When a grease stain threatens a favorite jacket, Heloise recommends a simple home remedy: apply a hand cleaner and gently scrub the area with a nailbrush. Rinse the garment and let it air‑dry, avoiding the dryer until the stain is fully removed to prevent setting it further.
Additional Grease‑Removal Trick
One reader from Huntsville, Alabama, recalled a childhood incident where tar from a newly paved street stained her son’s white polyester‑blend pants. Her mother rescued the trousers by first rubbing all‑vegetable shortening into the stain, then creating a detergent paste and repeating the process. Working from the backside of the stain helped avoid pushing the material deeper into the fabric.
Caring for Family Antiques
Heloise also fielded a request from a Virginia reader seeking guidance on preserving heirloom items. She offered the following recommendations:
- Leave coins in their natural patina; it adds value.
- Keep grandfather clocks out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources; service and oil them every five years.
- Remove mildew from wooden furniture by wiping with a soft cloth dampened with a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar, then dry thoroughly.
- Avoid polishing antique bronze, as polishing can diminish its worth.
- Clean ceramics with mild soap, water, and a soft cloth.
These tips aim to help families maintain cherished pieces for future generations.
Fruit Identification Help
In a brief side note, readers asked for help naming a distinctive apple. One suggested the “Fireside apple,” while another described a pear‑shaped, white‑fleshed apple with a red blush as a tropical custard apple.
For more money‑saving or time‑saving hints, readers can email the column at [email protected]. The column is syndicated by King Features Syndicate.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
