Sep 26, 2014 3 min read

Dear Heloise: Do you have a remedy to REMOVE ROAD TAR that has been splashed on a car? I prefer a home remedy, if possible. They usually work the best and have a good price. — Barbara, via email

Yes, I do have a great simple home remedy! All you need to remove the tar splatters is a jar of peanut butter, but NOT crunchy! Rub a glob of peanut butter on the spot and wipe with an old towel. It’s the oil in the peanut butter that helps remove all tar. — Heloise

SEND A HINT TO:

Heloise

P.O. Box 795000

San Antonio, TX 78279-5000

Fax: 1-210-HELOISE

Email: Heloise@Heloise.com

LATCH SYSTEM

Dear Heloise: Several weeks ago, you gave some good advice about using the LATCH system in a vehicle to secure a car seat. What you didn’t mention and what isn’t well known is that there is a weight limit for using the LATCH system. Some parents continue to use the LATCH system well past the time when they should be using a seatbelt to secure the car seat. The weight limit differs from vehicle to vehicle and is the combined weight of the child and seat. — Gordon W. in Houston

How right you are! It’s not necessarily the age of the child, but the weight and height. Some toddlers may weigh more than the weight restriction, and we all know how fast the little ones grow! Take a look today at the car seat to see what the instructions are. You might save a child’s life or prevent serious injury. — Heloise

SAFETY IN THE SHOWER

Dear Heloise: Recently, I had grab bars installed in my walk-in shower, which I really like to use. When visiting my daughter, I take a plastic grab bar with suction cups and place it on the shower wall. This works well and makes it safer for me. — Baynes H., San Angelo, Texas

Good hint, but please be sure that the grab bar is really SECURED to the shower wall! — Heloise

CHEAP CHAIRS

Dear Heloise: Our small kitchen table broke recently. The chairs were still good, and we didn’t want to spend a ton of money on a new set. We went to a charitable-organization resale shop and found a table that worked with our chairs for very little money. We saved money and helped other people! It was a great deal. — Paula in Texas

STICKY NOTE FOR SEWING

Dear Heloise: I keep a yellow sticky note on my sewing machine. When I need to thread the needle, I hold the sticky note behind the needle, which helps me see the hole. I used to really dread changing the color of thread, since I had such a hard time getting the needle threaded. Now I don’t mind at all. — Glenda T. in Kansas

SEA GLASS

Dear Heloise: To make any regular glass look like sea glass, mix food coloring, white glue and paint. Then use the mixture to paint your glass and get a lovely result. — Fiona Z. in Virginia