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Generics not inferior

3 min read

Dear Heloise: My girlfriend had a headache and asked for some PAIN RELIEVER. I pulled a store brand out of my bag, and she said, “Um, that’s OK …”

What does she have against the store brand? — Ellie in Pittsburgh

I don’t know, why not ask her? Some people think store or generic products are inferior, don’t work as well or who knows what else? Store brand and generic medications BY LAW must be the same as name brand medications. The generic may look a little different than the name brand, but the EFFECTIVENESS IS THE SAME, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov).

Name brand medications cost more because of the packaging, advertising and other factors.

My hint? Give them a try! If one does not seem to work for you, take it back for a refund. Ask your physician too. — Heloise

IT’S IN THE BAG

Dear Heloise: Our bathroom is SMALL! We have no counter space. I hung a shoe bag on the back of the door. I put my shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, lotions, body washes, hair sprays and hair brushes in it. It’s a lifesaver! I enjoy reading your column in the Tribune Chronicle. — Dottie K. in Warren, Ohio

Great hint! Say hi to my friends in Warren. — Heloise

WASH WASHER

Hi, Heloise: Would it help or do harm if I run the washer without a load and add a cup of vinegar? — Joe Z. in Costa Mesa, Calif., via email

Hi, Joe, it won’t harm the washer, but I don’t think it will help either. One little cup of 6 or 9 percent vinegar to tens of gallons of water is pretty insignificant!

Yes, my mother (the original Heloise 1919-1977) used to recommend this, but NOT today. Here is my HELOISE UPDATE: Only 1 to 3 or 4 cups of regular vinegar to a washer full of water is pretty useless.

Yes, you will see this now OUTDATED hint on all kinds of websites today! “Methinks people are just regurgitating old information.” You can quote me!

That said, vinegar is a workhorse around the house. It’s cheap, safe and powerful for many other uses. This Heloise column has touted vinegar hints for low-cost, simple ways for decades. This is why I’ve collected my best and most popular vinegar hints in a handy pamphlet. If you’d like one, send only $5 and a stamped (70 cents), self-addressed, business-size envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or visit www.Heloise.com. Wipe down picnic tables with vinegar to keep flies and ants at bay. — Heloise

KNEES, PLEASE

Dear Heloise: I’m always looking for ways to recycle. I take one of those highly padded bras, separate the cups and cut the straps and side fabric off. I sew a piece of elastic across the back of each one and use them for KNEE PADS in the garden and for other yard work. — Rita L. in Edinboro, Pa.

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.

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