Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: After reading your recent column about unplugging appliances to reset them, I had to write. My electric toothbrush kept shutting off a few times each time I brushed my teeth. So, I got a new one and laid the old one aside for a few days. I didn’t like the new one, so I plugged the old one back in, and it worked great. Now if it stops once, I unplug it and let it run down, and when I plug it back in, it works great. – Shirley Willibey, Hamilton, Ind.

Shirley, so glad this worked for you. Many times if an appliance or gadget won’t work all of a sudden, unplugging it and counting to 10 just might do the trick. It’s worth a try before calling a repair person or taking it to a repair shop. – Heloise

Dear Heloise: To clean my pleated lampshades, I use a silicone basting brush. I find that the slight tackiness of the bristles allows the brush to grab the dust better than other natural-bristle brushes. – Corinne, Potomac, Md.