Dear Readers: It's easy to forget that your freezer needs regular maintenance and cleaning, but a few minutes of effort can save you money in the long run.
Freezers have to work harder when dust and grime cling to the condenser coil or when a thick frost builds up. So, every few months, scrub the floor underneath and then vacuum the coil at the back or bottom of the freezer, and defrost when you see that the frost buildup is 1/4 inch in thickness.
While you're at it, clean and deodorize the inside with a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water. Wash well, rinse and wipe dry. Stubborn stains can usually be removed by scrubbing with a little baking soda on a damp sponge. In fact, baking soda can be used all around the house. I've listed many cleaning formulas for the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room as well as some yummy recipes in my baking-soda pamphlet. You can have one by sending $4 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (63 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. And before you put everything back in the freezer, now would be a good time to think about organizing the different types of food in clear, plastic storage boxes, which you can find at discount stores. Meats in one, desserts in another, and so on. Labeling each will make it easy to keep track of items that might otherwise get lost in the back of the freezer. —Heloise
Dear Heloise: Before we go on our vacation, I leave a list of phone numbers for our neighbor who is going to be watching our home and taking care of the pets. This way, if he needs to get in touch with us, he will know where we are each day. Some of the remote areas we travel to don't have cell-phone reception, so that is why this is important. —Frank T. in Texas
Good point! Cell phones are handy, but there are times that a land-line phone and contact information are important to have. —Heloise
Dear Heloise: Clean lampshades in 30 seconds! Don't wipe down your cloth lampshades — roll a lint roller over them. —Marge L., Seattle
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