"Hints from Heloise" Turns 50

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the newspaper column that
eventually became "Hints from Heloise," one of America’s most trusted
sources of household advice.


To celebrate this milestone, Bottom Line/Personal asked the current
Heloise, who has written the column since her mother’s death in 1977,
to sort through a half-century of hints to select her personal
favorites and the hints her readers most often request...

Clear stubborn odors from a microwave. Odors often work their way deep
into the mechanisms, where no amount of scrubbing removes them.
Instead, put a handful of chopped lemon or lime rind or a tablespoon
of vanilla extract in a microwave-safe bowl that can hold at least
four cups. Add one cup of water, then put the bowl in the microwave
and heat it until the water boils. (Microwave wattage varies, so cook
only as long as it takes for the water to boil.) The heated citrus or
vanilla acts as an air freshener, covering the offensive odor.

Caution: To avoid being scalded, let the water cool for at least 15
minutes before opening the door, then wipe out the microwave.


Bonus: The heat and moisture from the boiling water loosen any gunk
stuck to the inside of the microwave, making it easier to remove.

Deodorize smelly drains. Combine one-half cup of baking soda with one-
quarter cup of table salt, then pour the mixture down the drain. Pour
one to two cups of white vinegar in after it -- the drain will foam
and bubble. Wait 15 to 30 minutes, then put the stopper in the sink
and fill it with hot water. As soon as the sink is full, pull out the
stopper (use tongs so that you don’t burn your hand) and let water
flush the drain clean.

If odor persists, pour one-half cup of hydrogen peroxide or white
vinegar in the drain, let sit for 20 to 30 minutes, then fill the sink
with cold water and pull the stopper to flush clean.

Eliminate ring around the collar. Squirt a small amount of inexpensive
hair shampoo onto the ring, and rub it together before putting the
shirt in the wash. Shampoo is designed to clean body oil and sweat
from hair, and it does this just as well on shirt collars.

Helpful: To avoid future rings, wipe your neck with rubbing alcohol or
a baby wipe in the morning after you shower. Those with chronically
sweaty necks also can apply antiperspirant on their necks before
dressing.

Keep dark clothes dark. Turn dark clothes inside out before putting
them in the washer to limit abrasion, slowing the fading process. Air-
drying further limits fading.

Avoid the clothing-care trap by reading care labels before buying
garments. "Dry-clean only" clothes may not be a good deal, even when
they’re on sale -- they may be too expensive to clean.

Remove ballpoint-ink stains. Place the washable garment on a towel,
stain-side down. Lightly dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol (test an
inconspicuous area of the garment first to make sure the fabric is
alcohol-safe), and use this to dab the stain from the opposite side of
the fabric -- just dab, don’t rub. Don’t dab from the stain side,
which can push ink further into the fabric. Continue dabbing until no
more ink comes off onto the dabbing cloth or towel beneath. (Move the
towel frequently so that there is always a clean area under the stain
to absorb the ink.)

Apply stain pretreater or liquid laundry detergent directly to the
remaining ink stain, let it set for a few minutes, then wash according
to the garment’s care instructions. Air-dry.


Never put any stained item into a dryer. The dryer’s heat makes any
stain that remains more difficult to remove.

Remove mustard and chocolate stains. Rub a few drops of liquid
glycerin (available online, in drugstores and in some grocery stores)
into these stains with your fingers, then rub the stained section of
the material together for a few seconds. Next, apply stain remover or
laundry detergent directly to the stain. Wash in cool water, and air-
dry.

Get gravy stains out of a tablecloth. Spoon up as much of the spilled
gravy as possible as quickly as you can. Sprinkle flour or artificial
sweetener over the stained area -- this should absorb much of the
grease. When the flour or sweetener becomes clumpy, brush it off and
lay the stained section of the tablecloth in a sink of lukewarm water.
Add one teaspoon of a mild, colorless laundry detergent for each cup
of water in the sink, then soak for 20 minutes. Wash according to the
care instructions.

Remove candle wax from carpet. Fill a metal pan with ice cubes, then
set the pan on top of the wax until it freezes solid. Use a small
hammer to shatter the frozen wax, then vacuum up the shards. Press
pieces of tape, sticky side down, into the carpet to pick up pieces
that remain. If there’s still wax residue, apply a small amount of dry-
cleaning solvent/spot remover (from the laundry section of your
grocery store or drugstore) to a clean terry cloth or microfiber
cloth, and use this to dab the section of carpet. Let the solvent dry,
then dampen a cloth with water and dab the area again.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Heloise, columnist and contributing
editor to Good Housekeeping. Her real name is Poncé Cruse Evans, and
she lives in San Antonio. She is author of the syndicated "Hints from
Heloise" newspaper column and numerous books on household cleaning and
organization, including All-New Hints from Heloise (Perigee Trade).
www.heloise.com