HELOISE

Dear Heloise: Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite excuses to feed a crowd — chips, salsa, tacos, the works! The aftermath? Less exciting. Greasy platters and salsa-covered dishes took the better part of an hour to clean after guests left. Now every serving tray and basket gets lined with parchment paper before the food goes out.

When the party’s over, just lift the paper and toss it out; the tray underneath doesn’t need anything — no soaking, no scrubbing, and no dried salsa waiting for you the next morning! The parchment handles grease and moisture without sticking or tearing, which makes it more reliable than paper towels or foil for this kind of use. Cut it to fit, or just fold the edges up slightly around the sides.

It’s such a small thing, but it genuinely changes how the night ends. You get to enjoy the last hour of the party instead of dreading about what’s waiting for you in the kitchen. — Leslie A., in Bayside, New York

PACK AN UMBRELLA

Dear Heloise: A car emergency kit usually includes jumper cables, a flashlight, and a first aid kit, but an umbrella deserves a place in the trunk, too. My daughter was recently stranded on the highway for an hour and a half with a broken-down vehicle, without shade from the Florida sun. An umbrella won’t fix the car, but it blocks direct sun, reduces exposure, and makes a long wait more bearable. In hot climates, standing on sun-baked asphalt without shade is draining.

A compact folding umbrella doesn’t take up much space, and it works for the rain as well. It’s the kind of thing you forget until you need it, then you’re glad that it’s there. Consider adding it to your list the next time you check your emergency supplies. — Marilyn, in The Villages, Florida

BROWN CLUMP IN VINEGAR

Dear Heloise: Brown clumps keep forming at the bottom of our apple cider vinegar after we transfer it from a gallon jug to a smaller bottle. What causes this, and how do we prevent it? — Michael Key, via email

Michael, there’s no need to worry; the brown clumps are harmless. They’re called the “mother of vinegar,” and they’re a natural mix of good bacteria and cellulose that is found in raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Transferring vinegar exposes it to air and movement, and this exposure can cause a new mother to form in the smaller bottle — often within a week or two.

Some people value the mother for its probiotic benefits and keep it in. If you don’t like the texture, strain the vinegar through a fine-mesh strainer or a coffee filter before pouring it into the smaller bottle. Keeping the vinegar in the fridge after transferring it will also slow the process. Filtered apple cider vinegar has fewer clumps but doesn’t contain the mother. No matter what settles at the bottom, your vinegar is safe and ready to use. — Heloise

SMARTER SHOWER HABITS

Dear Heloise: To conserve our precious water resource, I’m very mindful of how I shower. For instance, I will make sure that all my products are ready to use, take the tops off, and remove them from their containers before I start running the water. I leave the lids off while the water runs and put them back only after I’ve finished. I also turn the water off or make it a drizzle while I’m shaving or pumicing. With the average shower using up to 20 gallons of water, anything we can do to conserve water is worth it. — Montana A., via email

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.