Dear Heloise: I have several hints for multiple ways to use a 5-inch electric fan on a kitchen counter. You can use it to cool off closed containers of warm food before storing them in a fridge or freezer. You can place a paper towel under a colander and use the fan to dry washed grapes, tomatoes, etc. You can also use the fan to blow fumes away from your eyes when you’re slicing an onion or to cool off your face and neck when you’re having a hot flash. — Sandra M., in Temple, Texas

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ONYX SURFACES

Dear Heloise: Can you tell me the best way to clean onyx countertops, sinks and showers? I love my new bathroom, but I’m afraid I will scratch the surface. My contractor highly recommended it, but I read that you must be careful with the products you use for cleaning. Thank you for your columns and advice. — Ruth M., via email

Ruth, use a soft microfiber cloth with warm water and a gentle pH- neutral soap, or a special cleaning product that is designed for stone. Never use anything harsh on onyx such as abrasive scrubbing agents, vinegar or lemon, and please seal the onyx on a regular basis.

Before agreeing to use a product, always do your homework. You can also research what it takes to keep onyx looking like new for many years. A contractor may mean well, but they don’t have to do the cleaning or care for what’s in your home. — Heloise

CALCIUM-SCALE CLEANING

Dear Heloise: For the person who’s trying to get rid of calcium-scale deposits in their shower, mix 1 cup of epsom salt, a 1/2 cup of baking soda, and a 1/4 cup of liquid dish soap together. (No harsh chemicals or nasty smells to worry about.) It’s great for hard-water stains but also for calcium scale.

Put the paste on the calcium scale and let it sit for a few minutes. Then use a good scrub brush, which will start to loosen the calcium. It took a few times to get rid of it all, but the mixture was not harmful to the aluminum. Now I use it whenever I see calcium starting to build up again. It does make a large amount, so I usually make half as it will start to dry out if left for too long. Hope it helps! — Denise, via email

Denise, here’s another hint: You can use lukewarm water and baby shampoo with a very soft cloth on your pearls to clean them. Never use hot water, ultrasonic cleaners, harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners. Don’t use a toothbrush either; it’s too rough on delicate pearls. — Heloise

STRONG PASSWORDS

Dear Heloise: Becky from Ohio suggested using old phone numbers or old street addresses for passwords. Having worked in IT for close to 30 years, I assure you that although these passwords are easy to remem- ber, they can be easily hacked, too. I strongly suggest using a password manager program that can be installed on your phone, mobile device or computer. Some examples are 1Password and Keeper.

The password manager programs only require you to remember one strong password. They can create strong passwords for you and can even be configured to autofill your username and password in a web browser or from your mobile device.

However for those who are reluc- tant to purchase a password manager program, you can substitute various characters for regular letters (@ instead of A or $ instead of S). You can also make use of the special char- acters above the number keys by using the “shift” key. (For example, ! = 1, @ = 2, # = 3, etc.). — Stephen H., in New Jersey