Extend life of flowers
Dear Heloise: I love fresh flowers, and I buy a small bouquet at the grocery store now and then. You wrote about how you keep them LASTING A LONG TIME. Please share your hints. — Barbara in Texas
Happy to, and they do make me happy, too! Here is what I do:
Cut off an inch or so of the stem at an angle.
Remove all leaves and foliage that will be below the waterline.
Do leave (very bad pun) intact the leaves that will be above the waterline. Those leaves act like sponges and soak up the fresh water.
Don’t place in direct sunlight or near a heat source — not on top of a TV, etc.
Do change the water every few days or when it gets yucky! Re-cut the stem so the flower can drink up more fresh water.
Sometimes, I put a small vase of roses in the refrigerator at night to prolong the life. Remember, florists keep fresh flowers in a “cool” room, and so should you. — Heloise
SEND A GREAT HINT TO:
Heloise
P.O. Box 795000
San Antonio, TX 78279-5000
Fax: 1-210-HELOISE
Email: Heloise@Heloise.com
TRAVEL HINT
Dear Heloise: This is the best idea I have had in years for organizing space in a car. I always had problems with maps, travel guides, tissues and other objects you travel with staying orderly. Haven’t we all had the problem of objects on the front seats falling down where they can’t be seen or found? The solution: I went to the dollar store and got two scaled-down cat-litter trays. I slid them under the two front seats. (Heloise here: Please don’t put ANYTHING under the driver’s side seat that could slide forward and become a safety hazard.) They fit perfectly and hold all our stuff right where we can find it when sliding the trays out from the back seat. — D.E. in Virginia
CURTAIN CALL
Dear Heloise: I have glass shower doors that are a pain to clean because of the hard-water residue. Here is a hint I learned from my sister: A cheap, plastic shower curtain and extra rod solved the problem. I hung them just inside the doors. When taking a shower, I pull the shower curtain closed, and it keeps the doors from getting splashed with water. I put it into the washer once in a while, or I buy a cheap, plastic liner. — C.W., via email
USE AGAIN
Dear Heloise: I often have a napkin or paper towel that has been partially used but is not really dirty. I hate to waste them, so I put them in an empty tissue box under the sink. They are perfect for wiping up a small floor spill, and especially for wiping that grease out of the skillet rather than pouring it into a container. — Linda in Colorado Springs, Colo.