Dear Heloise: I read with interest the person who wrote about rust spots being on their clothing when it was taken out of the dryer. This prompted me to think that it probably wasn’t the dryer, but the washer instead.

So, I checked my washer (which is 30 years old, but still works like a charm) and found that it had three rusting areas around the holes in the machine. So, I took some white fingernail polish and painted around the rusting holes. This way, I can monitor them and make sure that they are still covered.

Another unrelated hint that I have is to save the butter wrappers from sticks of butter. I fold them in half, save them in the refrigerator, and pull them out to lightly grease casserole dishes before I bake. It makes cleanup much easier.

I enjoy reading your hints in the Temple Daily Telegram. — Marilyn Burres, via email

FILL UP AT HALF A TANK

Dear Heloise: My uncle who’s a professional truck driver always says to fill up at half a tank. If you are traveling, this gives you plenty of time to find the brand or price you like.

If you are not traveling, this ensures that your car is ready for an unexpected drive somewhere. If you are paying cash, this is a lesser hit on your wallet than if you let your tank get emptier. — Robert D. Kelly, via email

PASTA SALAD ALTERNATIVE

Dear Heloise: I recently bought a container of pico de gallo at my grocery store and did not use the entire container. It occurred to me that I could boil my favorite pasta and add a few veggies and salad dressing. Boom, pasta salad. Thank you. — Caitlin Marquardt, Westerville, Ohio

TWO HINTS IN ONE

Dear Heloise: I have a couple of hints to share! First, if you are going to visit someone who is elderly, be sure to allow 3-4 minutes to go by after you ring the doorbell before you decide to leave.

Many elderly people need time to get up and walk to the door, and for many of us, it’s not as easy as it once was. I walk with a cane, and just getting up from a chair is a little difficult at times.

Second, as a crossword puzzle fan, I often find that my eraser gets rather “cruddy” from the newspaper ink. To clean it, I use an old emery board. The results make my eraser look like new. — K., in Kansas

REFRIGERATOR “SUN TEA”

Dear Heloise: Because leaving tea to brew in the sun may allow bacteria to grow, it’s safer to make it in the refrigerator instead. I leave mine in the fridge for 24 hours and end up with a nice tea that’s already chilled.

This method also works for making cold brew coffee, although you have to figure out how to strain the grounds later. I put my ground coffee into a cheesecloth bag, then pour the cold coffee through a paper filter after it’s brewed. Cold brew coffee is less bitter than hot coffee.

Also, I keep a thermometer in my refrigerator to make sure that the temperature stays below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. You can’t always trust the fridge to maintain a safe temperature.

Thanks for all your helpful hints. — Joan T., via email

Joan, I can’t say I’ve had any problems with sun tea growing bacteria, but I like your idea of using the refrigerator to make cold tea and coffee. — Heloise