ICE tops the list
Dear Heloise: What is the procedure for programming ICE (IN CASE (of emergency) numbers so that they appear first on my cellphone? — Don, via email
Don, listing emergency numbers first can help save precious time when emergency personnel need to contact your family members. Experts recommend including a period (.) or the letter “A” before your emergency contact number. That way, the number should be listed first. You also can list the contact as “ICE — Mom,” “ICE — Husband,” etc., so that the number can be found by scrolling to the letter “I.” — Heloise
EASY CLEAN
Dear Heloise: One day at work, someone had use a non-dry-erase marker on our board, and I decided that I would try to get it off by using baking soda. I made a paste with it, and with some elbow grease, I was able to get off most of the ink. Then I used a dry-erase marker and went over the letters, then wiped it off, and the board was as good as new. — Miranda, Farmington, N.M.
Yes, it does a good job. Baking soda is one of my favorite easy cleaners. Cheap and readily available, it is an environmentally friendly dirt- and grime-busting superpower. I have a pamphlet containing my favorite time-tested uses and recipes for baking soda. If you would like to receive one, send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (64 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. To freshen a dog, sprinkle on some baking soda, let sit, then brush out the fur. CAUTION: Don’t use this method if the dog is on a sodium-restricted diet. — Heloise
RECYCLING PAPER
Dear Readers: Paper probably is the easiest resource to recycle. Why? Because we use so much of it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov), on average, an office worker can use up to 10,000 sheets of paper per year! Paper towels, writing paper, masking tape, egg cartons, coffee filters and more can be made from recycled paper. A great project for offices, summer schools or youth groups, paper recycling is easy. Recycling centers ask that paper for recycling be clean, with no stains, nor mixed with plastic or metal.
Find a recycler by searching “waste paper” or “recycling” either online or in a soon-to-be recycled phone book. — Heloise
SERVICE FOR
SERVICE PEOPLE
Dear Heloise: To add to your conversation about tipping: I always offer service people in my home a cold soda or water. If they deliver furniture or a new appliance, for example, I tip them a few dollars. Even the carpet cleaners and the man who cuts my grass can earn a couple of extra dollars from me by doing a great job.
By doing this, I feel like I am setting an example for others. And if those particular people ever come back to my home, I am pretty much guaranteed great service and attention to detail. — Luke, via email
(c)2011 by King Features Syndicate Inc.