Dear Heloise: The perfumed inserts in magazines cause my allergies to act up. When my favorite magazine arrived this week, it contained a perfumed ad that I could smell before I opened the magazine!
I contacted the customer-service department and asked to opt out of these types of inserts, explaining the reason but not really expecting any results. To my delight, the customer-service representative apologized and took my subscription information to process my request, explaining that it might take a month or two for the change to take effect.-Sue F. in Arkansas
Glad you were delighted. Most magazines have "fragrance-free" issues, and it takes only a phone call or a visit to the website.-Heloise
P.S.: Journalistic disclosure: I am a contributing editor and longtime columnist for Good Housekeeping magazine, and yes, they have fragrance-free issues.
NO SPILLS
Dear Heloise: I enjoy your column in The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review each day. My coffee maker sits on a counter under a shelf. There is not enough space to open the top of the coffee maker, so I have to move it out to the front of the counter to fill it with water and coffee each day. When I would slide it back again, it would skid and spill water when full. I folded a thick washcloth in half and put it under the coffee maker. Now it slides back and forth with no problem.-Doris B. in Washington
Doris, my coffee maker is on a counter NOT under a cabinet, and I still pull it toward me to fill it. Yes, I get a splash of water, too. Love your hint! And if you are like me, that first cup of good, strong coffee in the morning is wonderful! Coffee is king in my book, so my Heloise's Flavored Coffees and Teas pamphlet is filled with money-saving hints. You can order online at Heloise.com, or send $3 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (68 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Coffee, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.-Heloise
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