DEAR READERS: Where in the car is the safest place for your dog to ride? Despite the fact that your dog will probably want to ride in the front seat next to you, and perhaps with its head out the window, the dog's safest bet is in the back seat, secured in a harness or crate.
Make sure the crate has good airflow around it, and for longer road trips, pack a bag: food, bowl, bags for waste, bottled water, first aid and any medications, a favorite toy and the animal's shot history.
Safety is always the most important factor when traveling with your pet, and planning ahead should make this a smooth venture.
DEAR HELOISE: I saw where you wrote about cleaning coffee cups, but I didn't cut out the hint. Would you please write it again?
-- Fran L., Iowa
DEAR READER: Happy to, and it involves one of my favorite cleaning champions: baking soda. Safe, cheap and readily available, baking soda has a gentle but mildly gritty texture, perfect for forming a paste with a few drops of water. Rub this paste into the coffee stains with a soft cloth, and let sit for a few minutes. A second application may be necessary. Rinse.
DEAR HELOISE: After having several dog beds disintegrate after one or two washings, I came up with a better plan. I buy baby crib sheets and cover the dog beds with them. They have elastic all the way around them, so they stay in place. Cotton for the summer, flannel for the winter.
A regular crib sheet fits on a bed for larger dogs, and the mini crib sheets are perfect for smaller beds. On dog bath day, the sheets are changed so we have clean dogs and clean sheets!
-- Christine W., California
DEAR HELOISE: I keep a pop-up box of tissues on my kitchen counter for small cleanups. This saves money on paper towels.
-- Ronald N.,
Alexandria, Va.
DEAR HELOISE: I make sure to wash my hands frequently when I'm in the kitchen and following a recipe on my phone or tablet computer -- both germy.
-- Amy M. in Massachusetts
DEAR HELOISE: Businesses that advertise their address should give the cross street.
-- S. Gorman, Florida
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
HomeStyle on 01/19/2019