DEAR HELOISE: I purchase fruits and vegetables at my local farmers market each week. The produce is not wrapped, and before I prepare any of it, I soak it in water to which I have added 2 tablespoons of bleach. I don't know how many people have handled the produce prior to my purchasing it, and wish to be as safe as possible.
– Eva Knight, Via Email
DEAR EVA: Washing produce is always important, especially with outbreaks of salmonella and E. coli. We checked with the Food and Drug Administration, and it does not recommend using bleach, soap, detergent or produce washes. The FDA says to thoroughly "wash" all produce under only running water before using or cooking, which means to rub the surface with your hand or a vegetable brush to remove dirt, etc. If you want, you can use a clean paper towel to "scrub" the surface of delicate fruits and veggies.
Scrub firm vegetables, like potatoes, using a produce brush. Fruits with hard skins, like cantaloupe, should be scrubbed using a veggie brush under water so that bacteria don't move from the outside to the inside flesh when the skin is cut. Use a colander when washing fruit or veggies so cleaned items don't sit in dirty water.
DEAR HELOISE: My question is about bath towels. After a few washings, they begin to take on an almost musty, moldy odor. How do I get rid of this smell?
– Erin P., Via Email
DEAR ERIN: This is a common problem, which has several possible causes. Overloading the washing machine usually is the main culprit, so try washing fewer towels using a high water-level setting and even a second rinse. Use the normal amount of laundry detergent plus half-cup of baking soda or washing soda (found in the laundry aisle).
Towels often lose absorbency from the overuse of fabric softener or sheets. These products can cause buildup on the towels when not used correctly. When water cannot thoroughly penetrate and clean the towels, it causes odor. Always check the manufacturer's label before washing your towels. Some recommend not to use fabric softener (or bleach) at all.
Finally, always put towels in the dryer as soon as you can after washing.
DEAR HELOISE: I had a problem with my bedsheets and mattress cover. Every morning, I would wake up, and the sheets and mattress cover would be off the corner of the bed because of the plastic protective cover that was under them.
I solved this problem with a pair of my husband's suspenders. I attached one side (two clips) to one end of the mattress cover, and put the other under the mattress and attached the other two clips to the other side. Worked great!
– Pat C. In Danville, Ky.
DEAR HELOISE: I used to check pockets and make sure there were no tissues, but still there would be lint on black clothes. I finally figured it out. If I wash black clothes after towels or fuzzy things, the lint gets attached to the washer. So, never wash black items after doing towels. Either rinse out the machine on a rinse cycle or take a microfiber cloth and wipe the inside of the washer.
– Judy In Canfield, Ohio
DEAR JUDY: And, here's another laundry-day hint, from Loree Long of Weatherford, Texas. She says: "I always have a tablecloth for spring. Before removing it to launder, I attach a safety pin on each stain that needs pre-treating. Works every time, and you end up with a clean tablecloth for the next family/friend lunch or dinner."
– Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: To keep from cutting yourself on a sharp knife in a kitchen drawer, I take a round tube from a used paper-towel roll and staple one end two or three times. I use it to hold a long, sharp knife. The same idea works with a toilet-paper tube and shorter paring knives. The knives fit nicely and safely in any kitchen drawer.
– Betty Blaser-Perkins In Ventura
DEAR HELOISE: The cleanest and easiest way to slice through an avocado is lengthwise all the way around to the pit, twist to separate in half, remove the pit and use a spoon to scoop the avocado out.
– Kathy, Phoenix
DEAR HELOISE: When opening a carton of fresh strawberries, we tend to reach for the pretty, luscious berries we see on top. Instead, empty the strawberries into a bowl and use the ones on the bottom first. Fewer wasted strawberries!
– Gloria, Via Email
DEAR READERS: Here are helpful hints for measuring sugar: Confectioners' or powdered sugar, typically used in frostings and icings, absorbs moisture, which causes clumping. This is why it must be sifted or fluffed before measuring, then leveled off with a smooth, flat utensil.
Brown sugar should be pressed down firmly with a spoon and then leveled off. The brown sugar should retain the shape of the cup when turned into the bowl.
Granulated sugar can simply be placed in the measuring cup and, of course, leveled off for use.
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