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Dear Heloise: I work in retail, and every year, we sell stacks of electric blankets. While these items have their place, you still need to take care in how you use them. I have a short list of things to consider before purchasing an electric blanket:
-- Please never use one on an infant or anyone who's bedridden. Never use one on someone who has diabetes, lower-body numbness, or very poor circulation. Unless you just want to warm up the sheets for an elderly person and then shut off the heat (even then I'd think twice about it), it's not recommended for anyone with very papery-thin skin.
-- Never use any kind of pin with an electric blanket. You could get a shock or start a fire.
-- Always unfold an electric blanket completely before turning it on.
-- One last thing: Electric throws are meant to be used on a sofa or a stationary chair. Never use them on a rocking chair, a recliner, or furniture with casters. Why? Because of the possibility of pinching the wires and causing damage to the wires, which could then lead to a fire. -- Sandy T., in Austin, Texas
HASSLE-FREE LAUNDRY
Dear Heloise: Laundry used to be such a hassle for me until I started to use simple ideas -- some from your column and some from friends. I thought I'd share these ideas with your readers:
-- Mesh laundry bags: These come in handy to wash baby clothes, socks, underwear or even delicate sweaters. Anything that can be washed in a washing machine but can't be placed in a dryer can go inside a mesh laundry bag.
-- The washing machine: Don't overload it, and about once every two to three months, run a cycle with detergent but without clothes. Keep it as clean as you can. Inspect it for mold around and under the rubber liner, around the openings, and around the soap dispenser.
-- Pillows: You can wash down pillows or polyester pillows by putting them in a dryer for just 2 minutes on a delicate cycle. Then remove them from the dryer and air-dry them outside (or someplace other than the dryer).
-- Labels: Always read the instruction labels on a garment or blanket before you place it in the washing machine.
-- Cold water: For dark clothes and delicates, remember to use cold water and a little less detergent. You might even want to turn clothes like dark jeans inside out before washing them. -- Frances W., in South Carolina
CLEANING BAKED-ON GREASE
Dear Heloise: I have a recipe to get baked-on grease off the oven door or the top of the stove. Take about a cup of baking soda, combine it with dish soap and a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol, and mix this well enough to form a paste. Spoon it out onto an area and let it start foaming off the grease, which takes about 3 minutes. Then use a sponge to scrub off grease.
My mother gave this idea to me the day before I got married, and I've used it for more than 27 years. -- Della R., in Overland Park, Kansas
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.