LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: Keeping fingernails clean while gardening is a challenge. Gardeners can scrape their fingers over a soft bar of soap to get the soap under their fingernails. It is a snap to clean the hands and nails afterward.
- Shirley in Arkansas
DEAR READERS: For many years, we have printed the tried-and-true Heloise sink-freshening hint of using baking soda and white or apple-cider vinegar. This mixture will bubble, fizz and freshen the drain. It won’t, however, clear a clog from the drain.
I started wondering, Baking soda or vinegar first? Is there a difference in the sequence? We tested baking soda, then vinegar; vinegar, then baking soda. The result? No difference.
An important point about this hint? Run hot water down the drain after about five minutes, followed by a quick stream of cold water.
Allowing the mixture to soak for a long time or even overnight does not work better. Don’t overdo it on the baking soda - 1/2 cup is sufficient.
Baking soda is a real nose to-the-grindstone worker around the home. It’s an inexpensive and earth-friendly nonabrasive cleanser, revitalizer and kitchen revver-upper. One-quarter teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar can stand in for baking powder when baking.
DEAR HELOISE: I wanted to hang a calendar on the fridge and couldn’t figure out how to do it. Then I came up with the idea of gluing a magnet onto the back of a clothespin. I made three, and they held the calendar in place with no problem. It was an easy fix.
- Robin in Oklahoma
P.S.: You can buy magnets at any crafts store, and in several shapes, too.
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
Weekend, Pages 39 on 03/03/2011