LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: My gripe is the short cords used on coffee makers and toasters. I have one sideboard with one electrical outlet. The cords all are short, so they don’t reachthe outlet unless I put one appliance on top of the other (of course I can’t do that). It would be nice if appliances had retractable cords, as with a vacuum cleaner.
- Jan in Maine
DEAR READER: You are right, they should be long enough to safely reach an outlet and have room for other appliances on the counter.
DEAR READERS: Other uses for wire dry-cleaning hangers:
Roasting marshmallows.
Unclogging drains.
For getting hard-to-reach items.
As plant stakes.
Use to restring a drawstring.
DEAR HELOISE: Do you have a recipe for a salt substitute?
- Sasha in St. Louis
DEAR READER: Here is the recipe for a healthy alternative. It is a great recipe for those who need to watch their salt intake. You need: 5 teaspoons onion powder 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon paprika 1 tablespoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
Mix all ingredients and place in an airtight, labeled container.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the oven. Looking for a marinade? Try Italian dressing.
DEAR HELOISE: I have two adolescent children. They sometimes have a hard time talking to me or their father about certain subjects, because they are embarrassed or afraid. I bought a couple of inexpensive notebooks and explained that if they had something they needed to talk to me about but couldn’t do it in person, to write me a note in the notebook. I would write my answer back. It has helped open a line of communication with my kids, and has helped keep me alert to what is going on in their lives.
- A Reader in Colorado
DEAR HELOISE: Mix table sugar with your everyday moisturizer for an inexpensive facial scrub. This scrub is effective and won’t harm your drain.
- B.T. in Indiana
DEAR READER: I use sugar with olive oil and gently do a “refresh” scrub.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail
ActiveStyle, Pages 28 on 09/24/2012