DEAR READERS: Just wondering: Do you wash your dishes by hand, or do you use your dishwasher? Here are some hints about dishwashing:
• The dishwasher gets hotter and can sanitize dishes better than hand-washing.
• The dishwasher uses less water -- about 4 to 6 gallons to clean a full load. To clean the same by hand, you could use up to 27 gallons.
• Hand-washing is good for detail cleaning, and for cleaning delicate items and copper pots.
Scrape dishes into the trash can first, regardless of which method you use. If you choose to hand-wash, use gloves. And sponges merely smear germs around; use a fresh dishcloth each time.
Fill one basin of your sink with hot, soapy water, and the other basin with hot water with 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach to rinse. Allow dishes to completely air-dry.
One plus to hand-washing? Great conversations with kids and family can be had while washing. Let us know how you come clean.
DEAR HELOISE: I buy clothing from thrift stores, and unfortunately, they often smell like they were washed in perfumed detergent. How do I rid these clothes of this unpleasant odor? I am allergic to perfume smells. Thank you so much! I enjoy your column.
-- Dorothy S., via email
DEAR READER: Cat litter or charcoal in your closet can absorb odors. Hanging the garment in the warm sunshine can help, as can stuffing the sleeves with crumpled newspaper.
DEAR HELOISE: I have a newspaper box that is within view of my house (I have a 150-foot driveway). I take a waterproof red ribbon, tape it to the center of my newspaper box and instruct my carrier to pull the ribbon out when he delivers the paper.
I can see it from my house, and I won't make an unnecessary trip if the paper is not in the box.
-- Janet K., Ohio
DEAR HELOISE: Plastic bags used for produce are tough to open. There always is water somewhere from the vegetables being sprayed for freshness. I swipe my fingers with the water to open them. This makes it easy.
If you worry about germs, take a few sanitizers from the front of the store to wipe off your hands when finished.
-- A Reader, via email
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
Weekend on 03/22/2018