Dear Readers: Do you have wimpy water pressure in your shower? Before you call a plumber, check the shower head for mineral buildup. This could be the cause, and you can fix it with a favorite of mine — good ol' household vinegar.
Fill a small bucket or bowl with warm to hot vinegar, remove the shower head and let it soak in the vinegar for several hours — overnight for best results! To help scrub and remove any softened "deposits," use an old toothbrush. Also, unclog holes with a toothpick, sewing needle or piece of wire.
If you can't remove the shower head, pour 2 to 3 inches of vinegar into a sturdy plastic sandwich bag, then tape, twist-tie or rubber-band the bag so that the shower head is submerged in the vinegar. Again, let this soak overnight, then remove the bag and scrub the holes with an old toothbrush.
After cleaning, turn on the water to the shower head full force to help force out any loosened deposits left inside. If all has gone well, the shower power should be up to par again. —Heloise
Dear Heloise:For the past seven to eight years, I have traveled a lot with my job. Since I frequently pack a lot of coordinates (mostly black), a lint roller was a must in my suitcase. The roller doesn't take up much room, and it has an added bonus: You can take a clean dryer sheet and attach it to your roller with a couple of rubber bands. Rub over your pantyhose or whatever is clingy, and it will keep down the static from your skirts or pants. Also, you can roll it over the arms of your sweaters or blouses before you put on your jacket and get similar results. I read your column in The Huntsville (Ala.) Times. —Elaine Alspach, Lacey's Spring, Ala.
Dear Heloise: I like to fish, and I take a cooler to keep my catch in. I dislike paying for bags of ice, and freezing all those cubes is tedious for those of us without ice makers. Far better is to fill one 2-liter soda bottle with water (leave a little space for expansion — Heloise) and freeze it solid. This will keep my moderate-size cooler chilled all day. On cooler days, the bottle will still be partly frozen at the end of the day, so I wash it off and place it back in the freezer for the next time. — Dwayne Shreve, Elkton, Md.
Dear Heloise: I have found a use for the clean, plastic sleeves my newspaper comes in. I fold them and put them in the pocket of my car door. When I stop for gas, I slip the plastic sleeve over my hand and up my arm as far as it will go. Then I use that hand to touch everything at the pump. When I'm done, it comes off easily, and I throw it away. I no longer smell like the gas I've been pumping. —Catherine Doikos, Fort Myers, Fla.
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 (435-6473) or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column. © King Features Syndicate Inc.