track that beautiful sand into our car and home. Heloise, help me deal with this. Dear Sarah: That beach sand just seems to worm its way into the carpet, clothes, the car and your home. Take these steps to prevent it from getting there in the first place:

After you leave the beach, and before getting to the car, sprinkle a healthy amount of baby powder or baking soda on the top and bottom of everyone’s feet and in between the toes to get the sand off quickly.

Buy cheap plastic shower curtains and drape them over the car seats to protect them.