DEAR HELOISE: I've discovered the power of microfiber towels! In the dryer, they attract every kind of lint and tiny particle imaginable.
This got me to wondering, and I threw a black shirt covered with fuzz (a facial tissue that'd been in the wash) into the dryer along with a microfiber cloth. At the end of the cycle, the black shirt was bright and bold black -- no lint at all!
-- D.B., Buffalo, N.Y.
DEAR READER: Yes -- the magic of microfiber! A couple of caveats: Do not use fabric softener with microfiber -- it coats the fibers, so they can't "grab on" to lint. Also, be sure to clean your lint filter on your dryer after each load.
DEAR HELOISE: I keep a spray bottle of white vinegar at the kitchen sink. I spray the black rubber collar of the garbage disposal, and it never gets slimy and gunky.
I love and read your hints all the time!
-- Buddy N., The Villages, Fla.
DEAR READER: Great use for one of my "green" go-to products! The acetic acid in vinegar does, in fact, kill bacteria -- the slime and gunk that forms on the collar of the garbage disposal. Researchers even agree that vinegar can kill the flu virus!
Vinegar is cheap and readily available. Set a bowl of vinegar in the corner of a room to eliminate funky odors. After a day, pour the vinegar down the drain.
DEAR HELOISE: I got this hint from my dry cleaner: I put a safety pin next to any stains that I have pre-treated to make it easier to find after washing. It's especially helpful on sheets and tablecloths.
This way, I can be sure the stain is gone before I put the item in the dryer. I keep safety pins handy in the bedroom and kitchen.
-- Jenny, via email
DEAR HELOISE: If you use a dehumidifier, SAVE the water! It is distilled water you don't have to pay for. However, do not use it in your iron, as it is distilled but not clean!
-- John B., Erie, Pa.
DEAR READERS: Do you know the difference between a disinfectant and a sanitizer?
A disinfectant must completely destroy all the organisms listed on its label, including bacteria, viruses and fungi (but not necessarily their spores).
A sanitizer must reduce (but not necessarily eliminate) the number of microorganisms on a surface by 99.9 percent.
DEAR HELOISE: I told my kids we were having crudites as part of our dinner. Imagine their shock when they saw carrots and celery with sour cream and yogurt!
-- Crazy Mom in Illinois
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Weekend on 10/18/2018