HELPFUL HINTS

LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: What’s the best way to clean sink drains?

• Kimberly W. in Florida

DEAR READER: There are several hints for cleaning the drain so that it does not get clogged up. The most important hint is: Don’t wait until it starts draining slowly or is stopped up! If you do the preventive hint, then you should not have to call a plumber. This common and easy-to-take-care-of household situation was just covered in a story that Good Housekeeping magazine did about me inthe March issue. (Disclosure: I have been lucky enough to write a column for Good Housekeeping for almost 30 years.) There also are a lot of tried-and-true Heloise hints in the story about getting stains out (pet urine, chocolate, etc.), cleaning wooden cutting boards and butcher blocks, and how to get out underarm stains from shirts.

Here’s the scoop on what to do to keep drains smelling fresh and free-flowing. First, pour in about1/2 cup baking soda and1/4 cup table salt. You can mix them together first if you want to. Grab a big bottle or jug of cheap household white or apple-cider vinegar and glug, glug away! You will see the foam and bubbles rise out of the drain. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, then turn on the hot water, let run for 20-30 seconds, followed by about the same of cold water. If you do this every few weeks, itwill help prevent a blockage.

Don’t stand over the sink to brush/comb your hair. Where do you think all of the loose hair goes? Down the drain, in the pipes, and then add gunk from washing hands, washing off makeup and all of the things we do when using a sink. It’s a super-duper gunky mess just waiting for the right time to cause a big old backup of water.

DEAR READERS: Lip liner helps define your lips and prevent lipstick from “bleeding.” Apply a thin coat of foundation on your lips. Let sit a few seconds, then put on your lip liner and lipstick.

DEAR HELOISE: When my now-deceased mother was in an assisted-living center, she loved the terry-cloth robe I gave her. The caregivers put it on her immediately as she stepped out of her bath. It kept her warm and absorbed much of the water on her body while the caregiver quickly dried her feet and legs.

• Linda D., Mississippi 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

Weekend, Pages 32 on 03/07/2013

Print Headline: HELPFUL HINTS