Use ammonia mix to clean screens

Dear Heloise: I remember that you had a formula for cleaning window screens. Could you please reprint it?

Thanks. —Wanda Leydig, Via E-mail

Wanda, I'd be happy to reprint this easy-as-1-2-3 cleaning formula for you and other readers who might want to give it a try.

Here it is: Mix 1 cup of sudsy ammonia and 1 gallon of water. Take the screens off the windows and set them outside against a tree or a fence, not near anything that could be damaged by the cleaning mixture. Next, scrub the screens (both sides) while wearing gloves to protect your hands, then rinse with plenty of water. When dry, rehang.

Another idea from a reader is to take the screens to the carwash for quick cleaning. —Heloise

Dear Heloise: My father was an airline pilot, and he gave our family some valuable advice. When we travel, we always write our name, our destination and the destination phone number on our luggage tags. This has been a lifesaver for us several times when the airline has lost our luggage and delivered it to us on our vacation. — Owen Howson, Maui, Hawai

Dear Heloise: I've found a way to use the inexpensive, straight-cut paper shredders and get as good protection as, if not better than, using the costly crosscut ones.

I shred my documents into an ordinary white, plastic kitchen trash bag, add some water, mix well, tie a knot in the end of the bag to keep it watertight and then deposit it into the trash. The water breaks down the paper, dissolves many of the inks and makes it darn near impossible for anyone to reconstruct the documents or the private information. — Jim M., Chantilly, Va.

This does work on some paper, but I "tested" credit-card bills and some other bills. They did not dissolve in 48 hours, so please use caution. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: We had a problem with hair in the shower drain. So I cut a circle the size of the drain cover from grip liner. The liner allows the water to go through easily but stops the hair. — Barbara, Via E-mail

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