Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: The kitchens in many homes have wood cabinets which, though durable, take a lot of abuse over the years. I have found that paste shoe polish in brown shades will cover all kinds of scratches and abrasions.

This can be used on all kinds of articles made of wood. - Helyn K. Cole, Phoenix, Ariz.

You’re right, the wax paste shoe polish in the shade matched closest to the wood color does do a very good job of hiding scratches and abrasions.

It also forms sort of a barrier that helps protect the wood.

Apply it the same way you would on shoes, in a circular motion, allow it to dry completely, then buff with a clean soft cloth. Since many cream or liquid shoe polishes may contain water, don’t use them on your cabinets or any wood furniture. - Heloise

Dear Heloise: I buy a great deal of parsley, and to keep it fresh I put about 1/2 inch of water in a jar and make sure the stems are in the water. - Dorothy Saytos, St. Augustine, Fla.