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Dear Heloise: Get a small plastic rinsing cup. Shake baking soda into it. Add a little shampoo on top. Mix with your finger, then wash your hair with this mixture. It’ll strip out excess product. I’ve done this for many years. — Joannie T., in Little Rock, Arkansas
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Heloise@Heloise.com
LEAD LEACHING
Dear Heloise: I have vintage white milk glass nesting bowls, white Federal glass bowls, and vintage jadeite bowls. I’ve been using these to mix and store food. I keep hearing that they aren’t safe to use anymore due to them containing lead. Can you please advise me regarding this?
Also, I’m still using my vintage white frost plates and bowls from the ’80s and ’90s. I hope these are safe. — Nancy K., via email
Nancy, any plate or bowl that was manufactured before 2005 is suspicious. Many contain lead paint in the decorations on the bowl or plate. It’s a small amount but still not advisable to use for any reason other than decoration.
White frost plates and bowls that are made today are made from nonporous vitrelle glass and are safe to use. However, your plates from the ’80s and ’90s may not be safe to use. Your best option is to have someone test your plates for lead or cadmium content. — Heloise
LOGGING FOOD
Dear Heloise: I’m also in my 60s and overweight. I was curious about my food choices, so I found a free app, called MyFitnessPal, to log the foods that I eat daily. It really opened my eyes as to how food affected my weight. I still treat myself to my “junk food.” However, logging food has helped me with my portion control.
Slow weight loss was my goal. I didn’t gain weight for a short period of time and wanted to find something sustainable. I have now used this process for six months and have lost 17 pounds. Believe that you can be successful in your weight-loss journey, and it’ll happen! — Susan W., in River Falls, Wisconsin
Susan, congratulations on your weight loss! You have the right attitude. I’ve always told myself: “In one year, I still plan to be alive, so why not stick to my diet so that I’m slimmer in a year? If I weigh the same as I do now, I’ll be very disappointed in myself for not sticking to my goal.” — Heloise
COOKING SOUND OFF
Dear Heloise: I read the letter about one in four Americans being unable to cook. The reason for this is due to parents not allowing their children to learn, as most parents don’t care that they “have to clean up after their children.” There are also adults who didn’t learn how to cook because they ruined something as a teen and never tried again. — Cindy, in Ohio
Cindy, we received several letters on this subject, including letters from teens who only use a microwave. Cooking is a survival skill, and any good cook will tell you that it’s also part science. (I always loved science.) If you can read a cookbook, you can probably learn how to cook.
What the teens complained about was how long it took them to prepare a nice meal and the fact that no one said “thank you,” or they hated the cleanup afterward. Still, a home-cooked meal is a nice skill to have in your back pocket. — Heloise
Dear Heloise: I’d like to respond to Patty W. She wanted to lose weight for her son’s wedding. I also wanted to lose weight for my son’s wedding a few years ago. The best diet advice I received was free and easy; it was simply “more exercise, less eating” — or MELE for short. It was easy for me to remember.
I started walking more often and further distances. I swam as best I could and ensured that I was doing some sort of movement daily. I ate smaller portions and saved my “bad foods” for the weekends only instead of cutting them out altogether. It took a while, but I made it and kept it off! I call it my “MELE lifestyle.” Thanks for all your hints over the years! — Barbara, in San Juan Capistrano, California
Barbara, great job keeping the weight off! Readers, before starting any diet, you should always make sure to get a clean bill of health from your doctor. — Heloise
LOOKING FOR NEW FRIENDS
Dear Heloise: Recently, I participated in a practice trial at a law firm for which I was paid, but my other goal was to meet people. It was a diverse group age-wise and occupation-wise. However, at each break, the other 20 participants immediately got on their cellphones. I was never able to exchange more than “good morning” or “good afternoon.”
This scenario has been a trend at a number of events I’ve attended. I’m not shy, having worked in the hospitality industry for decades, and I truly enjoy people. — P.M., in St. Louis
P.M., don’t give up! Many people have met friends at church, at a political function, or with a group that gathers for a worthy cause, such as the preservation of historic buildings. You could also volunteer in a hospital or with an animal rescue group.
If there are evening classes near you, find something interesting that you’d like to learn (or teach) and check it out. You might enjoy pottery or learning how to speak French. I learned American Sign Language in night school and loved it. You’re on the right path; just try other sources. — Heloise
DUSTY ARTIFICIAL PLANTS
Dear Heloise: Thank you for my daily dose of helpful hints! I love your column. Do you have a home remedy for cleaning artificial plants? My plants get so dusty, and the store products are very expensive. Any help you can give me will be so appreciated (probably by others as well). — Deb E., in The Villages, Florida
Deb, for leafy plants, a slightly damp cloth to wipe down the leaves should do the trick. Afterward, wipe the leaves dry with a clean, soft cloth. If you have artificial flowers that have become dusty over time, pour about 1 1/2 cups of table salt into a plastic bag. Stick the head of the flower into the bag of salt and hold the bag closed with a firm grip. Shake it vigorously. The salt will cause the flowers to shake off dirt. — Heloise
SERRATED FRUIT SPOON
Dear Heloise: Our grandchildren were visiting recently, and the ice cream was too hard to scoop. We all know about warming the scoop up with hot tap water, but another idea is to use a serrated fruit spoon. Wow! Who knew? — Bren M., in Virginia
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.