Dear Heloise: How do I get rust stains out of my toilet? — Pat L., via email

Pat, try this solution: Cut a lemon in half and dip the lemon in salt. Use the lemon half with salt to scrub the stained area. It may take some elbow grease, but it should come off. There are also commercial cleaners for rust stains. These are usually found in a local grocery or hardware store. — Heloise

WALLET HINT

Dear Heloise: I have a hint for men and their wallets. A police officer told me to always put a rubber band around my wallet and store it in my front pocket whenever I wear my jeans or slacks. With a rubber band, it’s harder to get the wallet out of the pocket, so no one can secretly pick my pocket when I place the wallet there. — John M., Traverse City, Michigan

MAKING LIPSTICK LAST

Dear Heloise: Lipstick just never seemed to stay on my lips. Then, at a party, a woman told me about a little trick that seems to be working. She said to outline my lips in a color that is very close to the color of my lipstick. Next, use the pencil to color in my entire lip. Then use a lip brush and paint my lips with the lipstick. The pencil holds onto the color of the lipstick, and the thin coat of lipstick just stays on better. — JoAnn G., Lima, Ohio

FIRE SAFETY

Dear Heloise: I live about two miles from a wilderness area and have seen many wildfires during the 50 years I’ve lived here. It’s wildfire season again, and I’d like to share this hint I got from a local firefighter years ago:

Most houses around here now have fire-resistant roofs, and some have roof sprinklers. However, burning embers from these fires can cause the embers to float long distances and get into other houses’ vents — mainly attic and crawl space vents. It can result in devastating house fires. I covered them with a fireplace chimney screen to prevent the burning embers (and vermin such as rodents) from entering. This screen is readily available at any fireplace or home improvement store; some even come in ready-made frames.

Thanks for your hints. I read them every day in the Los Angeles Daily News. — J.S., Granada Hills, California

BEE STINGERS

Dear Heloise: Last month, my 6-year-old grandson was playing outside when he threw a rock at a bee hive. I bolted outside, grabbed him, and ran for the house. I got stung seven times on my left arm, so I called my doctor and asked how to remove the bee stingers. He told me to take a credit card or gift card and scrape it along my skin to push the stingers out. It worked, and I got the stingers out with little trouble.

Of course, afterward, I used hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound sites, but the credit card trick was one I thought should be passed on. — P.L., in North Carolina

LIGHTEN THE VACUUMING

Dear Heloise: Here’s a suggestion for seniors, like me, who do their own cleaning. My old vacuum sweeper was rather tiring to use, so I bought a compact, small handheld vacuum. The compact vacuum has great suction and cleans well; it goes under the furniture and is easy to carry upstairs and into the basement. The brush does a good job with cat hair, too. My back doesn’t get nearly as tired. — M.N., in Indiana

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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.