Heloise

Dear Heloise: Years ago, when I was growing up on an Iowa farm, my hair would dry out because I was outside so much of the time. We also had what people called “hard water,” which would dry out each strand of hair.

Instead of buying an overpriced hot oil treatment, my mother would warm up some vegetable oil and use a disposable cotton pad to rub the oil on my scalp. Then she would comb the oil through my hair and cover it with a plastic shower cap; the oil and cap were left on while I slept. In the morning, I shampooed my hair as always, making sure that I lathered and rinsed twice, and I didn’t need to use a conditioner.

It’s an old-fashioned method, but it worked well on my hair as well as my three sisters’. Maybe this will help some of your readers, just as many of your hints have always helped me. — Gail N., in Iowa

NO WASTED WATER

Dear Heloise: I have a water container on the kitchen counter. All unused water goes into the container — leftover water from drinking glasses or cooking, unused coffee-maker water, dog bowl water … everything. I’m amazed by how much water now goes into the garden versus down the drain. I appreciate all of your hints! — Mike C., in Manitou Springs, Colorado

PLASTIC BAG USES

Dear Heloise: I have to respectfully disagree with a recent hint from Paul about using plastic grocery bags as trash bag liners. Living in windy Nebraska, loose trash in a bin would often become litter when the garbage gets emptied into the garbage truck or when the garbage bin blows over during a storm.

I do try to minimize my use of plastic bags and only put full bags of trash in our bin, but we must use full bags to prevent litter. Thanks! — E.M., in Nebraska

E.M., I turn a grocery bag inside out and use them when I trim the caps from strawberries for a smoothie or when I peel a vegetable. If I throw out items from the refrigerator when cleaning the kitchen, they go in a plastic bag, and I tie up the handles before tossing it in the trash. I don’t really have too many plastic bags around the house because I use cloth bags for so many purchases. It causes less clutter in our landfills. — Heloise

BOY SCOUT DONATIONS

Dear Heloise: A friend of mine told us that she’s collecting plastic grocery bags for the local Boy Scout troop. Apparently, these bags are collected in order to make a park bench. I had no idea that this was a thing! FYI, it takes 3,000 pounds of bags to make one of these benches. So, check with your local Boy and Girl Scout organizations to see if they participate in something like this! — Joe, in Valparaiso, Indiana

CLEAN EYEGLASSES

Dear Heloise: Here’s a simple way to clean your eyeglasses: Take a spot of shaving cream and rub it on each side of the lens. Rinse it off with hot water and dry the glasses with a soft towel. They’re like new! I enjoy reading your column in the Pasadena Star News. — Larry S., via email

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.