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Dear Heloise: After a recent bout of COVID and a subsequent disinfecting of my main bathroom, I removed the drain plug from my bathroom sink, ran an old bottle brush down the drain and cleaned the plug stem itself. This is a disgusting project, but an important one once you see what is lurking in the drain. I did this when I moved to my new house as well as my old house.
Another hint to simplify getting the plug out (there are great online videos on this for the lever-type drain plugs) is to have a plumber switch out the drain with a screw-in plug that you can pop up and down with your hand, as I did during a remodel at my old house! -- C.J., Dayton, Ohio
NATURE GATHERERS
Dear Heloise: A word of caution to C.P., in Colorado, regarding her seasonal collection of decorations. Always wear gloves when retrieving items from nature and clean all items thoroughly before bringing them into the house. Old bird's nests could be one of nature's most toxic receptacles. They're attractive, but unusable. Remember to clean your gloves and bag as well. -- Tony Elia, via email
OVEN SPILLS
Dear Readers: When baking, food inevitably spills over in the oven. To help clean it up, sprinkle salt onto the burned gunk. It will help eliminate smoke and odors, and make it easier to clean up after baking.
To prevent spills, put a baking sheet or aluminum foil under things that contain foods that may bubble over onto the bottom of the oven. -- Heloise
LEFTOVER SNACK MIXES
Dear Heloise: I seem to have a lot of snack mixes over the football and holiday seasons, whether they were gifts or just leftover from entertaining. I throw them in my food processor and make tasty crumbs for breading chicken, topping casseroles or adding to meatloaves. -- Carla Kienast, via email
CLEANING THE COFFEEMAKER
Dear Readers: It's best to wash a glass coffeepot after each use with soap and hot water so that coffee oils don't build up and create a bitter taste. Run full-strength white vinegar through a normal brew cycle to clean the machine. Then run several cycles of hot water to clear out the vinegar.
Caution: After running vinegar through the cycle, don't go on autopilot and put coffee in by mistake! -- Heloise
USING SOAP SLIVERS
Dear Heloise: Helen K., of Lawndale, California, asked about a way to use slivers of soap. There's no need to throw them away. Many stores and online sellers, such as Target and Amazon, sell "soap saver" pouches for the bath and shower. You simply put the slivers in the bag, which is usually made of an exfoliating material, and lather away. I haven't had to dispose of a piece of soap in 20 years. Hope this helps.
I love your column! You printed one of my hints last year. -- Sandra G., via email
OLD COFFEE CANS
Dear Heloise: I save and give my empty coffee cans to my nephew. He owns a farm and uses the cans for storage or to separate nuts, bolts and other small tools for use on his farm. Containers are then marked with what they have inside. Thanks! -- S.W., in Mississippi
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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.