Trending
Dear Heloise: Regarding the letter about flushable wipes, they don't degrade and can be easily replaced with toilet paper spray. The spray is readily available at a major online retailer, and a bottle lasts for quite a while and works like a charm! -- Melanie M., via email
Melanie, thank you for writing in! This is a great tip. It's always wonderful to hear what works for our readers. -- Heloise
ADIOS, FRUIT FLIES!
Dear Heloise: I was having a hard time controlling fruit flies in my kitchen around the fruits on the counter. I tried putting a wire "hood" over them, but this didn't work. So, I resorted to an old-fashioned method: fly paper! I just put a strip of it near the fruit bowl, and it collects hundreds of the little varmints!
Also, instead of spraying insecticide to get rid of the mystery insects that infested one reader's paper bags, they should just try rolling out a piece of fly paper. (Be careful with it as the sticky side will stick to anything.) The only flying insect that isn't attracted to fly paper are stink bugs. (A friend told me that I needed to put a chicken in my kitchen to control these!) Good luck! -- Anna M., via email
Anna, thank you for sharing your tip about using fly paper to control fruit flies -- it's a classic and effective method. And a chicken in the kitchen? That's certainly one way to deal with stink bugs! -- Heloise
A FILING CASE GIFT
Dear Heloise: A first-aid kit as a baby shower gift (as proposed by Paula J.) is a unique and practical gift. A filing case is one that I've used as a wedding gift. As you start a new life, documents tend to pile up, so a good idea is to purchase a fireproof one to protect important documents. -- Charles Hough, in Banning, California
TOOTHPICK HOLDER
Dear Heloise: When I got married, a friend of my mother gave me a lead crystal toothpick holder. It seemed odd, but I thanked her kindly. Forty-six years later, it's one of the very few wedding gifts that I'm still using! -- Kathleen S., via email
HANDHELD VACUUM
Dear Heloise: When our son was a baby, my father-in-law gave me a handheld vacuum for Christmas. (Not very exciting.) After a few months of motherhood, I realized that it was a fantastic gift. Cheerios and Goldfish that were thrown by a toddler could be easily cleaned up this way. I've since given this as a gift to new parents. -- Rosemary, in Long Beach, California
POSTAGE STAMPS
Dear Heloise: I've read and enjoyed your column (as well as your mom's) in my local paper for years, but this is the first time that I've written you. Today you asked readers to share any unusual gift that they've received. When my husband passed away, a friend who'd lost her husband the year before sent me a sympathy card. She included two sheets of postage stamps inside. At first, I thought, "Well, this is an unusual gift," but I was thankful that she thought of me.
As you can imagine, it didn't take long for me to really appreciate her gift, as the stamps were used daily to send out many thank-you notes to family and friends for their kindness and generosity (including her). I've paid it forward since, as I now always include two sheets of postage stamps with my sympathy cards. Thanks for all the good that you do! -- Carol, in Saratoga Springs, New York
SEND A GREAT HINT TO:
Heloise@Heloise.com