DEAR HELOISE: My son recently got his first car and is very into learning how to take care of it. He learned how to change his own oil, which is great. I do want to teach him responsibility in other ways. Do you have hints for disposing of old oil?
-- Paula P. in Atlanta
DEAR READER: Collect the oil in a leak-proof container, like a plastic milk jug or old oil can. Many gas stations or quick-oil-change shops will take the old oil at no charge.
You can check with repair shops to see if they will take it. There also are collection centers in almost every city for hazardous waste.
Whatever you do, don't let him just throw it away. Oil should never be put in trash cans or landfills, or poured down a sewer drain. The oil can end up in sewers, water supplies or other places that are extremely harmful to the environment.
DEAR HELOISE: On a recent trip, I purchased several souvenirs. Later, I realized that some of the pieces were not even made in that country. Talk about disappointing. My hint is to be careful when buying souvenirs. Double-check where they were made and if they actually represent the country you are visiting. Sometimes the tourist attractions are not the best places to buy souvenirs. Visit places off the beaten path, and you will be surprised at the beautiful things you can find to remember your trip.
-- Greta G., via email
DEAR HELOISE: I would like to encourage your readers to use their garages for their vehicles instead of a storage area. It is a very simple thing to accomplish. Get rid of all the items you haven't used for more than one to two years. Bottom line is that garages were built for your vehicles, and by just doing that, your vehicles will last longer.
-- Lee in Colorado
DEAR READER: Lee, you have a point. But I can assure you, it's not as simple as "get rid of the things you haven't used for more than one to two years." Many people don't have basements to store items. Others may not have attics, or they can't use that space for storage.
Yes, the garage can become a catchall for all things. Parking a car in one will help protect it from the elements somewhat, but daily driving does not help much.
DEAR HELOISE: My older house has some doors that keep closing on their own. I use decorative bookends as doorstops.
-- K.O. in California
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
MovieStyle on 01/23/2015