Do not let your car become a haven for disgusting odors

DEAR READERS: Here are tips if the inside of your car stinks. First, take out all trash, soda and water bottles, leftover food containers, gym bag, smelly shoes and anything else that should not be left in your auto. Then vacuum the upholstery and floors to get rid of dirt and debris.

If there’s an ashtray in your car, pour baking soda in it to act as a continual deodorizer. Baking soda can also be helpful for extinguishing small fires. Put a couple of used fabric-softener sheets underneath the seats. If rubber mats smell or are grimy, take them out and wash with soap and water. Rinse and dry well before putting them back in your vehicle.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: Baseball caps and sports caps are in such use during the summer that they do get sweaty and dirty. Wool or vintage caps should be taken to the dry cleaner, but here’s how to clean cotton baseball caps:

Put the baseball caps on the top rack of the dishwasher (wash alone, no dishes). Attach with clothespins or use those special cap forms that can be placed in the dishwasher.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: It can be frustrating when you have just cleaned your stainless-steel flatware and see that it still looks spotty and unclean. Well, hard water could be the cause of the problem. To eliminate the spots, lightly dampen a cloth with warm to hot vinegar, which will remove hard-water spots. Rub the cloth over the spotty areas, rinse well and dry right away. When handwashing flatware, do not allow it to air dry.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: Soaking in a long, hot bath is a wonderful way to unwind and lessen stress. Here are some of my favorite homemade ways to create a soothing bath:

Pour a quart of milk or swirl a cup of powdered, nonfat dry milk in the tub to soothe sunburned skin. Or toss a half-pound of sea salt into warm water for a skin-cleansing bath. And finally, add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to warm water to relieve itchy or sunburned skin.

Heloise

DEAR READERS: Are your kids bored with breakfast? Get creative. You can make it fun and healthy too. Use these Heloise ideas:

1. Offer a breakfast banana split: Peel and split a banana and put it into a flat bowl. Sprinkle with a cup of dry cereal and top with a half-cup of yogurt and berries or miniature chocolate chips.

2. Whip up a breakfast pizza. Bake a whole-wheat crust and top with salsa and cheesy scrambled eggs.

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you fax it to 210-HELOISE. Email heloise@heloise.com.