Dear Readers: Plastic-bag recycling is a trending topic. Retail stores are encouraging customers to bring in their own bags to carry home their purchases, and some are limiting or eliminating the bags altogether.
What's the correct way to recycle these bags? Here's the scoop:
If your city accepts the bags (check on the city's website, or call 311), stuff as many bags as you can, making sure they are clean and dry, into one bag and tie that bag closed to create a "soccer ball" effect. Putting loose bags in the recycling is a big no-no.
If your city doesn't accept the bags (many don't), the store itself may have a collection bin in its lobby to collect used bags for recycling.
Keeping plastics out of the landfill and recycling them is the responsible thing to do to protect the environment for future generations.-Heloise
FOOD STAINS
Dear Heloise: I wanted to share this hint with everyone. I was eating tomato-basil soup with croutons, and just as I was putting this into my mouth, it rolled down my blouse and onto my new white pants.
I wiped off as much as I could, went home and sprayed stain remover on it, and then washed the pants. Most of the stain came off, so I decided to use my mother's old method of putting my pants outside.
Overnight, the dew and then the morning sunshine absolutely removed the stain and made my pants whiter!-Kathy H. in Houston
I'm glad this classic hint worked for you. Readers, I must caution you that many white fabrics today are treated with an optical brightener. These brighteners can end up turning white fabrics yellow when exposed to bright light, so be careful. But if the clothing would be ruined by the stain anyway, then it's worth a try.-Heloise
HAPPY HOUSEPLANTS
Dear Heloise: Save your vegetable cooking water instead of pouring it down the drain. The liquid from cooking/steaming carrots, corn, green beans and edamame is a nutritious treat for your houseplants.
Watering them with the vegetable liquid will recharge them. Liquid from cooking beets is too strong-smelling for indoor plants, but outdoor plants will love it.
I have been using this idea for years, and my indoor plants are happy and healthy.-Lorelei D. in Houston
CAP AND KEEP
Dear Heloise: In my office, we noticed that the black pens disappear quickly.
A co-worker suggested putting out pens WITHOUT THEIR CAPS. This worked like magic!
People won't put uncapped pens into their pockets or purses.
At the end of a long day, we collect, recap and put the pens away.-Rhonda C., via email
TISSUE ISSUE
Dear Heloise: I hate when the toilet paper in the public bathroom gets stuck in the dispenser. I have to reach underneath and work hard to find the end.
I make a point to leave the paper dangling for the next person.-Barb C. in New Jersey
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to [email protected]. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate