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DEAR HELOISE: For years, I drained greasy foods on paper towels but ended up having to pick off tiny pieces of paper. Finally, I found a better way. We bought a new stove and oven combo, and I saved the oven rack from the old one we had. Now I place the oven rack over the sink with newspaper underneath to catch the grease and fried foods that get placed on the rack.
I don't let grease go down the drain because a plumber told me that this just clogs the pipes. Lately, I've used old cardboard cut out from delivery boxes to catch the grease.
-- Agnes D.,
in Lexington, Tennessee
DEAR HELOISE: Did you know that vacuums have filters? I didn't, so naturally, I never cleaned mine. I took my vacuum in for repairs, and the man behind the counter showed me where the filters were. (There were two places.) He explained how and when to clean them so that I'm cleaning up dust and dirt instead of spreading it on different parts of the carpet. Now my vacuum really cleans the rugs!
-- Olivia H.,
in Texarkana, Arkansas
DEAR HELOISE: My sister and brother-in-law just bought their first home and had a housewarming party. People brought some very nice items, but my brother-in-law liked mine the best. I gave them a hand cart to haul heavy or very large objects. They had a couple pieces of furniture that were still in the garage because they couldn't haul them into the house. A hand cart makes this possible.
When newlyweds buy their first house, they usually need practical items. Vases are lovely, and so is a serving platter, but items such as electric scissors, a hand cart, an electric screwdriver and basic tools are way more useful.
-- Victoria J.,
in Austin, Texas
DEAR HELOISE: I have a hint that might save someone from a trip to the hospital. If you have a bookcase, a large TV, an aquarium, or heavy stone yard art, please secure it so that it cannot topple over. A friend of mine stopped by to say "hello," and while we were talking, her son tried to climb my bookcase to get to my cat and pet it.
The bookcase came crashing down and thankfully landed on the back of a chair, which kept the bookcase from falling on the child. The boy was uninjured, but this was due to luck. I had my handyman come and see to it that the bookcases were secured to the wall.
-- Joan C., in Minnesota