Dear Readers: Sunday is NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS DAY. The holiday became official in the United States in 1978. What is its goal? To show the reciprocal relationship between grandparents and their children’s children.

Grandparents enrich our lives tremendously; they are strong and wise. Spend tomorrow with your family, or adopt a grandparent at the neighborhood senior center. — Heloise

SMELLY SITUATION

Dear Heloise: I read your column in the Statesman Journal in Salem, Oregon, and I have enjoyed your hints and information for many years.

One of your columns contained something that troubled me: A reader recommending putting perfume in her vacuum to make “the whole house smell wonderful.” As someone with a perfume allergy, my eyes practically started to water just reading that.

If someone were to do that, I would have the option not to go in her house. This lady’s two dogs don’t have that option. Given that a dog’s sense of smell is much keener than a human’s, she may be subjecting those dogs to an unpleasant and strong scent.

I felt terrible for those pets that would not have the option to say if it smells bad to them. — Marcia H., via email

WHERE’S THE RECEIPT?

Dear Heloise: At the gas pump, I push the button for a receipt and I get the all-familiar “Clerk has receipt.” Why? Because the paper tape is empty.

I then must go into the store, wait in line and then get the receipt. So frustrating! As a business owner, I personally only use stores in my area that I know will provide me with a receipt at the pump. — Lisa Z., Waco, Texas

WATER SAVER

Dear Heloise: When we run water to take showers, I put a bucket in each tub and collect the water until it gets hot. Otherwise, it would be wasted. Then I use the water to flush the commode or water my flowers. It cuts down on our water bill. — Edna H., Prattville, Ala.

WHY NOT?

Dear Heloise: Why don’t calendars begin each week with Monday on the left and Saturday and Sunday at the end of the week on the right?

This would be more sensible and easier to work with. We enjoy your column in The Villages Daily Sun in Florida. — Peter S., via email

STICKY SOLUTION

Dear Heloise: I live alone now, so I do not have help with putting on bracelets with a clasp. I use clear tape to hold one end of the bracelet to my arm to be steady while I fasten the bracelet to the clasp. It works every time. — A Reader, via email

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Dear Heloise: When my husband and I travel, we always make sure we have our “DOG TAGS” on. It’s a chain with a tag that has our names, city, state and phone numbers, along with our blood type and date of birth, engraved on it. When we travel, I carry a card in my wallet as well with the same information on it. You never know when an accident might happen, and the hospital staff will need to know how to contact family. — Joan F., Lake Charles, La.

CUTTING BOARD

Dear Heloise: In your recent column about cleaning cutting boards, you suggested mixing [a small amount of] bleach and vinegar in a gallon of water. Perhaps once diluted it would be a nonissue, but I can tell you from personal experience of mixing vinegar with bleach that I about killed myself, because it creates chlorine gas.

Perhaps interspersing the liquids in water first would eliminate that possibility, which I did not do when I mixed the two. — Geri Rodman, via email

Readers, Geri brings up a great point. Even diluted, it could be a danger, so be safe and don’t combine them. — Heloise

ROADIE

Dear Heloise: You’ve provided some excellent hints on traveling to different places, but there are thousands of people like me who are out driving in the city all day. I have a list of hints for “roadies” like me who are on city streets all the time:

* Keep a flashlight and an umbrella in your glove compartment.

* With your phone, take a picture of the level you parked on in a parking garage.

* Carry an emergency road kit, and make sure you have enough flares.

* Don’t leave valuables in plain sight.

* Always put a parking stub in the same place in your car.

* Never allow junk, old cups or food wrappers to accumulate in your car. Keep it as clean as you can. At the end of the day, throw out all unnecessary items that clutter your vehicle.

— Mike, via email

FALL LAWN CARE

Dear Heloise: We’re in our first home, and lawn care is a mystery to us. We’ve spent a small fortune on sod, and it’s doing great, but how should we prepare for the cold months ahead? — Enid O., Frankenmuth, Mich.

Enid, fall is the time to feed your lawn. First, rake out all of the summer debris of grass cuttings, dead leaves, etc., to allow the roots to get air and water. Then apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, using a spreader. After that, you’ll need to give the lawn a good soaking of water to a depth of about 3 to 4 inches. Remember to mulch around shrubs and young trees. — Heloise

A HELOISE HONEY FACIAL

Dear Heloise: You once printed the recipe for a facial, but I don’t remember exactly what to do. Would you reprint that for me? — Carolyn M., Silverton, Colo.

Carolyn, this is my all-time favorite treatment for my skin. Here it is:

Wash your face and make certain it is free of all oils and makeup. Next, apply honey and leave it on for three minutes, although some women feel 10 minutes is better. I gently tap my fingertips on my skin to increase the circulation. Remover the honey with a warm, wet washcloth, and be sure to use moisturizer after your facial. — Heloise

EDITOR’S NOTE: Send your great money-saving or timesaving hint to to Heloise at P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, Fax to 1-210-HELOISE, or email to Heloise@Heloise.com. She can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in her column.