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Dear Heloise: My vet's clerk suggests this way to get dogs to take pills. (I've tried cheese and mixing them with the dogs' food, but they sniff them out and eat around the pills.) She suggested that I wrap them in liverwurst and give them another chunk right after the loaded one. They can't smell the pill and gobble it down. -- Bill H., in Bloomsbury, New Jersey
Bill, I've tried everything else, so I think I'll give this a try. My dog is just so stubborn when it comes to taking a pill. -- Heloise
CLEAN KEYS
Dear Heloise: You asked how we clean our keyboards; I use a disinfectant wipe and swipe across the whole keyboard. It cleans well and evaporates quickly. There's no worry about water or liquid getting down between the keys. -- Laurie G., via email
NO TOWELS ON GLASSES
Dear Heloise: I appreciate the dish soap and water hint for cleaning eyeglasses. But using paper towels to dry the lenses? No! Paper towels are made from wood and should never be used on lenses because of the tendency to scratch them. The most-common recommendation is to use a microfiber towel, although soft cotton works well, too. -- Janet P., in Houston
TO USE STEAM OR NOT?
Dear Heloise: On vinyl, wood and most hard floors, one should use the very best steam mop. It dries almost instantly and kills all viruses and bacteria. Best of all, my floors have never been so clean. It has a five-year warranty to boot! -- Nelly B., via email
Nelly, thank you so much for sharing this tip! It's always wonderful to hear what works for our readers. However, there are a few pros and cons about using steam. Vinyl floors can be damaged by heat and strong solvents. The steam can warp and discolor the vinyl and even lift the surface over time. Wood floors should be damp-mopped, according to the manufacturer's instructions. -- Heloise
24-HOUR CEILING FAN
Dear Heloise: In a recent column in the Suncoast News, someone wrote in about dealing with fans and suggested turning them off when one's not in the room. But for those of us in humid climates, this could be a mistake. Mold and mildew love "still humid air." I have a ceiling fan that runs quietly for 24 hours a day on its lowest speed for the past 16 years in my master bedroom.
There's no draft, which keeps the air moving. It can't be using much electricity, but it still provides enough air movement to keep mold from starting. It also maintains an even temperature. This room openly adjoins a bathroom, but there's never any problems in either space. -- R.S.F., via email
R.S.F., it's the same for me. My ceiling fan goes on a little before Easter and runs day and night until nearly Christmas, just as it has for over 30 years. I’ve always admired the pioneers who settled in Texas before air-conditioning. -- Heloise
LOOKING BACK ON 30 YEARS
Dear Heloise: The letter from Connie G., in Schenectady, New York, about her husband of 30 years who had been wonderful to her was great to read. A woman who appreciates a good man -- love it! I read your column in the Denver Gazette. -- Brenda C., in Denver
Brenda, I know what you mean. It's so easy to find fault with a spouse. But it's nice to see two people who have grown together and still appreciate each other (as much or maybe more than they did on the day that they got married). -- Heloise
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