Dear Heloise: How can I remove gun from hair? — Traci, Via E-mail
Yikes! This old problem is still with us. There are several things you probably have in your home that can be used to remove gum from hair. Here's a list:
— peanut butter
— petroleum jelly
— real mayonnaise
— baby oil
— mineral oil
Basically, it's the oily base of these products that loosens the gum and makes it easier to take gum out of hair. Just work one of these products into the area thoroughly until the gum breaks up and loosens — then it can be removed more easily. Afterward, wash the hair well to remove any traces of the oil or greasy residue. — Heloise
P.S. Be sure little ones don't have gum in their mouths when they go to sleep!
Dear Heloise: I have a 10-month-old. I was recently at a secondhand shop and saw it had an overstock of airtight diaper-disposal systems. The employees claimed the systems were not selling.
I want to make a suggestion on how to continue using them instead of letting them go to waste. I just love mine; it keeps the smell of bad diapers out of my child's nursery. I have found it also is great for used sanitary napkins, plus it fits perfectly in the bathroom. It can also be used for people who use bladder-control pads. — Julianne McCray, Canton, Ohio
I am glad you wrote and shared these other uses for this "appliance." I think your idea of using it for the disposal of other items is ingenious. — Heloise
Dear Heloise: My sister gave me this idea, and I've added to it:
The plastic containers that most Parmesan cheese comes in with the screw-in lids and double-sided hinge openings —one side sprinkles, and the other side pours — are great for storing a lot of powdered items that generally are purchased in packages that can't be resealed.
I started with keeping my cornstarch in one, and then found it worked well for baking soda. And I can think of a lot of other ideas, such as powdered or brown sugar and powdered laundry detergent in the bathroom for hand washables. The possibilities are endless. — Jo Stephens, Via E-mail
Dear Heloise: Reading today's "Handy Timer" hint reminded me that I've been meaning to send one in. I'm a busy mother of three children, ages 3 and under. To prevent myself from burning a pot of water on the stove (which I've done a couple of times) or making other "mistakes," I turn on the exhaust-fan light above the stove. That always reminds me that I have something "cooking." — Rebecca Kirtland, Munster, Ind.
Another hint: Set your kitchen/stove timer. — Heloise
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com © King Features