Dear Heloise: I live alone and only use my dishwasher a couple times a week. In between washings, I sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher. No more odors between washings! — Kaynella W., in Omaha, Nebraska

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Heloise@Heloise.com

CRISP SHEETS

Dear Heloise: Years ago, my mother told me the thread count for crisp percale sheets. Naturally, I have forgotten about it, and she’s no longer with us. Even though I always hang up my sheets (weather-permitting), they are not crisp like they used to be. Could you recommend a thread count for crisp sheets? — Marilyn B., via email

Marilyn, a 400 thread count is usually recommended for percale sheets.  You can go higher on the thread count, but please remember that the higher the thread count, the less breathability your sheets will have. — Heloise

EMERGENCY PREPARDNESS

Dear Heloise: A recent hint about using candles when the electricity is out was good, but candles can burn out and be dangerous if there are children or pets in the house.

For long-term blackouts when disasters happen, another solution is to use your yard solar lights and bring in at least one for your bedroom and one for your bathroom. It can be safely carried throughout the house and placed outside in the morning for recharging as needed. — Judi K., in Omaha, Nebraska

Judi, this is a great idea, but in addition to this, there are light bulbs that actually are battery-powered. Every time you turn on a light, you can charge up the battery. If the electricity is off, you can still have light because of the recharged battery in the bulb.

Have at least three flashlights and set them on their ends so that the light bounces off the ceiling and the whole room has light. — Heloise

OFF TO COLLEGE

Dear Heloise: In response to Seda, in Glendale, California, who needed a list of practical items for her grandson who’s going off to college, I would like to add a few things:

— A good pair of scissors

— A small sewing kit (or at least a needle and thread)

— Adhesive tape

— A ruler

— Sally R., in Oxnard, California

Sally, instead of a ruler, a tape measure might be a better idea. A sewing kit is smart, along with a few extra shirt buttons, a laundry bag, and some loose change for snack machines. — Heloise

GROCERY SHOPPING LISTS

Dear Heloise: In response to Jan S., in Pennsylvania, regarding how she makes out her grocery shopping list, I have a magnetic dry erase board that I keep on the front of my refrigerator.  Whenever I am running low on something, I just jot it on the board!

I love your column and read it in the Union Leader in Manchester, New Hampshire. — Helen B., in New Hampshire.

WASTE NOT

Dear Heloise: For many years I would try to pinch the last remains of toothpaste (or similar items stored in a malleable tube) toward the top with my fingers to avoid waste. Recently, an idea struck me when I happened to have some lip balm on the counter nearby. Placing the lip balm container on its side at the bottom of the toothpaste tube and sliding it to the top with firm pressure made sure that every last speck of toothpaste was used.

This also works well for my wife’s makeup containers, and the cylindrical shape of the lip balm ensures you won’t accidentally rupture the container that you are squeezing. — Tyler, in Murray, Nebraska