How to clean out and organize your medicine cabinet

Dear Readers: This is a good time to examine everything in your medicine cabinet. Reorganize items by use. Those that you use frequently should be on a lower shelf for easy access. Cold and other medicines should be on a higher one. Make certain you can see the labels on medicines.

Then read all labels and toss out the following: tablets that smell funny or are discolored, capsules that are sticking together, liquid medication that has come apart, medications that have expired, and bottles that don’t have a label. Always store them in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: If you notice that the inside of plastic bowls or dishes is stinky, here’s how to remove that awful odor. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub it all over the inside surfaces and allow to stay on overnight. Then wash with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and dry. The smell will be gone.

Baking soda can be used all around your house. If you want to learn about other uses and more hints, order my six-page Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes pamphlet by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (75 cents) envelope to: Heloise/baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. FYI: To clean fingernails, sprinkle a bit of baking soda on a small nail brush and gently scrub your nails.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: If you are getting your sweaters ready for fall wear, when you get them out, read the care labels.

Some might need to be aired out or washed.

To clean the sweaters that you can hand-wash, use a mild soap and rinse thoroughly. Then roll the sweater in a large dry towel and gently push on it to squeeze out the water. Lay the sweater flat to dry. Do not wring out or hang the sweater to dry, because the sweater might stretch out of shape. Do not iron a sweater to remove wrinkles, because this might damage the fibers. Instead, use a steamer to get rid of them.

— Heloise