Are CFLs 3-way friendly
Dear Heloise: I found your column on CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and LEDs (light-emitting diodes) very informative.
I am wondering if you would give us some guidelines on the bulbs that should be purchased for THREE-WAY LAMPS (50-100-150). I have looked in the stores, but cannot determine how the replacements should be labeled. Do these new bulbs come in three-way? — A Reader in New Jersey
Yes, these bulbs are available in three-way, and are labeled as such (50-100-150). You should be able to find them in stores, but look online if you are having trouble locating them in your area. — Heloise
OIL AND CONCRETE
Dear Heloise: We deep-fry french fries outside in order to keep the odor out of the house. While the fryer was cooling, we had a gust of wind strong enough to tip the deep fryer over and spill all the canola oil onto the concrete patio. Do you have any suggestions for removing the oil without damaging the concrete? — Catherine P. in New Hampshire
Thank goodness no one was hurt when the oil spilled! Here’s my hint: Place baking soda on the spill, followed by liquid dish soap that contains a grease-fighting ingredient. Using a plastic brush, scrub the entire area, and then leave it alone for a few hours. Rinse well with water. You can repeat this cleaning process several times. If this still doesn’t clean the area to your satisfaction, try an automotive degreaser from an auto-supply store. I have a baking-soda pamphlet with many more hints you can try around your house. To order one, send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (70 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. For minor burns, mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply to the area and cover with a cool, damp cloth. — Heloise
SCRATCHY TAGS
Dear Heloise: TAGS! They itch, they scratch your neck, and they’re a nuisance. But what if you don’t want to cut them off a garment that you might recycle, or you keep changing sizes and might need the tag for later?
Just buy a roll of heat-sensitive seam-binding material, cut to size and stick it between the tag and garment. Apply a warm iron. Problem solved. The tag stays down, even through laundering. — Cheri W. in Arkansas