Heloise

Dear Heloise: Recently, someone wrote in to warn about discarding dental floss in the toilet. A plumbing expert said to never put anything in the toilet except the “four P’s,” which are: pee, poop, puke and (toilet) paper. No gum, tampons or even facial tissues. And absolutely no flushable wipes! Only toilet paper is specially made to break down sufficiently enough and avoid clogging the pipes.

I personally know about flushable wipes. A few years ago, they caused a blockage in our pipe that required a big plumbing job with our lawn and cement walkway having to get dug up. It was expensive and yucky! — Kathleen Puglia, in New Orleans

FLOSSING PROTOCOL

Dear Heloise: Before using string floss, wash your hands and, most importantly, use hand sanitizer because you are putting your hands and everything that is on them directly into your mouth. — Carl Guarnieri, via email

GARDENING TIPS

Dear Heloise: Here’s my two cents on gardening: Even when I wear gardening gloves, I get dirt under my fingernails. I now wear thin single-use “rubber” gloves under my gardening gloves. No more dirt under my fingernails! Your hands might be sweaty when you take them off, but it’s much easier to wash your hands than it is to clean stained fingernails.

How often do we not get to weeds until they’ve gone to seed? When we end up with a seed puff, like on dandelions and others, there is no way to touch the weed without seeds spreading all over. Before touching the weed, I take a can of old-fashioned aerosol hairspray and spray the seed puffs. I give it a thorough spray, then cut the intact stem without having the weed seeds go all over the place.

Since I’ve been doing this, I have way fewer weeds cropping up everywhere. I read your column in The Columbian in Vancouver, Washington. — Carol Lee, in Vancouver, Washington

FUNERAL FLOWERS CONT’D

Dear Heloise: I wanted to present the other side of the coin when it comes to flowers for funerals. First, let me say I do not own or work in a floral shop, nor do any of my friends. However, those who do own them are trying to make a living. And perhaps some charities may not use the donated money as it was intended.

When I send a check to a charity, whether it’s in memory of someone or not, I specify on the check: “It is in memory or honor of this person and should be used for this purpose.” I put a specific program, project or general budget, but this still may not be used as requested.

Although the charity may have been very important to the deceased, a most irritating thing that can happen is finding myself on an ongoing mailing list and some times on other organization’s mailing lists. I then have to request that my name be removed, which sometimes doesn’t happen either. So, just follow your heart. — Mary Rogers, in San Antonio

LEAVING A PAPER TRAIL

Dear Heloise: Have you ever been in a public bathroom and struggled to get the paper out of its housing? I finally started to make sure that I leave a little tail for the next person’s convenience. If we all do this, it will make life just a little easier for all. — Anne, in Montana

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.

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