A healthy kitchen
Dear Heloise: I have three hints that will make your KITCHEN healthier and safer:
* Keep on hand two cutting boards, one for meat (colored red) and one for fruits and veggies (colored green).
* Hang a solid-colored towel in the kitchen for drying hands, and a patterned one for drying dishes.
* When putting fresh eggs in your egg tray, put a small dot with a marker on any older eggs so you will use them first.
I hope this helps everyone! Thanks for all the years of great hints! — LAF, Temple, Texas
Readers, at first I thought the reader was making a funny comment with “her” name, but indeed, “L.A.F.” are her initials! One note: If using an egg tray, be sure to place it in the coldest part of the refrigerator — on a shelf, NOT in the door. — Heloise
CABINET CLEANERS
Dear Heloise: My husband and I would like to ask you a question. I hope you can tell us what we can use to clean our kitchen cabinets. They have buildup on them.
Do you know what kind of cleaner we can buy or mix together to clean them? Thank you. — A Daily Reader from Nebraska
Grease and kitchen grime certainly can build up over the years. I have an easy way to get rid of the grease, though, and it involves my old standby, vinegar!
Mix one part vinegar (apple cider or white) with two parts water. Dip a clean towel or microfiber cloth (really works well) into the solution, wring out excess and wipe the surfaces of the cabinets, doing one small area at a time.
Dry and polish with a fresh cloth. This may take several attempts if it’s a bad buildup. I have put together my favorite homemade cleaning solutions in a handy pamphlet. If you would like to order one, visit my website, www. Heloise.com, or you can send $5, along with a long, stamped (70 cents), self-addressed envelope, to: Heloise’s Homemade Cleaning Solutions, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. You also can use a teaspoon of household ammonia to 1 quart of water. This solution helps remove oily, greasy buildup. Wipe with fresh water and buff dry. — Heloise
BLUSH COLOR
Dear Readers: How do you know which shade of blush is right for you? Here are some guidelines:
Fair skin with pink undertones looks pretty with pink blush with a bluish or lilac undertone.
Olive and darker-toned skin glows with brownish, peach and taupe shades.
The OLD HINT of testing the color on the back of your hand works IF the skin tones are the same. The NEW HINT: Test a little on your chin line. — Heloise
NOTE THIS STAIN!
Dear Heloise: I’ve asked my family that when they have a stain on a garment, they need to safety-pin a note where the stain is and try to tell me what the stain is. I can’t keep track of all of their messes! — Lara G., Tampa, Fla.