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Is force-flushing OK?

3 min read

BY HELOISE

?Dear Heloise: I have a toilet-cleaning hint and a question. My mom taught me to “force flush” the toilet for better cleaning. I quickly pour about 1/2 bucket of water into the toilet bowl. This forces the water down the drain without allowing the bowl to fill back up.

My question is: Is this a safe way to clean the toilet? It really does make cleaning easier, because the water doesn’t dilute the cleaner. — Julie Rogers, via email

Julie, this is a safe method for cleaning your toilet and an old hint, going back to my mother’s column in the 1960s! Especially if your toilet has lime marks, you can use this method, then cover the marks with commercial lime remover or paper towels soaked in vinegar. Just don’t flush the paper towels down the toilet when done! For more money-saving ways to use vinegar around your house, send for my six-page vinegar pamphlet that is chock-full of great vinegar hints.

To receive a copy, just send $5 and a long, stamped (64 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. To keep the smell of fresh paint at bay, place a few shallow pans of vinegar around the room. — Heloise

WIND-CHIME STORAGE

Dear Heloise: I was hanging my wind chimes today and thought your readers would like to know how I store them.

I take each wind chime and place it on cardboard. I tape the chimes to the top. I fold the cardboard over and tape it shut. Once I have all my chimes individually secured, I place them in small plastic bags. I use the ones that come from places that I have ordered clothing, etc., from. This sure saves me from having to untangle the chimes when I am ready to hang them. — Pat Zoccali, Warren, Ohio

Pat, a perfect storage hint.

Say hello to my friends in Warren; I enjoyed my visit several years ago when speaking for the Town Hall series.

Also, your paper, the Tribune Chronicle, is a longtime friend! — Heloise

QUICK FIX

Dear Heloise: In a pinch, if your sink’s stopper will not stop the water from draining out, put a piece of plastic wrap over the drain before placing the stopper on top, and it will form a tight seal. No more water leaking down the drain! — Nancy D., Louisville, Ky.

SAFE TRAVEL

Dear Heloise: When my husband and I travel together by airplane, I always pack one of my outfits in his suitcase and he packs one of mine in his suitcase. I used to worry about one or the other suitcase being lost, but this way if one of them is lost, we both will have at least one change of clothes.

Thankfully, it has never happened, but this way we are prepared. — Sarah in Kentucky

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