Dear Readers: New year, fresh start! To prep for spring cleaning, let's get you fully stocked up with all the essentials:
wet mop
sponges
chlorine bleach
dry mop
cleaning cloths
furniture polish
vacuum cleaner
all-purpose cleanser
window cleaner
stepladder
gloves
bathroom cleanser
bucket toilet
bowl brush
white vinegar
toilet bowl cleaner
scrub brush
baking soda
trash bags
ammonia
paper towels
abrasive cleanser
Clip this list and take it with you to the store. You may find some of the cleansers can do double duty. With a well-stocked supply of cleaning conquerors, you and the family can make quick work of all your cleaning challenges!-Heloise
WIRED
Dear Heloise: Help! I have electric blankets, and I want to know a good way to remove the wires so I can cut the blankets into pieces for the animal shelter.-Cathy M., Washington Court House, Ohio
Anything for our furry friends! Figure out where the wires end at the top or bottom of the blanket. Snip a tiny hole in the blanket, and the wires should pull out fairly easily. The heating element may be bigger; snip a bigger hole.-Heloise
SELLER BEWARE
Dear Heloise: A friend went to a garage sale and bought all the jewelry this older lady had. She gave her $10 for it. Then she took it to a gold dealer and received $205 for the jewelry.
Please advise older people to check their jewelry. Last week, I went through my husband's tiepins and work award pins he said he no longer wanted. I checked them, and they were 10-karat gold.-Joan P., Fort Wayne, Ind.
HINT FROM HIM
Dear Heloise: I used to get tired and frustrated when changing my king-size sheets, walking around both sides to make it even.
What I did the last time was I took a felt-tip pen and made marks on the sheets at corners and the foot end. I just line up the marks next time. Big timesaver.-Bill L., Redondo Beach, Calif.
LETTER TO SANTA
Dear Readers: We asked for your kids' and your grandkids' letters to Santa. Read on for a great one from Charlotte R, age 4, of Hamilton, Ohio:
"Dear Santa: I want a yo-yo and three rocking chairs for me and my two friends, and two 'mouses' for my kitty, and a real goldfish with real fish food.
"And I want a credit card."
So adorable! Thank you, Charlotte! Hopefully, Santa brought you everything you asked for!-Hugs, Heloise
King Features Syndicate