Dear Heloise: I keep a clean house, but I still have an ant and roach problem. What will help me stop attracting these filthy pests? I’ve used commercial companies that come in and sort of bomb the house with a mist of chemicals. I hated the smell that lingered for weeks, and the expense was nightmarish. Can you offer some advice to keep these bugs out of my house? You always know what to do, and I appreciate all your hints. — Leilani M., in Oahu, Hawaii

Leilani, having lived in Hawaii, I know how difficult it is to completely seal off a home from ants and roaches. Here are some things that you can try to keep these pests away:

— Take everything out of your cupboards and pantry, and destroy every box or bag that has a visible infestation of insects. You can’t eat food once insects are living in it and spreading their eggs, so toss it out.

— Scrub the shelves with hot sudsy water. Pay close attention to any cracks, crevices, and the undersides of shelves.

— Before you return items to your shelves, spray them with insecticide and let them dry. (Usually, it only takes a few minutes.) Be sure to spray any cracks or crevices that might be present.

— Before you return items to the shelves, make sure that you place open food packages in sealed, airtight containers.

— Keep all food off kitchen counters when not cooking. Wash the floors frequently to be sure that spills don’t attract insects. Store food in the refrigerator, and if you don’t have time to wash them before you leave, store all dishes and cups in your freezer until you get back home. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink.

— Plug the sinks and run a little water (about an inch) in the sink to close off any route the insects might use to get into your home.

You can find more information in my book “In the Kitchen with Heloise.” This includes my roach-killing recipe that uses ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now. — Heloise

STORING REUSED BAGS

Dear Heloise: After over 50 years of struggling to keep rewashed zipclose bags stored, I went to a secondhand store/thrift shop. I spotted a large file keeper and got an idea; it could work for the bags! Now I’ve got one place to put them instead of them being scattered here and there. I tossed out unusable ones after cutting them up. I hope this helps others. Thanks for all the hints over the years! — Mrs. T., via email

STICKY SITUATIONS

Dear Heloise: I am a big crafter and frequently get glue where I don’t want it. I’ve found a quick and easy to way to remove the stickiness — baby powder! I keep a small container filled with baby powder and a small bristle brush by my crafting table. Whenever glue gets where it shouldn’t be, I dip the brush in the baby powder (just a small dab will do) and brush it over the glue. Ta-da, the stickiness is gone!

This also works well on tape residue. Plus, it smells great! I’ve read your column daily in the Daily News for years, and I love all the tips and hints from your loyal readers. Thank you, and happy crafting! — Lory B., in Northridge, California

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com