Cleaning vinyl floors that have a grain
HINTS FROM HELOISE
HELOISE
Dear Heloise: In a recent column, Amee asked about cleaning her vinyl floors that have a grain. Many years ago, I had a vinyl floor installed and had the same problem.
The manufacturer told me to use a ¼ cup of ammonia in 1 gallon of water. This works best with a scrub brush to get into the grain. She'll be amazed at the results. — Diane M., via email
Diane, yes, this method works well. Unfortunately, it also requires getting down on your hands and knees. For some people, the getting down is fairly easy; it's the getting up again that becomes a hassle.
I'd have recommended vacuuming first. Then wash the floor with a sponge mop that can be pressed lightly to clean the etched pattern. — Heloise
Fire starters
Dear Heloise: The toilet paper I buy comes with individually wrapped rolls. After unwrapping a new roll, I scrunch the wrapping up and place it into the old roll. They make great fire starters for our firepit. — Em K., in Kingston, New Hampshire
Em, what a wonderful, eco-friendly idea. Thank you so much for sharing this helpful hint. It's always a pleasure to hear from readers who've found such clever ways to reuse items around their homes. — Heloise
Mold on leather
Dear Heloise: How do I remove mold from a leather jacket? — Tom and Pat McLaughlin, via email
Tom and Pat, your best chance of killing mold and not damaging the leather is to either consult a professional cleaner of clothing/ leather or to try a commercial cleaner. You can find cleaners online, and some even specialize in mold removal. This really can't be done by just any cleaner, so please stay away from bleach and other harsh chemicals. — Heloise
No scratched lenses
Dear Heloise: Recently in your column, there was a suggestion to clean eyeglasses with foaming soap and wipe them with a tissue. Any eyeglass specialist will advise you not to use tissues on eyeglasses because tissues contain wood fibers that will scratch the lenses. In addition to this, many tissues today contain lotion, which would leave a film. Just use the special cloth that's supplied to you when you get your glasses. — Lois M., in Winchester, Oregon
Lower heating bills
Dear Heloise: As temps start dropping, it's important that you heat yourself up rather than your entire house in cold weather. If you're watching television, use an electric blanket to keep yourself warm. You also can use a heavy quilt or blanket. At night, the same thing works when you're sleeping. You can keep the house at 60 degrees Fahrenheit or even 55 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing. You can stay warm while also lowering your electric bill. — Perry S., in Ohio
Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com.
