Laundry spray removes gunk from scissors
Dear Heloise: I have a pair of scissors that I have been using to shred the many address labels I receive from various charities. They are getting all gunked up from the paste. How can I clean them?
Dear Reader: To remove the adhesive, try using a petroleum-based laundry spray for pre-treating stains, or an adhesive remover that you find at office-supply stores. Apply it directly to the blades and let it sit for a few minutes, then take a nylon scrubber and rub to remove the gunk. Rinse the scissors with water, then wipe them dry.
Dear Heloise: Tags! They itch, they scratch your neck, and they’re a nuisance. But what if you don’t want to cut them off a garment that you might recycle?
Buy a roll of heat-sensitive seam-binding material, cut it to size and stick it between the tag and the garment. Apply a warm iron. Problem
Heloise
solved. The tag stays down, even through laundering.
Dear Heloise: If you have trouble finding an on-off switch in the dark or reading print on black electronics, attach a small piece of selfsticking fabric tape so you can easily feel it. This works great for alarm clocks, etc.
Dear Heloise: Whenever I have an earring without a match, I use it as a pushpin on my office corkboard.
If I ever do find the lost one, I still will have a complete pair.—
Dear Heloise: Whenever I go to the beach or pool, I take chip clips with me. I use them to hold my beach towel to the chair so it doesn’t blow away or fall off.
Dear Heloise: I just moved into a house with hardwood floors. How do I care for them?
Dear Reader: Hardwood floors are beautiful and can last a long time if maintained. Here is how to take care of them:
Never push or slide furniture around. Pick it up and move it. Use furniture protectors under table legs, etc.
Place rugs in high-traffic areas, such as by doors, to minimize wear and tear.
Be careful about the shoes that are worn on your floor. High heels and cleats can leave dents.
Clean up spills immediately. Use a slightly dampened towel to wipe up spills, then go over the area with a dry towel.
Use only the correct hardwood-floor care products on your floor. Others can cause damage.
Dear Heloise: My area rugs can’t be washed in my washing machine.
I drape them over the clothesline, spray them with a hose-attachment cleaner and rinse them well with the same applicator. They dripdry and look like new. A broomstick hung on the clothesline with two showercurtain hooks makes a great sag-proof drying rod.
Dear Jane: What a great idea! Just make sure the hose attachment is cleaned thoroughly before using and doesn’t have any residue in it that might damage the rugs.
Heloise answers letters only in her King Features Syndicate column. Write her at P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; or send a fax to 210-HELOISE.