Tips for treating rusty screen doors
HINTS FROM HELOISE
HELOISE
Dear Heloise: I live 6 miles from the coast in Southern California, and both of my heavy-duty door screens are rusting. What can I do? — Peggy K., in California
Peggy, first, clean the screen with mild soap to remove any loose corrosion. Then, with sandpaper or a wire brush, get off as much rust as possible. Treat the surface of the screen with a rust converter or rust-inhibiting spray, which can be found in most hardware stores. If you buy new screens, apply an anticorrosion spray (two coats) before hanging them up. — Heloise
Adventurous baker
Dear Heloise: I loved the hint from Betty K. about pretzels in meatloaf. Are you ready for another one? I had some "past prime" bananas, so I was going to make a banana cream pie. But I had no vanilla wafers and didn't want to go to the store.
I found Ritz crackers in my pantry, so I said, "Why not?" The pie was wonderful, with just a little salt added to the sweetness. From now on, I'll be using Ritz crackers. Serendipity! — Cathy B., in Oregon
Cathy, sometimes the best food comes from an accident or out of necessity. Keep up the adventurous recipes, — Heloise
Gift bag filler
Dear Heloise: I didn't have tissue paper to add to a gift bag, but I did have lots of tulle (or netting fabric). It substituted beautifully to add a pretty touch to the gift bag in a pinch. — Corrinne B., in Universal City, Texas
Corrinne, I love it when someone finds a solution to problem, and it's so clever that people start copying it. Using tulle or netting was quick thinking. — Heloise
Cleaning limestone
Dear Heloise: Will vinegar take the mold out of the Austin limestone on my front porch columns? Only two are affected, and our builder said "no" to chlorine. — Patty, in Palestine, Texas
Patty., you need to use a gentle soft cleanser, such as 3% hydrogen peroxide, to clean the stone and remove mold. Avoid vinegar, lemon juice and harsh chemicals. If the area needs to be scrubbed, use a soft nylon brush, but do not use a high-pressure hose because it could cause scarring of the stone. There are also commercial products that can be found at hardware stores. — Heloise
Enunciation is key
Dear Heloise: In response to those who are writing in regard to the hard-of-hearing, I wish to share the following: Most hard-of-hearing folks don't need people to speak at a higher volume. People need to enunciate better and perhaps talk at a slower pace. When conversing with someone you know who has limited hearing, face the person, enunciate clearly and slow down slightly. Please do not just yell louder. — Charlotte H., via email
Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com.
