DEAR HELOISE: I read your column every day and truly look forward to your hints and suggestions. After taking a good look at my dirty windows, I'm starting to think about spring-cleaning.
Do you have a recipe for an outdoor glass cleaner that is sprayed on and then rinsed off? I have windows that I cannot reach but can get to with a spray.
-- Judith M., via email
DEAR READER: Outdoor glass cleaner is a simple formula. It is cheap to make:
Mix 16 ounces water with 1/2 cup white or apple-cider vinegar and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol.
You're going to need an attachment for your garden hose that will power-spray on this formula. Look for one at home-improvement centers.
Cheap, abundant and safe cleaners have been in my home for years. Always label all homemade cleaners. Drop a bit of blue food coloring into the bottle so you'll know it is window cleaner.
DEAR HELOISE: We have a Labrador retriever who always needs to be dried off before coming into the house. When all of her towels were in the wash one day, I used crumpled-up newspaper to dry her.
The newspaper acted like a sponge, and when finished, I tossed it into the trash. No more smelly towels by the back door.
-- Lynn S., Penn Yan, N.Y.
DEAR HELOISE: On movie night at home, we have the kids wear their hoodies backward. The hoodie will catch popcorn and snacks that don't make it into the mouth.
-- Rhonda R. in San Antonio
DEAR HELOISE: A hint for old nylon stockings: They may be recycled as "stuffing" for soft pillows that easily conform to your body.
There are several "pillow ministries" in our area that distribute such pillows to hospitals and nursing homes.
-- Leslie A. in Texas
DEAR HELOISE: I have another use for those perfume strips in magazines: I cut them out, open them and put them on my nightwear in the drawer.
-- Beverly C., Virginia
DEAR READERS: If you have an ice cream scoop, there are a number of ways to use it besides ice cream:
• Shape meatballs.
• Scoop out shortening.
• Remove eggs from boiling water.
• Dig holes for bulbs in the garden.
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
HomeStyle on 03/24/2018