Test-drive your grocery cart

By Heloise

Dear Heloise:

Here’s a way to cut down on your chances of getting stuck with WOBBLE-WHEELED GROCERY CARTS. Pick up a cart in the parking lot and “test-drive” it to the store entrance. If it rides straight and true, keep it. If it wobbles or veers off in one direction, exchange it for one at the door, and at least you’ve saved the courtesy clerks one cart pickup in the lot.

— Cathy L. from California

Good advice! Not only are you making your trip easier, you are doing a good deed by taking a cart in. — Heloise

FURNACE FILTER

Dear Heloise:

When replacing your furnace filter, use a permanent marker and, on the outside border of the new filter (the edge that shows after the filter has been installed), write the date the filter was installed. This will enable you to determine when it should be replaced.

— Bill in Nebraska

SHEER DELIGHT

Dear Heloise:

I used a method you mentioned for keeping sheer curtains in “like new” condition. If I recall, it involved Epsom salts. Can you tell me what your recommendation was? Thank you!

— Carol, via e-mail

Your memory is not playing tricks on you, Carol - the answer is indeed Epsom salts. Here’s what you do to make sheer curtains crisp again:

1. Mix 1 cup of Epsom salts in a sink filled with cool water (until salts are completely dissolved).

2. Put the curtains in the sink and completely saturate them in the solution.

3. Dip curtains in and out. DO NOT wring or twist!

4. Hang over a bathtub or outside to drip-dry.

You can rehang your sheers once they are fully dry. No need to iron, as this will remove the “crisping effect” you’ve just worked so hard to achieve. Good luck!

— Heloise

EASY FIND

Dear Heloise:

Don’t lose those pierced studs in a jewelry box! Instead, stick the posts of two pair through the holes on a medium- to large-size button and attach the backs. This will help keep them visible, and they’ll stay together, too!

— Mona, via e-mail

COLORBLINDNESS

Dear Heloise:

My husband has a problem with colorblindness. I write the color with a permanent marker on the inside pocket of his trousers. The pockets usually are white. This makes it much easier for him to select pants and match with shirts. — May P., Universal City, Texas