LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: Is there a simple remedy for noisy hardwood floors? I have tried baby powder and mineral oil.
- Chris, via e-mail
DEAR READER: There could be several causes. There aren’t enough nails in the floor, the subfloor isweak, or you have too much or not enough humidity in the room.
We checked with the National Wood Flooring Association, and the humidity factor is the most common culprit. Regulate the humidity of your home year-round. Even in northern climates it can get very hot and sticky in the summer. You may be able to just open doors and windows for airflow through the house, but an air conditioner is a good way to dehumidify. In winter or dry climates, add moisture to the room by boiling some water on the stove or opening the dishwasher during the drying cycle. Your home should be at a relative humidity of 50 percent or below. Baby powder can work temporarily, but you may want a general contractor to size up the situation.
DEAR HELOISE: I keep my dust cloths in one of those plastic-bag storage sleeves that hang up. When I need one, I simply pull it out of the bottom. If I wash it for reuse, it goes in again at the top.
- Jean in Connecticut
DEAR HELOISE: I never put wet garbage in the trash can. If I can’t put it in the garbage disposal, I put it in a plastic bag and store it in my freezer until garbage day.
- E.K.L. in Colorado
DEAR HELOISE: Shop dollar stores for bargain washcloths, bathroom rugs/accessories, toiletries, food items, pens, pencils, notebooks, cleaning products, laundry baskets and lots of other items for students headed to college.
- Betty Elliott, via e-mail Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail
MovieStyle, Pages 36 on 06/25/2010