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Dear Heloise: My husband hates coffee and asked me to switch to tea, but I don’t like tea. He says that coffee damages our health. Is this true? — Shelly J., in Little Rock, Arkansas
Shelly, studies have been done on thousands of people to discover the effects of coffee on the human body, and for the most part, a consumption of about 3-4 cups a day (roughly 400 mg of caffeine) doesn’t harm people. In fact, coffee lowers the risk of premature death, Type 2 diabetes, and heart failure.
The beans also have antioxidant properties. Coffee only becomes dangerous if it’s drunk in excess, since it can disrupt your sleep or cause anxiety or acid reflux. — Heloise
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GROCERY STORE ETIQUETTE
Dear Heloise: I work in a very large grocery store, stocking shelves and working in the back with incoming deliveries. I’m surprised every day by the sheer lack of common courtesy that I see as people shop for their supplies and groceries. After speaking with my fellow co-workers, I made a list of things that we wish shoppers would and wouldn’t do:
— Please don’t let your children run through the aisles or go into the back of the store. There are so many things in the back that can seriously harm a child.
— Please don’t ram your cart into another shopper’s cart. Just politely ask them to move their cart so that you can get around it.
— If a sign says “15 items or less,” we’re asking folks to please stick to 15 items or less. Not a single item more.
— If you grabbed a frozen item but decided that you don’t want it, leave it in a freezer, not on a shelf where it’ll thaw out. We’ll find it and put it away in the exact section where it belongs.
— Please, no expired or out-of-date coupons. And no, we can’t just take them anyway.
— Please don’t ask the staff to keep an eye on your children while you shop. We’re a grocery store, not a babysitting service. — A Reader, via email
NO MORE SMELLY TOWELS
Dear Heloise: My towels stink! They have a sour smell to them. Even after I’ve washed them, they still have a slight pungent odor that screams “unclean.” How do I get this smell out? — Eunice C., in Hollywood, Florida
Eunice, try washing fewer towels at a time. To remove the smell, wash your towels in hot water with your usual detergent and a 1/2 cup of baking soda added to the washing water. If you have hard water, use a 3/4 cup of baking soda. After they’re washed, put them in the dryer immediately. Never let them sit in the washer for too long. If you want, you can use a dryer sheet to help with the smell.
After bathing, you might try hanging the towels over the shower curtain rod or on a clothesline for them to dry faster. If you have a vent in your bathroom to remove moisture, be sure to turn it on after bathing or showering. This will reduce the humidity in the bathroom. — Heloise
DON’T LET JEANS FADE
Dear Heloise: My dark blue and black jeans fade too quickly. How can I keep them from fading for as long as possible? — Meredith M., in Beaverton, Oregon
Meredith, first, turn your jeans inside out. Use a mild detergent and cold water to wash them. You can let them air-dry overnight (this is my recommendation), or if you use a dryer, use a low heat setting. — Heloise
GET UP AND GET ACTIVE!
Dear Heloise: After I retired last year, I went into a sort of slump with a mild depression. It wasn’t anything serious, but I started to gain weight, sleep too much, and watch too much TV. When I went to see my doctor for an annual checkup, I mentioned to her that I was tired all the time and didn’t seem interested in anything. She told me to get to the gym and start exercising. If nothing else, I was to go for a long walk, especially when it was sunny outside.
Believe it or not, I started to feel better. I joined a gym and made myself go three times a week. I set the alarm for 6:30 a.m., got up, and went for a walk on days that I didn’t go to the gym. I lost 20 pounds, toned my body, and met the man whom I would later marry.
I can’t promise that exercise will bring you a spouse, but it can definitely lift your mood. It certainly lifted mine! — Elaine L., in Mesa, Arizona
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DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE
Dear Heloise: I retired and found that I didn’t like it. I enjoy working, and the extra income is nice. I took up painting, which I love and now make a living from. I encourage retired people to do something that they enjoy, rather than doing nothing.
A friend of mine does plumbing for people who can’t afford to hire a plumber. Word of mouth and low fees have kept him very busy. Another friend refinishes antiques and sells them at a flea market. He loves restoring items that would have otherwise gone into the trash.
If you’re retired, keep yourself moving and find something that you love to do to occupy your time. — Sam, in Colorado
STUBBORN LINOLEUM
Dear Heloise: Last night, my son was helping me remove the old, ugly linoleum in my kitchen. It’s been there for about 30 years! Anyway, there were several spots that we had trouble with where the linoleum wouldn’t lift off. How can we get the linoleum up in these stubborn areas? — June Y., in Camden, New Jersey
June, apply ice to these stubborn areas, but be sure to cover them completely. After about 30-40 minutes, check to see if the adhesive that is holding the linoleum is brittle enough to scrape off. If it is, then use a thin blade (like you might find on a putty knife) and scrape it off. This will require some elbow grease. — Heloise
LEFTOVER PIE CRUST
Dear Heloise: I always have way too much pie crust, and I hate throwing it away. What can I do to use up all the dough? — P.F., in Woodbury, Minnesota
P.F., I’ve often made pies and had leftover pie crust dough, so I usually roll it out and brush it lightly with a little melted butter. Then I sprinkle it with some brown sugar, cinnamon, and maybe some finely crushed almonds (optional). After this, I roll it into a long tube shape and slice into 1-inch-thick rolls.
I place these circular chunks on a cookie sheet and bake them for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. You can bake them with the pie or after the pie’s done baking. — Heloise