Dear Readers: Today’s SOUND OFF is about interfering with how kids are raised:

“Dear Heloise: My in-laws are nice people, but they are, at times, overindulgent with gifts for our two boys. I’ve spoken to them about this, but they still spend too much. I even suggested that instead of so many ‘things,’ they put money into a college fund to help the boys later on. My father-in-law said he was planning on giving my son a car for his 16th birthday! These are my children, and I won’t have my in-laws interfering with how I raise them.

“I want my boys to learn to budget money. I’ll insist they get a summer job at 16 so they know how hard people work to make a living. They need to understand that $50 may seem like a lot of money, but it doesn’t go far. In other words, I want them to grow up to be financially responsible adults, and they can’t do that if my in-laws give them everything they point to.” — Tina in South Carolina

Tina, sounds like you are on the right track. Family members mean well, but a parent is still in charge of how the children should be raised. It’s never too early to teach them to handle money wisely. — Heloise

Dear Readers: Here are some unique uses for aluminum foil:

* Place a small sheet of foil under a napkin in a bread basket to keep dinner rolls warm.

* Wrap steel wool soap pads in foil and store in the freezer to prevent them from rusting.

* Cover edges of a pie crust with foil to keep it from burning.

— Heloise

GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Dear Heloise: My garbage disposal stinks. How do I remove odors from there? — Mike W., Sturgis, S.D.

Mike, mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with enough water to fill an ice cube tray, then freeze it. When the vinegar cubes are hard, remove them and put them in the garbage disposal, then turn it on. This will freshen and clean the disposal and the blades. — Heloise

STAINED SINK

Dear Heloise: I have a white porcelain sink that’s stained. I scrub, but I can’t get it clean. How can I whiten my sink? — Loretta N., Medford, Mass.

Loretta, fill your sink with just enough bleach to cover the bottom, and fill the rest of the sink with cold water and let it soak for at least half an hour. However, do not use this on colored sinks, as it might cause damage to the sink’s color. To clean colored sinks, use a mild liquid detergent or baking soda and vinegar. — Heloise

DUSTY LAMPSHADE

Dear Heloise: I have five lampshades that have accordion pleats. They’re dusty, and I can’t get the dust out. Help! — Rhonda Y., Dime Box, Texas

Rhonda, take your lampshades outside. Using a clean paintbrush, brush downward in the valleys. After that, take them inside and vacuum the lampshades with the brush attachment. — Heloise

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.