Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: Would you happen to have a cleaning solution for diamond rings? - Dorothy Lydon, San Diego

According to the Jewelers of America, here is a jewelry cleaning solution that is great for diamond jewelry. It’s also a good cleaner for any gold jewelry except pieces with porous stones (i.e., pearls, jade, opals, coral, turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, amber).

Mix equal parts of cold tap water and plain household ammonia. Put the diamond jewelry in the solution and let it soak for about 30 minutes. You can gently brush away any hard-to-remove dirt with a soft-bristled toothbrush (make sure the bristles of the toothbrush don’t get caught in the mounting, where they could loosen the prongs). Follow by rinsing well with water.

- Heloise

Dear Heloise: For thick, concentrated dishwashing detergents, obtain one of those bartender pouring spouts and slip it into the mouth of a small bottle, plastic or glass.

Just keep this small container close by, and when the hands are soapy, this is an easy method of pouring additional detergent into the sink.

Even if the bottle should be tipped over, this thick liquid does not spill so readily. - Mac Grisham, Oxnard, Calif.