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Show nam em By Vi Blake Dear Vi: I have several ideas for your column: 1. Lay a string on the edge of your dishwasher soap bucket and it will open easily. 2. A wad of used aluminum foil makes a good kettle scraper. 3. Put some black pepper in the salt shaker so you can tell where you have salted things, like corn on the cob. 4 If you have a spot or two on your carpet, scrub them out with a wet toilet brush. Most spots will come out with just water.- Carla Sharp Richfield My friend Russ Hardy, (a carpet man) advises against scrubbing carpets. He suggests a vinegar solution or a non-oil, non-soap-based carpet cleaner, such as Folex Spot Remover. Spray it on, work it into the pile gently with the ' fingers, and blott with a clean white towel, preferably left on overnight. Folex Spot Remover is widely available in California and Arizona, but apparently it hasn't caught on in Utah. I did find some at WalMart last March and they said they would get more in. I called just now to ask if they had some in stock, but finally hung up after waiting a long time to be transferred to someone who would know. (By the way, wouldn't it be nice to call a number and get a person? I get so tired of voice messages and the infernal waiting involved.) Anyway, Any-way, if any of you find an outlet for this or a similar product, please let us know. In the past, I have noticed that once you have a new carpet cleaned it needs to be cleaned much oftener. I asked Russ about this. He said it is because oil-or soap-based-cleaners leave a residue in the carpet that attracts and holds dirt. Dear Vi: A tablespoon of powdered dishwashing detergent and a pot of water perked in your coffee maker will get it really clean with no scrubbing. Also, slip a thimble over the percolator stem before measuring the coffee and it won't get clogged. Of course, the thimble must be removed before perking. Darlene Burg Las Vegas, Nev. Dear Vi: If you have a surplus of tomatoes in your garden, make some tomato jam. It's simple to make and very good. We like it better than mint jelly with lamb: Boil 3 cups of peeled, chopped ripe tomatoes with 2 cups sugar for 10 minutes, then add a lemon sliced very thin and a 3 oz. package of lemon gelatin. Boil another 10 minutes, and seal in hot sterilized jars. Darlene Burg Las Vegas, Nev. While baking cookies today, I thought of passing on several "mess-savers" and short cuts that I use a lot: Before measuring molasses or honey or anything gooey, measure the shortening or liquid oil in the cup first, then the sticky stuff will pour out easily. Keep a small strainer in or near the flour canister for dusting a cake pan or pastry board . An open box of baking soda freshens a microwave oven just as it does a refrigerator. Remove when you use the oven. A raw potato will remove vegetable stains and fish odor from your hands It will also help relieve a stomach ache. A slice of lemon on mineral stains in a glass pot will usually take them away. Blow up your rubber gloves and they will slip on your hands much easier. Also, rub some cornstarch on your hands before putting on the gloves. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A person needs to be listened tq until he or she can go down to the depth of the problem and make a decision. Readers: Thanks for sharing your good ideas. Send yours or questions to IT MAKES CENTS, 328 So 300 E 5, St. ' George, Utah, 84770 or e-mail (viblakein fowest.com) If used here I'll send you $2 or one of my booklets. Please state your choice. For the current or back issues of IT MAKES CENTS, check my web ' page: www.infowest.comcents ht tp:www. infowest.comcents |