LITTLE ROCK — DEAR READERS: Here is this week’s sound off, about stores mixing and matching egg cartons:
“The date on egg cartons must not mean very much. In a grocery store, I saw an employee adjusting the eggs according to the breakage. He would remove the broken or cracked eggs from one carton and fill it from another carton that had empty spaces. Of course, they all may have been the same date, but you can’t be sure of that.
- B.J. in Tennessee”
Th e date does mean something. According to the United States Department of Agriculture: “For best quality, use eggs within three to five weeks of the date you purchase them. The ‘sell-by’ date usually will expire during that length of time, but the eggs are perfectly safe to use.” So it seems to me that even with a “mix and match” carton of eggs, you are safe eating them.
DEAR HELOISE: Can you please tell me how to remove instant glue from my countertops?
- Lana E., Klondike, Texas
DEAR READER: A big factor is the type of countertops. If they are marble, granite or a specialty type, you should contact the manufacturer for its recommendation. Do not use nail-polish remover on these surfaces.
If you have laminate countertops, place a hot, wet cloth (like a washcloth) on the glue spots. Leave the cloth on a spot until it cools, then replace it with another hot, wet cloth. Repeat this process until the glue has softened and you can peel it off.
If this method doesn’t work, they do make products for instant-glue removal. Just be careful when using, as they can dull the finish. Test an out-of-the-way spot before using.
DEAR HELOISE: In response to Jan in Ohio (regarding a previous column about making spice packets. - Heloise), I, too, have been putting together spice packets for many years.
To save more money, I go to my health-food store and purchase spices in smaller quantities from the bulk containers. I can buy as much or as little as I need, and they won’t go stale in my cupboard. I saved bottles from the original purchase, so I’m not paying for the packaging of small bottles.
- D.L. in Colorado
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 Heloise@Heloise.com
ActiveStyle, Pages 26 on 01/28/2013