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Dear Heloise: I had an important document that I needed to keep handy, so I put it on top of a pile of papers in my long desktop drawer. Minutes later, I went to retrieve it, but it was missing. Simply gone!
It took me a bit to figure out that it must have slipped over the back of the drawer and, of course, landed on the floor. But it was not there either. This desk drawer, unlike many, had a panel under it where things could get lost forever. Unfortunately, the whole drawer had to be removed to get underneath it.
Now that I'm aware of that panel, I'm on a quest to check under similar drawers in the house. Who knows what treasures are going to be found. -- A Reader From Connecticut
CURSIVE SOUND OFF
Dear Heloise: I just read comments from a retired teacher in your column. I am going on 83 years old, and I am outraged that our local schools in Miamisburg, Ohio, did not teach my grandchildren how to read and write cursive. Their ages are now 24, 18 and almost 17. If I write them a note or anything else without printing it, they struggle to read it, even if I wrote very carefully.
I have so much family history that I am putting together, including very old letters and even some information on the back of ancestors' pictures. They will never be able to read them because of the stupidity of some so-called educators. I believe that local schools are starting to bring back the teaching of cursive finally, but the damage has already been done to my grandchildren.
Fortunately, many other schools across the nation did not subscribe to such foolishness and never stopped teaching cursive writing, nor phonics for reading. -- Mary Carter, Miamisburg, Ohio
SCUFFED SHOES
Dear Heloise: I have a pair of dressy flats in a sort of silvery black color. I noticed that they had become scuffed and looked worn, with some of the color getting muted. It occurred to me to try putting some petroleum jelly on them. I was astounded at the difference. They were almost as good as new -- no black polish needed. -- Karen Greding, Thousand Oaks, California
REMOVING STAINS FROM THERMOSES
Dear Heloise: I saw that using powdered dish soap helps to clean stains off thermoses, pots and pans. Another way to clean glass thermoses easily is to spray some window spray in the thermos, enough to slosh around, and it pretty much cleans itself. I've been doing this for many years. -- J.H., via email
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Dear Heloise: I am reacting to your "Porch Pirate" reader hint in a recent column in the Villages Daily Sun. It's great for neighbors to look out for neighbors' properties, but the decline in honesty and increase in theft and looting in America is appalling.
Let's all recall the "thou shalt not steal" commandment and work for what we have. If one is truly poor, government assistance and churches or charities can help. If you steal to buy drugs, please go to rehab. Make America a good, safe place to live again and love thy neighbor. -- Ellen Cora, The Villages, Florida
A FEW HINTS TO MAKE LIFE SIMPLER
Dear Heloise: For a long time, I've been saving up hints to send you, but before I get to those, I'd like to say thank you for some very helpful ones that you and your readers have shared. They have made my work in the kitchen a lot easier.
First up is cleaning a frying pan with stuck-on food. Simply sprinkle a little water, dish soap and baking soda until it loosens. It works every time, no matter how burnt-on the food may be.
Next is cleaning tea stains on cups. Dip a wet cloth or paper towel in baking soda, then scrub. It works beautifully on my good china. It doesn't scratch, there isn't any soaking involved, and it's quick!
I like to use rubber gloves when washing dishes. Another hint is to wipe the gloves dry with a dish towel, just as one would wipe dishes. So simple, but I just never thought of it!
And one last thing: A reader suggested cleaning the kitchen sink with dishwashing liquid and a scrubby sponge, but there's no need for harsh chemicals. I have a stainless steel sink and found that adding a dash of baking soda keeps it looking clean for longer. It only takes a few minutes, so it's no problem to clean daily. -- A Reader From Connecticut
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.