Respecting the planet starts small

DEAR HELOISE >>

In the Tribune Chronicle in Warren, Ohio, awhile ago, you stated that something has to be done to solve the problem of plastic waste around the world. Our local PBS recently interviewed a young man in Akron, Ohio, who is starting up a plastic cycling plant to liquify tons of throwaway plastic to be formed again in order to keep our land- and seascapes clean. It was also noted that startups like this are happening all around the world.

In the meantime, I use dishwasher and laundry soap found in cardboard boxes. I also use the new laundry soap sheets that I found in some homegoods and hardwaretype stores. They work great and keep a plastic bottle or two from being thrown away. That is my little contribution.

— Respecting the Planet, Alice Chow, Warren,

Ohio

DEAR HELOISE >> Here is a hint I would like to share regarding scatter rugs. I used to take my scatter rugs outside each week and give them a good shake, like my mom always did. But I recently discovered a better way. My dryer has a helpful “refresh” steam cycle. I put four scatter rugs in the dryer at a time for about 30 minutes. They come out nice, clean and refreshed after all that tumbling around, which is much better than shaking them outside. All the cat hair and debris is captured in the lint trap!

— Linda Larson, San

Antonio

Several of your readers have sent suggestions in for removing garlic odors from one’s hands. My method is to squirt a few drops of lemon juice from a small bottle kept in the fridge onto my hands and rub it in. Not only does the lemon juice remove the odors, it also helps restore and retain the natural acid balance of the skin, which is especially important after using detergents.

— Charlotte Randolph

DEAR HELOISE >>

DEAR HELOISE >> Darn houseflies are pesky in the summer. They like to congregate on windows, which makes them easy to dispatch to the great beyond. Unfortunately, this leaves a messy spot on the windows, along with the problem of properly disposing the remaining cadavers.

Being a recent widower, I discovered that an easy and speedy way to solve the fly problem and keep windows clean is to use the hose from your vacuum cleaner. The best approach is to sneak up on them from behind, and when they attempt to escape, they get sucked into the abyss. My grandchildren like the game and are a bit disappointed when they run out of victims. The flies are gone, the windows are still clean and, after a tolerable amount of noise, peace reigns in the household.