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Dear Heloise: My husband hates coffee and asked me to switch to tea, but I don’t like tea. He says that coffee damages our health. Is this true? — Shelly J., in Little Rock, Arkansas
Shelly, studies have been done on thousands of people to discover the effects of coffee on the human body, and for the most part, a consumption of about 3-4 cups a day (roughly 400 mg of caffeine) doesn’t harm people. In fact, coffee lowers the risk of premature death, Type 2 diabetes, and heart failure.
The beans also have antioxidant properties. Coffee only becomes dangerous if it’s drunk in excess, since it can disrupt your sleep or cause anxiety or acid reflux. — Heloise
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GROCERY STORE ETIQUETTE
Dear Heloise: I work in a very large grocery store, stocking shelves and working in the back with incoming deliveries. I’m surprised every day by the sheer lack of common courtesy that I see as people shop for their supplies and groceries. After speaking with my fellow co-workers, I made a list of things that we wish shoppers would and wouldn’t do:
— Please don’t let your children run through the aisles or go into the back of the store. There are so many things in the back that can seriously harm a child.
— Please don’t ram your cart into another shopper’s cart. Just politely ask them to move their cart so that you can get around it.
— If a sign says “15 items or less,” we’re asking folks to please stick to 15 items or less. Not a single item more.
— If you grabbed a frozen item but decided that you don’t want it, leave it in a freezer, not on a shelf where it’ll thaw out. We’ll find it and put it away in the exact section where it belongs.
— Please, no expired or out-of-date coupons. And no, we can’t just take them anyway.
— Please don’t ask the staff to keep an eye on your children while you shop. We’re a grocery store, not a babysitting service. — A Reader, via email
NO MORE SMELLY TOWELS
Dear Heloise: My towels stink! They have a sour smell to them. Even after I’ve washed them, they still have a slight pungent odor that screams “unclean.” How do I get this smell out? — Eunice C., in Hollywood, Florida
Eunice, try washing fewer towels at a time. To remove the smell, wash your towels in hot water with your usual detergent and a 1/2 cup of baking soda added to the washing water. If you have hard water, use a 3/4 cup of baking soda. After they’re washed, put them in the dryer immediately. Never let them sit in the washer for too long. If you want, you can use a dryer sheet to help with the smell.
After bathing, you might try hanging the towels over the shower curtain rod or on a clothesline for them to dry faster. If you have a vent in your bathroom to remove moisture, be sure to turn it on after bathing or showering. This will reduce the humidity in the bathroom. — Heloise
DON’T LET JEANS FADE
Dear Heloise: My dark blue and black jeans fade too quickly. How can I keep them from fading for as long as possible? — Meredith M., in Beaverton, Oregon
Meredith, first, turn your jeans inside out. Use a mild detergent and cold water to wash them. You can let them air-dry overnight (this is my recommendation), or if you use a dryer, use a low heat setting. — Heloise