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Dear Heloise: Why would a brother make a wooden wine rack as a gift for his sister's wedding when the couple doesn't drink? Was it just to show off his woodworking skills? — Steve W., via email
Steve, there are a number of people who keep alcohol on hand for friends and family, even if they don't drink themselves. It doesn't really matter why he made a wine rack. I think that he just might've wanted to give them something he made as a special gift. — Heloise
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CLEANING THE GRILL
Dear Heloise: To clean a grill, purchase a quart of regular household ammonia. Grab a heavy black leaf bag and pour 1 cup of ammonia into the bag. Place all the dirty, crusty grates from your grill or smoker into the bag. Roll the top down and leave the bag outdoors in the sun for a day or two.
Finally, remove the grates and rinse them off. They'll be clean. The heat uses the ammonia gas to get off the crud. — Don F., in Chesterfield, Virginia
HIRING CONTRACTORS
Dear Heloise: When my husband was alive, he took care of hiring people to do work on our property. Now that he's gone, I don't know what to ask a contractor. I need a new fence and some additional work done around the house, so what do I ask them? — Hazel F., in Jackson, Mississippi
Hazel, here's a list of questions that I always use when hiring a contractor:
— Are they licensed in your state, and are they bonded and insured?
— Have they done work like this before?
— Are they planning to use subcontractors?
— Will the job require a permit?
— Ask for a couple of references. (Were others happy with the work that was done? Did the contractor finish on time? Would they use this same contractor again?)
If they act insulted by your questions or won't answer them, look for a different contractor. Don't be shy about asking for references. — Heloise
CARING FOR WOOD FLOORS
Dear Heloise: We had hard wood floors installed, and now I want to keep them looking good for many years. Any hints on what I should do and not do? — Margaret M., in Amherst, Massachusetts
Margaret, here are some basic care hints to follow:
— Use area rugs that are large enough to handle most of the traffic in each room.
— Use floor protectors under the legs of chairs to prevent scratches on the wood.
— Never slide furniture across the floor. Pick it up and move it if it's sitting on the wood.
— Be careful when wearing high heels or any sports shoe with cleats.
— In the winter months, use a humidifier in your home to prevent wood shrinkage and movement. — Heloise
NO MORE LOST REMOTES
Dear Heloise: I found a way to keep track of the remote controls in our house. I bought a very large decorative bowl, and in goes the remote controls for the blinds, the lights, the TV, and the ceiling fan. It sits on our coffee table. No more hunting down remotes! — Tiffany W., in Oregon
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