DEAR HELOISE: My mother told me never to leave an appliance running unattended. Within a month recently, three things happened:
1) I had to replace my dishwasher. When the old one was removed, there was serious heat damage on the cabinet next to it.
2) When I told a friend, she told me they had recently bought a dishwasher, and about a month later, she started it after dinner and went into the living room to relax. Soon they realized that the kitchen was on fire. The fire was extinguished without injury, and the company replaced the dishwasher and repaired the damage to the kitchen.
3) My daughter was baking and went to add another dish to the oven. She realized that the oven was way too hot. She tried to turn it down and then tried to turn it off, without success. Finally she was able to shut off the power. The stove and the wall behind it were too hot to touch.
Most appliances work as they should, but new or old, there are a few that have a problem. I no longer start the dishwasher as I head to bed.
-- Ann J.,
Deer Park, Wash.
DEAR READER: Examples like these remind us all why it's a good habit to start the dishwasher right after dinner and not leave the clothes dryer running while you go to bed or run errands.
DEAR HELOISE: I periodically receive beautiful floral arrangements. Although I do tend to them, eventually the flowers fade away. I still have lovely greens in very good condition. I wash the stems, trim them and put them in clean water, then go to the store and purchase a bunch of new flowers to add to the greenery. Now I have another lovely arrangement.
-- Lillian H., via email
DEAR HELOISE: I have some hints for those inexpensive vinyl, flannel-backed tablecloths. They make great temporary curtains. Also, upside down, they work as picnic blankets or emergency outdoor seating.
-- Indy F., Gonzales, La.
DEAR HELOISE: Here is a hint to keep drawer-organizer trays from sliding to the rear of the drawer: I cut an empty cardboard paper-towel roll to fit and place it between the tray and the back of the drawer.
-- Jeff A., Irvine, Calif.
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
Style on 05/24/2016