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Dear Heloise: This is something I rarely see written about, and it’s the buildup of mold and “gunk” deep inside in the dishwasher. There are commercial dishwasher tablets to get this stuff out and clean the dishwasher, which probably should be used every two or three months.
I used one such tablet and was revolted by what it kicked up from below. I had to run my empty dishwasher twice to get all the black stuff out. This also prolongs the life of the appliance and gets rid of germs (and God knows what else). — Lillian N., in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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ELECTRIC BLANKET SAFETY
Dear Heloise: I read the letter about using an electric blanket to keep warm in cold weather, while using less energy to heat the house. This is a great idea; however, I bought an electric blanket for my wife. Before she passed away, she was in a mechanical/hospital bed for mobility.
Upon reading the instruction manual that came with the electric blanket, I encountered a long list of “Do Nots” — one of which stated not to use it on a “mechanically adjustable bed.” So, she couldn’t use it while in the bed. The concern was the wiring being damaged by the bed’s movement.
A few other “Do Nots” include:
— An incapacitated, immobile person using it.
— Using it over skin-damaged areas.
— Diabetics using it.
— Using it on furniture that’s subject to movement, like rocking chairs or recliners. — Joe S., in Chester, Virginia
Joe, thank you for taking time to remind my readers of how important it is to read the instructions that come with any item. This list of “Do Nots” was very helpful! — Heloise
A CLEAN OVEN WINDOW
Dear Heloise: My wife discovered the best way to clean an oven window that had stubborn grease stains, which were unable to be removed beforehand. She mixed a paste that was made up of baking soda, dish soap, and a little warm/hot water. The paste is applied thickly on the glass oven window and sits for 15 minutes. A small, soft cloth was then used to watch the greasy window become new once again! — H.G.R., via email
MORE ON OVEN CLEANING
Dear Heloise: I needed to clean my oven. Unfortunately, I didn’t have oven cleaner under my sink. I did have a glass cooktop cleaner, so I gave it a try. It did the best job without having to use rubber gloves or nasty fumes. — Nancy P., in Venice, Florida
Nancy, thank you so much for sharing this tip! It’s always wonderful to hear about creative solutions that work well without harsh chemicals. I will certainly keep it in mind. — Heloise
STAINED COUNTERTOP
Dear Heloise: I wonder if you know of a way to remove stains on my quartz countertop that are from water leaking onto it and the soap dispenser sitting on the counter. The stains are hideous! — Chris, in Tucson, Arizona
Chris, there are stain removers that are sold commercially in stores and are designed to work on quartz. Look for one that has the right pH balance for quartz countertops. These usually do the trick. Don’t use anything abrasive or a scouring pad because these will dull the finish. — Heloise