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Show It Makes Cents By Vi Blake Dear Vi: A small light in the door of our car was left on overnight result, a dead battery. bat-tery. A neighbor, seeing me pushing the car out of the garage so that we could get at the battery bat-tery to jump it, came to help. With the best of intentions, I am sure, he switched the cables, positive to negative, etc. Results: sparks and a small fire, which we quickly extinguished. I had to buy a new battery, alternator, alter-nator, and starter and have them installed. An expensive error. I suppose I was partly to blame. Even I know that positive goes to positive and negative to negative. nega-tive. I should have watched. I didn't, did-n't, though. Why? Because I have (or had) the mind set that says men know about cars. Misery likes company, they say. At- any rate, I felt better upon learning that the exact same thing happened to my daughter's friend, except that the damage to her car was more extensive. Bottom line: don't let anyone any-one do anything to your car unless you are certain that that someone knows what he is doing even if he is a man. Dear Vi: When we go camping, camp-ing, we leave our good pillows at home ana take temporary pillows pil-lows made from old pillowcases stuffed with thin plastic garment protectors the kind dry cleaners use. This type of plastic is lightweight, light-weight, soft, and noiseless and you can get all you want from clothing stores. (They discard lots of it when unpacking orders.) Simply stuff the cases to desired fullness and sew the opening firmly shut so that children chil-dren can't pull out the plastic. As you are aware, children have been known to smother themselves them-selves with thin plastic. As an added precaution, you might want to shred the plastic. Polly Stillwater Las Vegas, Nev. Dear Vi: I learned this from a friend who has a dry cleaning business: Spray the underarm area of clean garments with a soil-repellent fabric spray. Also, if you perspire heavily, wear dress shields. I know this sounds old fashioned, but it, s still a good idea. No Name, please. I get many questions about how to remove perspiration stains, so your advice is appreciated.. appreci-ated.. We should also mention that if the perspiration has affected the color of the fabric, the damage is permanent. This makes prompt action and prevention pre-vention all the more important. Also, remember that underarm odors and perspiration stains can linger even after a garment is laundered or dry cleaned. A fairly strong vinegar solution applied promptly will usually prevent this. A soda soak is recommended rec-ommended for old stains. If you are one of the unfortunates who have a strong body odor, heed the motto often published in Prevention Magazine Take Zinc; don't stink. Consult your doctor first, of course. Dear Vi: Do you know how to remove embroidery transfer marks from fabric? I have some new stamped pillowcases that I would like to put to use, but I don,t want to embroider them. Thanks for your help. Ida Mellore A product called BIZ might work, Ida. Soak the cases according to directions on the package. Fels Naptha bar soap, that old standby we once relied on for tough laundry jobs, might also help. Rub the lines with the dampened bar, let stand awhile, then launder in hot soapy water. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Don't prepare the path for the child prepare the child for the path Readers: ' This is your feature: fea-ture: Send your good ideas or questions to: IT MAKES CENTS, 328 South, 300 E. 5, St. George, Utah, 84770, or e-mail e-mail viblakeinfowest.com. If used here, I'll send you $2 or a copy of my new booklet "Multiple Uses for Common Household Products." Please state your choice. Current or past issues of this feature may be seen by visiting my web page, www.infowest.comcents. |