DEAR HELOISE: I got a wonderful dresser from a neighbor. We did not smell any cigarette smoke when we received it. We painted it and put the drawers back in. Now all we smell is a musty, yucky cigarette smell. I have used charcoal, vinegar, baking soda, sunlight, dryer sheets and soap. I am desperate. I don't want to get rid of the dresser. Please help!
-- K.G., via email
DEAR READER: Hmmm. You seem to have tried the usual items that I would suggest. Did you paint the inside of the dresser and the drawers? If not, then the exposed wood is where the smell probably is coming from. Do go back to the vinegar, but you need to wipe down all surfaces; placing a bowl of vinegar, baking soda or charcoal in the dresser is not going to kill the odor. Also, many of the odor-removing sprays for fabric do neutralize odors, so you can give that a try. The important thing to keep in mind is that you must apply the vinegar (full strength will not hurt) to all of the surfaces, including the bottom. Do this several times, allowing the wood to dry completely between applications. If you want to do a Heloise test, use vinegar on one drawer, fabric spray on another and see which works better.
When done, try another coat of paint, and use a sealer. Hopefully this will banish that smell. Last resort? Try to mask the smell. Put some cologne or perfume on a paper towel, wipe it on the wood and let dry. It's worth a shot.
DEAR HELOISE: I used to text my husband the parking-space number at the airport garage whenever I traveled. Now with a smartphone, I send a photo of the back of my car, showing license-plate and spot number, plus a photo of the parking ticket. I hope never to need him to pick up my car, but if he does, he will have the location and the parking fee at his fingertips.
-- Linda in Houston
DEAR READER: Good hint. This also helps you find the car when you get back.
DEAR HELOISE: I still prefer to use a day planner. In mine, there is a note section that has lined pages of paper. I made one into a monthly cleaning checklist. I wrote down the tasks like changing air filters, cleaning the oven, etc. I drew lines to divide the rest of the page into boxes for the months. Now I have a list of monthly chores, and I never forget what I need to do.
-- Nina in Alabama
DEAR HELOISE: Regarding the question about where school zones end, there usually is another speed-limit sign posted where the school zone ends and the normal speed limit resumes.
-- Peggy in San Angelo, Texas
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 05/29/2015