Heloise

Dear Heloise: If a toothpick is too short to test whether your bread or other baked goods are done, try a bamboo skewer. I also use bamboo skewers to see if a plant needs watering. — Margaret S., La Mirada, California

NO BUSINESS AT THE FRONT DOOR

Dear Heloise: Here’s my solution regarding door-to-door con artists. I simply never do business with someone at my front door. I will instead ask them to please send me something in the mail and then close the door. — R.D. Kelly, via email

A CLEAN SOAP DISH

Dear Heloise: To keep your soap dish clean after washing your hands, lay the soap on the towel while you rinse your hands. Then put it in the soap dish. The soap dish stays cleaner for longer. — Rae Philpott, Denton, Texas

TRASH DISPOSAL AT PARTIES

Dear Heloise: When we have casual parties, like backyard barbecues, I write “Trash” and “Recycle” in marker on paper bags and place the bags all around the house. Most people then dispose of their trash themselves, and it makes cleanup a snap after the party. — Chris Greene, Houston

OTHER USES FOR SHAKERS

Recycle shakers and similar containters by using them to sprinkle:

— Glitter for craft projects

— Baking soda to sprinkle on carpeting before vacuuming

— Your own special seasoning mix

— Fertilizer for small indoor plants

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Dear Readers: We’re having record hot temperatures this summer all over the world. Be sure to take your pets inside during the heat of the day or at least give them a shady place to rest, as well as food and water in clean bowls. Keep refilling the water bowl with cold water periodically. — Heloise

LAUNDRY HINT

Dear Heloise: In our household, we do not use a clothes hamper. Each day, we all just put our dirty clothes directly into the empty washing machine. Of course, everyone is responsible to empty their pockets before.

When the washing machine is full, I run a cold water wash. It makes life easy! — Barbara, Hollywood Beach, California

KIDNEY DISEASE IN CATS

Dear Heloise: I read about the kitty with kidney disease. We had a 2-year-old Siamese who got very sick. We took him to our vet, who said he had kidney disease and would die within three months. We were devastated, and found it hard to believe that a young cat could have kidney disease.

We found another vet he sent us to for more advanced testing and discovered that he was born with deformed kidneys. The vet then prescribed a medication — a human kidney disease treatment. Our cat lived five more perfectly happy, normal years. — Susi Wilson, via email

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.