Dear Readers: Today's Sound Off comes from a reader who is not too happy with the sizes of her pillowcases.
She wrote: "Pillowcases are too narrow to get a bed pillow in! I've been fighting them for years.
"They were never this narrow when I was growing up. Every set of sheets I have has pillowcases that don't easily fit any of my pillows without being a frustrating battle."-Kay H., Palmdale, Calif.
Kay, maybe the bigger problem here is that the pillows nowadays are thicker and fluffier than when we were growing up. If so, then maybe manufacturers need to rethink pillowcase sizes because of this fact.-Heloise
FAST FACTS
Dear Readers: Here are some other uses for muffin tins:
- Make large ice cubes for punch bowls.
- Use as an "equal portion" device.
- Turn over to hold taco shells while filling.
- For different paint colors when painting.
- As a snack tray at children's parties.
-Heloise
VERSATILE VINEGAR
Dear Heloise: Growing up, my mother was the "Cleaning Queen" of the neighborhood, and vinegar solutions were her go-to products. I HATED the smell of vinegar! Now that I am older, I see the usefulness of vinegar as a cleaner/deodorizer. As I use it more and more, I also am finding its scent to be a bit more tolerable!-Clarisse R., via email
Clarisse, I love using vinegar, not just as a cleaner but also as an ingredient in recipes. I actually have a pamphlet titled Heloise's Fantabulous Vinegar Hints and More. In it are many hints and recipes for using the different types of vinegars. To get a copy of the pamphlet, send $5 and a stamped (68 cents), self-addressed, business-size envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. You also can order it on my website, www.Heloise.com. The more you know about the various types of vinegars, the more you will find yourself using them for more than just cleaning. Vinegar is just that versatile!-Heloise
KEEP COOL
Dear Heloise: Whenever I garden, I wear a straw hat. Inside the hat is a damp cloth to keep my head cool, especially if I am out in the heat for a while.
If the cloth gets warm, I take it out and shake it a few times. This action cools the cloth off and allows me to continue working.-Heather T., Austin, Texas
LEFTOVERS
Dear Heloise: Family gatherings equal lots of leftovers. When taking plates of food home, we use a hardy paper plate and load it up with food. We cover it with plastic wrap, then slip another plate under the first plate to hold the wrap in place.-Judy in Houston
POWDER-PUFF DUSTER
Dear Readers: Buy a brand-new powder puff and place it in your flour canister so that it will be handy when you need to dust a baking pan.-Heloise
SEND A GREAT HINT TO:
Heloise
P.O. Box 795000
San Antonio, TX 78279-5000
Fax: 1-210-HELOISE
Email: [email protected]
King Features Syndicate